NY Times: Georgia Clash Provides a Lesson on the United States’ Need for Russia

New York Times ^ | August 9, 2008n | HELENE COOPER

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

WASHINGTON — The image of President Bush smiling and chatting with Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin of Russia from the stands of the Beijing Olympics even as Russian aircraft were shelling Georgia outlines the reality of America’s Russia policy. While America considers Georgia its strongest ally in the bloc of former Soviet countries, Washington needs Russia too much on big issues like Iran to risk it all to defend Georgia.

And State Department officials made it clear on Saturday that there was no chance the United States would intervene militarily.

Mr. Bush did use tough language, demanding that Russia stop bombing. And Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice demanded that Russia “respect Georgia’s territorial integrity.”

What did Mr. Putin do? First, he repudiated President Nicolas Sarkozy of France in Beijing, refusing to budge when Mr. Sarkozy tried to dissuade Russia from its military operation. “It was a very, very tough meeting,” a senior Western official said afterward. “Putin was saying, ‘We are going to make them pay. We are going to make justice.’ ”

Then, Mr. Putin flew from Beijing to a region that borders South Ossetia, arriving after an announcement that Georgia was pulling its troops out of the capital of the breakaway region. He appeared ostensibly to coordinate assistance to refugees who had fled South Ossetia into neighboring Russia, but the Russian message was clear: This is our sphere of influence; others stay out.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

New view on things....

[flyfree]

My prediction is that within a week, Georgia will be part of Russia again.

[dr_who]

Probably not all that new. Especially if it’s coming from the NYT.

[Migraine]

even as Russian aircraft were shelling Georgia

"Shelling"? How about bombing, strafing, rocketing or attacking. Why throw in terminology more appropos of artillery or tanks?

[buccaneer81]

NYT to Bush: Throw Georgia under the bus.

[Cicero]

Washington needs Russia too much on big issues like Iran

You mean we need Russia to give the Iranians more air defense missiles and nuclear supplies?

We may end up paying a VERY heavy price for our stupidity in Kosovo. It was originally clinton's stupidity, but now it's Bush's stupidity. And McCain's.

As for Obama. . . .

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Like the liquid-metal Terminator II, the Soviet Union is re-forming right in front of us.

One shiny pool, joins with the one next to it. Then another. As the creature begins to re-form...

Again.

[whitedog57]

The NYTImes is insanely pro-Communist, anti-freedom. Like many Democrats, THEY KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU!

Einstein was brilliant, but his solution for world peace was for the US and USSR to divide the world in half. Sort of sounds like the NYTIMES!

[bereanway]

While America considers Georgia its strongest ally in the bloc of former Soviet countries, Washington needs Russia too much on big issues like Iran to risk it all to defend Georgia.”]

Puleeeeze, tell me just how is Russia going to aid us in Iran. They pay lip service to the notion of Iran suspending nuke activities, but everytime meaningful actions against the mullahs are advanced Russia attempts to block every move while supplying technology and equipment.

Russia is the problem on big issues like Iran.

[jim35]

“NYT to Bush: Throw Georgia under the bus.”

Nice to see someone gets it. This isn’t about what we can or can’t do, it’s about the NYT assuming once again that America is a cripple, the Russians are invulnerable, and we should surrender preemptively.

What can we do? I imagine we could do whatever we da*n well please, if we really wanted to, NYT notwithstanding. The question really is, what are we willing to do about it? Personally, I’d be OK with the Kosovo-for-Ossetia swap. I knew that was a can of worms still mostly unopened.

[Parley Baer]

I agree. The nyt has always been pro Soviet Union. No surprise with this article.

[jim35]

“Russia is the problem on big issues like Iran.”

BINGO! And the sooner our weak-kneed politicians understand this, the better off we’ll all be.

[jim35]

“The nyt has always been pro Soviet Union.”

Yep. Most of this article is just wishful thinking on the part of the NYT. Please, Uncle Joe, save us from these imperialist pigs!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Some more on background:

April 30, 2008, 22:18
Russia not planning war with Georgia: FM

********************EXCERPT******************

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has denied allegations Moscow is preparing for a military confrontation with Georgia. He said the increase in the Russian peacekeeping contingent on the border of the Georgian breakaway republic of Abkhazia is in compliance with existing agreements.

“Until now the number of our peacekeepers was lower than the agreement allows, and the build-up of additional forces is within the limits of the agreed numbers,” Lavrov said.

He also explained Russia’s readiness to protect its citizens in Abkhazia.

“Russia is not planning to go to war. The only thing I can say is that all the statements that we’ve made about the need to protect our citizens were based on the Russian Constitution which obliges the Russian state to protect the lives and dignity of its citizens irrespective of where they are,” he explained.

According to Moscow, the decision to introduce more peacekeeping troops is linked to Georgia’s readiness to start a military operation against the breakaway republic of Abkhazia – an allegation strongly denied by Georgia.

In a televised address to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, President Mikhail Saakashvili has promised a peaceful settlement to the situation.

“We don’t need a war - and the Abkhazian and the Ossetian people don’t need one either. There’s a force that wants the defeat of the Georgian, Abkhazian and Ossetian people. I promise that I won’t let it happen,” Saakashvili said.

The speaker of the Georgian parliament, Nino Burdzhanadze, said Russia was trying to provoke a "war scenario" in the region by planning to deploy a larger peacekeeping force.

"We know how to communicate with Abkhazians and Ossetians better than the Russian government does, which only talks to its own citizens living there,” she said.

[jim35]

“Russia not planning war with Georgia: FM”

Hey... did the Russians LIE??? Say it ain’t so, Uncle Joe.

[bereanway]

One senior administration official, when told of that quote, laughed. “Well, maybe we’re learning to shut up now,” he said. He asked that his name not be used because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.”]

I call BS on another of these unnamed senior administration officials. Can’t tell the difference between the Times and Pravda, well, except that Pravda is more accurate.

[elhombrelibre]

The NYT needs Putin and an authoritarian Russia more than anyone to help them in their war against Bush.

[MetaThought]

It reforms weaker though. Much much weaker.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

Can it be terminator 3? Kristanna Loken is much hotter than the second terminator