Georgia to become NATO member: Merkel

AFP ^ | 17 Aug 2008

[Grzegorz 246]

TBILISI (AFP) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday in the Georgian capital that the ex-Soviet republic, currently mired in conflict with Russia, will join NATO.

"Georgia will become a member of NATO if it wants to -- and it does want to," she said before talks with President Mikheil Saakashvili in Tbilisi.

It was one of the strongest statements yet of support for Georgia's NATO membership bid, which is fiercely opposed by Russia.

[Southack]

Cool!

[MinorityRepublican]

NATO needs to establish forward bases in Georgia, Ukraine and the Baltics. Not with American troops either since we’re kinda of busy.

[Oatka]

Would saying nothing suit you better?

The results would be the same - it's as effective as Euro posturing.

[Oatka]

"I think he’s saying that it’s a noble thing to do, just like it was in the ‘30s." Didn't work out too well for Poland.

That was my intent. It didn't work out well for the rest of Europe either. All the Euros can do is huff and puff and look all the weaker for it - and then yell for those despicable Yanks when their bluff is called.

[Tailgunner Joe]

This is nothing new. NATO already said Ukraine and Georgia can both join, they just didn’t say when, so it’s kind of meaningless. Merkel is treading water.

[elhombrelibre]

Germans do the right thing ping. Leaving being Putin’s bitch to famous anti-semite Buchanan. Putinistas sigin’ the blues.

[elhombrelibre]

Tell me again how the Euro weenies were all gonna wimp out.

[nathanbedford]

This is an occasion in which I am delighted to be wrong. I don't know where the euros found their grit, but we ought to order another carload of the stuff.

If Europe continues to stand strong it opens up a whole range of diplomatic, economic, and military options. I don't know what they're thinking is. Perhaps they finally found something close enough to home. Perhaps they decided that Georgia is really part of Europe. Perhaps they decided that the threat is real and aimed directly at their national interests. Perhaps they decided that Russia cannot afford to shut off the flow of oil and gas anymore than they can afford to do without it.

Whatever the calculation, Poland and Merkel have made great news.

[FreeReign]

This is nothing new. NATO already said Ukraine and Georgia can both join, they just didn’t say when, so it’s kind of meaningless. Merkel is treading water.

I've seen no conditions set this time from Merkel for Georgia to become part of NATO.

Earlier in the year, Merkel was on record as saying that Georgia must settle its disputes with its (Russian backed) break away provinces before Georgia should become part of NATO. Which of course is like telling the chickens that you will only guard the hen-house after the hens resolve their differences with the -- fox.

[elhombrelibre]

Yours is an honorable reply.

[FreeReign]

By not stopping them, he allowed it. He ordered the Russian troops to stand down.

Gorby was on record only weeks before the wall started coming down saying that there were conditions that must be met before the wall could come down. The wall came down anyway.

Gorby then chose not to act because to do so would have been too difficult.

[nathanbedford]

Thank you very much. I appreciate the acknowledgment. Although I would rather be right than wrong, I would rather be honorable than right.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Your phrases flow so poetic!

[AFreeBird]

Kinda symbolic if you think about it. Half of Germany, and half of Berlin itself, was under the Soviet boot for quite some time.

[Swiss]

**Too many Europeans are more than willing to fight to the last American and many folks on this forum, whose kids will be the ones called on to do the heavy work (not yours), resent it.**

Amen Brother! That is my major complaint, everybody is calling for America to do something and pretty much only America. If Turkey and Germany and the others would step up to the plate and do their share then I have no problem being sent to war over there.

But I think it pretty much sucks that members of the military is becoming the sole defenders of not only America but the rest of the World.

If that is how it is to be then Germany and the others should be at least paying us for that protection. Besides I want a pay raise ;-)

[Tailgunner Joe]

Georgia cannot become a member without fulfilling conditions. If there were no conditions then they could join today. Georgia must be offered a M.A.P. (membership action plan) outlining exactly what they must do in order to earn membership. The fact that the conditions for their membership have not been outlined is exactly the problem.

[rlmorel]

"...Yours is an honorable reply..."

Indeed. Well done NB.

[Marine_Uncle]

Being a little bit rough on Pattie taint yea. Perhaps Putin and his criminal gang will call off the hounds soon. After all they probably have in place many key spies to keep an eye on things once the US starts to move in more mil/intel folks.
Heaven knows how ballistic they will become once the Ukraine firms up it's NATO status.

[elhombrelibre]

Better to be tough on them now than let them go too far.

[Owl558]

“...first, we now have virtually every nation in Europe plus the United States standing with Georgia.”

And that and a couple of bucks gets you a cup of coffee. I think you miss my point here. There is no small number of countries willing to talk up freedom and independence. I know exactly which countries to look for when I want platitudes and solidarity. We have soft power coming out our ears. That’s good so far as it goes.

My point to Berlin_Freeper is that these first-world European countries (France, Italy, Germany, Spain, to borrow the ones you mentioned) are the ones driving this Russian oil-grab with their Russian oil addiction, and, therefore, they are the ones responsible for dealing with the “triage” (to take your term again).

Like the Balkins, Europeans are far more affected by what’s going on in the Caucases (sic), but only offer up words. When it comes to offering up our children, mine seem to be the only ones available.