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To Save Europe, President Bush Must Go to Tblisi
Sunday, August 10, 2008 | Kristinn
Russia's move into Georgia must be stopped--and stopped now. The cause of freedom in Europe, and indeed the world depends on it. For if they are not stopped here, Russia will act to place other former Soviet republics and captive nations once again under its domination.
Those now free nations are looking to America as their protector. They know that if Georgia is allowed to be absorbed by Russia, that it will only be a matter of time before a feckless Western Europe will once again stand by and do nothing as they too are swallowed up by an emboldened Russia.
There is much talk that there is not much America can do in this situation. Others say that America does not have a dog in this fight. Both points of view are wrong.
The dog we have in this fight is our own freedom and independence. Russia has been building an anti-American axis with leftist governments like Venezuala and the radical Islamic government of Iran to undercut America's dominance in world affairs.
Russia has also made clear that it will use its control of oil and gas supplies and pipelines to dictate behavior in Europe.
This move by Russia into Georgia not only immediately threatens the freedom of the Georgian people, it also threatens the one major cross-continental European pipeline that is not under Russian control.
It is true that America would ignite a world war were it to precipitously engage Russia militarily in Georgia. It is also true that diplomatic efforts in the United Nations and by the European Union will not accomplish anything to save Georgia.
The typical diplomatic response will not suffice. What is needed is a bold, game-changing step that no one expects.
That step is for President Bush to fly to Tblisi on Air Force One from Beijing and invite Putin to meet with him and Georgian President Saakashvili in Tblisi this week.
With this effort, President Bush will send a clear signal to the former Soviet republics and captive nations that America will stand with them against Russian aggression.
It will also send a strong message to Russia that their old ways of doing business are over.
Would Russia dare attack the President while he is on a peace mission? I think not. I think they would be forced to stop fighting and come to the negotiating table.
The negotiations would be ugly. Georgia would have to give something to placate the Russians so they would not lash out in humiliation. But the paramount goal of preserving Georgia's independence would be obtained.
This could be accomplished without America firing a shot. But it would only work with the Russians knowing a war with America would result if they harmed the President on his peace mission.
I appreciate what you would be trying to accomplish by this move, but I don’t believe you expose your CIC to an active war zone in order to achieve it.
We need our leadership intact, to execute war policy.
I believe Jeff Head’s approach would be a better plan.
I don't trust Russia
The Rusisians are moving through Gori as we speak. The final defense of Tiblisi has to be in order.
If Bush could get in their quickly enough...he might could pull it off. Otherise, we already have transport aircraft flying Georgian troops in there and we need to protect them and can perhaps fall back on a plan like that mentioned above in post 173.
Either way, something direct and something audacious and bold in the face of this Russian agreewssion is called for and must be forthcoming...but also something measured and communicative enough to keep as much a lid on this and confined to Georgia...and then those provinces as possible.
Well said, Kristinn.
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