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Answering Russia
IBD Editorials ^ | August 13, 2008

Posted on 08/13/2008 5:19:40 PM PDT by Kaslin

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1 posted on 08/13/2008 5:25:08 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

WHOO-HOO!!! I loved this one.


2 posted on 08/13/2008 5:28:10 PM PDT by MarMema (Tavisuplebas dideba!)
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To: Kaslin
agree.

anything short of these is giving in to the russians.

3 posted on 08/13/2008 5:33:03 PM PDT by ken21 (people die and you never hear from them again.)
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To: Kaslin
Russia is scheduled to hold the 2014 Winter Olympics at the resort of Sochi, 15 miles from Abkhazia, the other Georgian province that Russia just invaded. Cancel it, and give it to a more deserving host.

Like Georgia.

4 posted on 08/13/2008 5:34:26 PM PDT by marron
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To: Kaslin
It has continued its brutal assault, with news reports that Russian troops have started looting, raping and savagely attacking Georgian civilians.

Pu-leeeze, there are no slammites in this picture. Every body involved are orthodox Christians and they are not going to rape and loot eachother over oil.

5 posted on 08/13/2008 5:37:28 PM PDT by wendy1946
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To: Kaslin
Would that we could treat the Russians as the emperor Carus treated the Persians:

The successor of Artaxerxes, Varanes, or Bahram, though he had subdued the Segestans, one of the most warlike nations of Upper Asia, was alarmed at the approach of the Romans, and endeavored to retard their progress by a negotiation of peace. His ambassadors entered the camp about sunset, at the time when the troops were satisfying their hunger with a frugal repast. The Persians expressed their desire of being introduced to the presence of the Roman emperor. They were at length conducted to a soldier, who was seated on the grass. A piece of stale bacon and a few hard peas composed his supper. A coarse woolen garment of purple was the only circumstance that announced his dignity. The conference was conducted with the same disregard of courtly elegance. Carus, taking off a cap which he wore to conceal his baldness, assured the ambassadors, that, unless their master acknowledged the superiority of Rome, he would speedily render Persia as naked of trees as his own head was destitute of hair .... The ministers of the Great King trembled and retired.

6 posted on 08/13/2008 5:37:30 PM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Barack Obama--the first black Jimmy Carter.)
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To: Kaslin

A refreshing take on the Russia question. But incomplete. But it makes me wonder: is Russia going to drive Europe to us or drive Europe (the one that is more interested in economic stability than in regional security) away from us? If Russia really has western Europe and to a certain extent eastern Europe under her thumb because of her ever tightening grip on the flow of oil, then what can we do about that? Drilling in North America might benefit Europeans a little bit but not much, and there will be no revolution in oil alternatives that will turn the tables. The only other competitor for oil is the Middle East. And what are we going to do about Georgia whenever the dust settles?


7 posted on 08/13/2008 5:38:34 PM PDT by dr_who
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To: Kaslin

Seriously, all that is nice, but its parlor diplomacy that doesn’t have the impact we need to overcome what just happened.

The image that will turn all of this on its head, is the image of a truck convoy carrying American humanitarian aid from the Black Sea coast into Tblisi. The image of American sailors ashore off-loading the supplies, the marines pulling security detail while they do it. The people watching as the trucks come rolling in. The Russian soldiers standing by and watching us do it.

Those are the images that will undo everything Putin has accomplished and most importantly undo the damage he has done to our alliances all over eastern Europe.


8 posted on 08/13/2008 5:39:34 PM PDT by marron
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To: Kaslin
This sounds good, but much of it depends on third parties that need reassurance Will the Czech Republic and Poland continue with plans for the missile defense installations, for instance. Russia can turn down or off European oil and gas supplies at will. Will the Europeans stand and oppose Russia or appease them even more?

We need more tangible actions, a tripwire force in the Ukraine for instance. Immediate NATO membership for the Ukraine and Georgia as an example if we really want to confront the Russian actions.

Moving the Olympics is also problematic. Do we have the influence on the IOC to get that done? We are talking tough and sending Rice to Paris, but the Russians seem to have moved past this stage to the old axiom that power flows from the barrel of a gun. This is a tough one because our options are limited and Russia has the strategic advantage.

9 posted on 08/13/2008 5:50:17 PM PDT by Truth29
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To: wendy1946

Read the sitrep carefully. It is the irregular Home Guard units of South Ossetia that is doing the looting and attacking of Georgians who lived in Ossetia. If irregular forces fighting longside of US forces did that, the whole world media would be crucifying the US commander. The lesson I take from this war is not that Russians are fighting with Georgians (that has been happening for 1000 years), but how the world treats the US (holds us responsible during the looting of Baghdad) while nothing is utter about the behavior of irregular Ossetia forces under Russian command. LESSON LEARNED - WORLD IS NOT OUR FRIEND, TIME TO PULL STAKES AND TAKE CARE OF HOME.


10 posted on 08/13/2008 6:00:27 PM PDT by Fee
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To: Kaslin
New thugs, same as the old thugs! In fact, it's really the same thugs with different suits. Isn't this the same thug that Bush swooned over by saying..." I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy."

The chicoms have shown they can't be trusted. Displaying what everyone's known all along - their deep rooted commie philosophy of 'end justifies the means' in pure 'olympic' fashion for the entire world to see. Complete with fake fireworks, Milli-Vanilli performances, and censored news.

Oh, don't forget. Those same thugs are looking for permanent residence in our neighborhood.

11 posted on 08/13/2008 6:01:18 PM PDT by The Bronze Titan
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To: wendy1946
[ Every body involved are orthodox Christians and they are not going to rape and loot eachother over oil. ]

Not all christians are christians and not all muslims are muslims..

12 posted on 08/13/2008 6:03:19 PM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole....)
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To: marron

Give it South Korea. I’m not sure if their is a suitable winter mountain area in Georgia to hold a winter olympics, plus to do one from scratch would easily cost 6 to 10 billion dollars. I don’t think Georgia has that kind of scratch laying around right now.

South Korea as the country that was in the lead to get it this time, Russia’s bid was in dead last place. That was the situation until Putin arrived a week before the decision was made to the IOC HQ with bunch of briefcases of money and the same fake promises that China promised to get the games.
Losing the 2014 winter olympics would absolutely crush Russia. Getting it was one of the crown jewels of Putins reign as president.
Yank their olympics and kick them out of the G8. Thats where I would start. Blocking them from the WTO would also be a good call as well.


13 posted on 08/13/2008 6:05:04 PM PDT by Proud_USA_Republican (We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good. - Hillary Clinton)
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To: Truth29

Russia shuts down all energy to europe, and they bankrupt their own country overnight. Russia knows this.


14 posted on 08/13/2008 6:09:25 PM PDT by Proud_USA_Republican (We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good. - Hillary Clinton)
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To: wendy1946
Pu-leeeze, there are no slammites in this picture. Every body involved are orthodox Christians and they are not going to rape and loot eachother over oil.

If by "slammites" you mean Muslims, who said there were? Do you actually believe that anyone who originates from a country generally considered "Christian" necessarily has Christian values, and is therefore incapable of atrocities?

Was Stalin a Muslim?

15 posted on 08/13/2008 6:13:47 PM PDT by browardchad
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To: Fee

“It is the irregular Home Guard units of South Ossetia that is doing the looting and attacking of Georgians who lived in Ossetia.”

In Putins stealth annexation of South Ossetia, he gave them all russian passports, which thus gives them Russian citizenship, which thus makes them Russians who are looting, raping, and burning.

How would you react if Canada started handing out passports to all of Maine and Wisconsin claiming that the land used to belong to them historically, started arming gangs and criminals to expand their turf and start attacking the police, and built some military bases and airstrips there claiming it was to keep the peace?
Would the US just sit back and let that all continue?
I know that kind of a stretch considering the size of our military, but still, same scenerio.


16 posted on 08/13/2008 6:24:46 PM PDT by Proud_USA_Republican (We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good. - Hillary Clinton)
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To: All

“Cease fire” - run for your life!! Very sad.


17 posted on 08/13/2008 6:38:16 PM PDT by Sun (Pray that God sends us good leaders. Please say a prayer now.)
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To: wendy1946

And the Cossacks (you know those Orthodox Christian pillagers), Ossetes, and Chechens (Sunni Muslims) paramilitary unites ethnically cleansing Ossetia of Georgians are sure to act nice.


18 posted on 08/13/2008 6:49:19 PM PDT by rmlew (I stand with Georgia against the Kremlin's Russian irredentism and Soviet revanchism.)
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To: browardchad

Stalin was a Georgian atheist. I’m not sure that makes your point.


19 posted on 08/13/2008 7:02:06 PM PDT by cizinec
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To: Proud_USA_Republican

“Russia shuts down all energy to europe, and they bankrupt their own country overnight. Russia knows this.”

I suspect they would cut the deliveries to certain countries and not others to set the Europeans against each other. The Italians and the Germans, for instance, do not seem to be inclined to confront the Russians. The Italians, in particular, are counseling against any overt actions.


20 posted on 08/14/2008 2:08:31 AM PDT by Truth29
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