[FreeReign]

Gates:I think that they had an opportunity to make some very broad points [to these nations] and, I think, [the Russians] seized that opportunity,

Gates' words are wimpy.

[RetiredArmy]

The message has been received by the nations of the world, Gates said.

Question is, what is the world going to do about it? Oh, right, nothing. 99% of Americans that saw this headline first thought that Atlanta was being invaded. Rush hit on this topic a lot today. IT IS ABOUT THE OIL PIPE LINE, and the Russians controlling it. And the Georgians wanting to be in NATO. The Soviets fell because basically they went broke. Now, these Russians are flush with oil cash and the KGB types that are now the Russian Mafia making loads of cash. They have the money now to fund what they might. Wonder how big Putin's Swiss bank account is?

[isrul]

[Lijahsbubbe]

IMO his speech made it worse. Why let Russia know that we definitely intend to to nothing?

[Tailgunner Joe]

“The United States spent 45 years working very hard to avoid a military confrontation with Russia.... I see no reason to change that approach today.”

Gates needs to shake off that Cold War mentality.

[FreeReign]

Gates noted that, like clockwork, there have been exchanges of gunfire between Georgian and South Ossetian troops every August. “And this year, it escalated very quickly,” he said. “The Russians were prepared to take advantage of an opportunity.”

Okay Gates, who starts the exchange of gunfire between the two every August? Who started the gunfire this year? Was it Georgia? Was it the Russian backed South Ossetians rebels?

Gates makes no direct comment about this important point. Yet he calls it a Russian opportunity.

[FreeReign]

“The United States spent 45 years working very hard to avoid a military confrontation with Russia,” he said. “I see no reason to change that approach today.”

Did Gates also add, that the U.S. has spent "x" number of years pledging the support of fellow NATO members and that he hopes to add both Ukraine and Georgia to that membership?

I don't see that comment.

Gates talks up appeasement. Gates is terrible.