Russia warned: withdraw from Georgia, or else

The Guardian ^ | August 18, 2008 | Ian Traynor and Luke Harding

[Schnucki]

Nato to hold emergency meeting amid doubts over Kremlin promise

European leaders warned Russia yesterday to withdraw its forces rapidly from Georgia or face unspecified consequences, as Moscow stalled on its pledges to honour a ceasefire and pull back the thousands of troops from the Caucasus republic.

With the US and European governments due to meet tomorrow to consider their options for the first time since the crisis erupted 10 days ago, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France threatened the Kremlin with an ultimatum for the first time, warning that more delays in a pullout "would have serious consequences on relations between Russia and the European Union".

The French warning echoed similar statements from the Americans in recent days, none of which appears to have rattled the Russians, whose forces remain in firm control of large tracts of Georgia well beyond the two separatist enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"People are going to begin to wonder if Russia can be trusted," said Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, yesterday of Moscow's failure to keep its promises.

The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, added to the pressure on Moscow by insisting on an "urgent" retreat. She also backed Georgian aspirations to join Nato. Downing Street said it would send the foreign secretary, David Miliband, to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, later this week.

In Moscow, President Dmitri Medvedev said Russia's troops would start withdrawing today. But there is a yawning gap between what Moscow and the west understand by withdrawal.

Yesterday, Russian forces appeared to be entrenching their positions on the ground barely 30 miles from Tbilisi.

[Enchante]

"People are going to begin to wonder if Russia can be trusted"

No one should have any doubts that the answer is NO.

Putin cannot be trusted, any more than his soul-less poisoning thugs of the KGB can be trusted.......

[Tzimisce]

...or else what? Another strong letter? More threats of going to the UN? Trade sanctions?

I’m sure the Russians are shaking in their boots....

[Schnucki]

Map from the guardian:

[EternalVigilance]

"People are going to begin to wonder if Russia can be trusted," said Condoleezza Rice

It's not a good thing when an American Secretary of State's naivete makes one guffaw.

[FreePoster]

It makes me wonder who are the fools she has in mind, who have some kind of trust in Russia. I hope we’re not counting on any of them.

[DB]

The Bear cannot be allowed to rise again.

Stop it now or pay a heavy price later.

[FreePoster]

I’m sure she knows better. I think she’s using diplomat-speak and there’s some tactful sarcasm.

[Enchante]

It’s not a good thing when a former Provost of Stanford U. makes you wonder whether a PhD is any better than a h.s. diploma.

[Uncle Ike]

” “People are going to begin to wonder if Russia can be trusted,” said Condoleezza Rice “

Do ya think that next she’ll figure out that Hamas and PLO might not be real ‘partners in peace’??

Naaahhhhhh.....

[WoofDog123]

she is doing her job, mouthing meaningless unoffensive platitudes. I am in no way a rice supporter, but her previous comment about this not being 1968 probably was a more candid assessment.

[Lancey Howard]

"Why, I oughta...."

[broncobilly]

She is a brilliant scholar, has written books on that part of the world, has managed one of the top US Universities, and speaks Russian fluently. I don’t think you are in a position to judge her qualifications.

[ThePythonicCow]

...or else what?

Seems like that was clearly spelled out:

unspecified consequences

I'm sure Putin is quaking in his boots ;).

[Allegra]

European leaders warned Russia yesterday to withdraw its forces rapidly from Georgia or face unspecified consequences...

Wonder what "unspecified circumstances" are?

Is that kind of like what we're doing to Iran?

[mkjessup]

She is a brilliant scholar, has written books on that part of the world, has managed one of the top US Universities, and speaks Russian fluently. I don’t think you are in a position to judge her qualifications.

Condi Rice is educated far beyond her intelligence or common sense. She's an abysmal failure on the scale of Maddy Albright.

And for her to actual utter nonsense like:

"People are going to begin to wonder if Russia can be trusted"

Only proves she's an f'in idiot.

[mkjessup]

It’s not a good thing when a former Provost of Stanford U. makes you wonder whether a PhD is any better than a h.s. diploma.

If Condi Rice had been an NFL coach, she would have been Steve Spurrier.

Fantastic college record, stepped up to the professional leagues (coach of the Washington Redskins), and then flopped BIG time.

[Ronin]

Or else what?

We’re gonna all hold our breath until we turn blue? I know! Europe’s gonna boycott Russian oil and gas! Yeah, that’s the ticket, they’ll buy it all from... er... um...

[Ronin]

i didn’t guffaw. I just chuckled semi-bitterly.

[RU88]

The Russians may be ruthless but they're also smart. With so much political indecision in Western European nations combined with an almost nonexistent military presence and a lame duck American president, it's no wonder the Russians decided to act when they did. Western European dependence on Russian oil and natural gas does not help matters either. Putin made a calculated gamble that the West would do nothing because in a practical sense they can do nothing because of their own self imposed political constraints.

This incursion serves another purpose which in Putin's mind is probably even more important: that being that this is a shot across the bow to any country who was formerly within the Soviet sphere and how they conduct relations toward Russia. If the West will not come to the aid of Georgia why would any other country formerly under Soviet control think the result would be different if it were them?