Russia broadens South Ossetia conflict: Georgian president pleads for 'madness' to stop

Washington Times ^ | Sunday, August 10, 2008 | Kelly Hearn

[rbmillerjr]

“The ineptitude in foreign policy of this administration is going to rank right up their with Carter’s.”

I see part of your point, but comparing Bush to Carter is more than hyperbole.

[autumnraine]

That’s what I was thinking. The Olympics are games. Literally games. Why is he at games while our ally is being invaded and civilians being murdered?

[E. Cartman]

I see part of your point, but comparing Bush to Carter is more than hyperbole.

rb, my apologies if I gave offense unnecessarily. But, I fear the full ramifications of this neo-con policy of overextending our military are going to be disastrous for this country.

Had he been a wise man, Bush would have stuck to the conservative basics rather than playing the Wilsonian game of trying to be the world's policeman.

[ETL]

That was the clarion call for every Soviet aggression in the Cold War. We are here to give you peace with a boot on your throat, rifle at your head and a tank barrel on your city.

All they are saying, is,..."give communist dictatorship a chance". (sung to the melody of you-know-what famous hippy 'anti-war' song from the seventies)

[E. Cartman]

Why is he at games while our ally is being invaded and civilians being murdered?

I do hope that you're only making a rhetorical question, because the answer should be obvious: when the person who's paying your bills (China) says "Stay at the games!", you do as you're told.

[oldleft]

I think a good first step would be to send a NATO fleet to the Black Sea to enforce international maritime law.

Second, we should give the Georgians some toys to play with.

[ETL]

I fear the full ramifications of this neo-con policy of overextending our military are going to be disastrous for this country.

That is true. We do really need to be careful. Fortunately for us, however, is the fact that most of the major European nations now have pro-American leaders. And the alliance should only get stronger under McCain, given their similar outlook on other global matters.

[VeniVidiVici]

I do hope that you're only making a rhetorical question, because the answer should be obvious: when the person who's paying your bills (China) says "Stay at the games!", you do as you're told.

Sorry, but you'll have to repost this again. You forgot to say "neo-con" within the post.

[RadioCirca1970]

Paging Belarus, Paging Ukraine...they certainly have proverbial axes to grind with the Sovs, uh, er, Russians..

[McGruff]

What do you suggest President Bush do?

Review our policy when Russia invaded Afghanistan. There are many things we could do without getting directly involved.

Georgia is one of the biggest contributors to our mission in Iraq. They deserve the same from us.

[TLI]

No U.S. administration is going to place its forces into direct confrontation with Russian forces.

Really? Georgia has had troops in Iraq since 2003. Georgia is the only buffer between Turkey and Russia and we do consider Georgia to be our ally.

Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, and the Geographically Separated Units supplies the bulk of support for all of Iraq, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Nearly everything in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan goes through there. It is the hub for all C-17 Globemaster cargo operations in the entire area.

What the hell makes you believe the U.S. is going to let a bunch of Russian tanks just amble right up to the border of Turkey with no response on our part? Because if the Russians do that the U.S. forces will already be "into direct confrontation with Russian forces."

We have had a major presence in Turkey since 1955. Turkey will be going absolutely ape-s**t and you are damn skippy right our forces will be on and supporting that Turkey-Georgia border. So, in order to NOT have a 50+ year major asset threatened the U.S. is going to have to support Georgia if the Russians push to the southwest. Or would you prefer that our entire infrastructure collapse in the Persian Gulf region?

Folks are saying we will not do anything because we want Russia to keep a thumb on Iran. With the horsepower we are currently moving into the Persian Gulf Putin and “whats his name” just might get the hint that Iran is not gonna do a damn thing we don’t want them to except stand there and take an azz-whipping.

Let me give you a rough idea of what is already headed to that “neighborhood”

Carrier Strike Group Nine
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN72) nuclear powered supercarrier with its Carrier Air Wing Two
Destroyer Squadron Nine:
USS Mobile Bay (CG53) guided missile cruiser
USS Russell (DDG59) guided missile destroyer
USS Momsen (DDG92) guided missile destroyer
USS Shoup (DDG86) guided missile destroyer
USS Ford (FFG54) guided missile frigate
USS Ingraham (FFG61) guided missile frigate
USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG60) guided missile frigate
USS Curts (FFG38) guided missile frigate
Plus one or more nuclear hunter-killer submarines


Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group
USS Peleliu (LHA-5) a Tarawa-class amphibious assault carrier
USS Pearl Harbor (LSD52) assult ship
USS Dubuque (LPD8) assult ship/landing dock
USS Cape St. George (CG71) guided missile cruiser
USS Halsey (DDG97) guided missile destroyer
USS Benfold (DDG65) guided missile destroyer


Carrier Strike Group Two
USS Theodore Roosevelt (DVN71) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing Eight
Destroyer Squadron 22
USS Monterey (CG61) guided missile cruiser
USS Mason (DDG87) guided missile destroyer
USS Nitze (DDG94) guided missile destroyer
USS Sullivans (DDG68) guided missile destroyer


USS Springfield (SSN761) nuclear powered hunter-killer submarine

IWO ESG ~ Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group
USS Iwo Jima (LHD7) amphibious assault carrier
with its Amphibious Squadron Four
and with its 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
USS San Antonio (LPD17) assault ship
USS Velia Gulf (CG72) guided missile cruiser
USS Ramage (DDG61) guided missile destroyer
USS Carter Hall (LSD50) assault ship
USS Roosevelt (DDG80) guided missile destroyer


USS Hartfore (SSN768) nuclear powered hunter-killer submarine

Carrier Strike Group Seven
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN76) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing 14
Destroyer Squadron 7
USS Chancellorsville (CG62) guided missile cruiser
USS Howard (DDG83) guided missile destroyer
USS Gridley (DDG101) guided missile destroyer
USS Decatur (DDG73) guided missile destroyer
USS Thach (FFG43) guided missile frigate
USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) fast combat support ship


UK Royal Navy HMS Ark Royal Carrier Strike Group with assorted guided missile destroyers and frigates, nuclear hunter-killer submarines and support ships

French Navy nuclear powered hunter-killer submarines (likely the Amethyste and perhaps others), plus French Naval Rafale fighter jets operating off of the USS Theodore Roosevelt as the French Carrier Charles de Gaulle is in dry dock, and assorted surface warships

Various other US Navy warships and submarines and support ships. The following USN ships took part (as the "enemy" forces) in Operation Brimstone and several may join in:

USS San Jacinto (CG56) guided missile cruiser
USS Anzio (CG68) guided missile cruiser
USS Normandy (CG60) guided missile cruiser
USS Carney (DDG64) guided missile destroyer
USS Oscar Austin (DDG79) guided missile destroyer
USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG81) guided missile destroyer
USS Carr (FFG52) guided missile frigate

The USS Iwo Jima and USS Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Groups have USMC Harrier jump jets and an assortment of assault and attack helicopters. The Expeditionary Strike Groups have powerful USMC Expeditionary Units with amphibious armor and ground forces trained for operating in shallow waters and in seizures of land assets

Iran is going to get wrapped up like a dead fish and anything we need to convince the Russians to head back north and "claim victory" can come right out of south central Turkey.

Putin can laugh all he likes but he is well aware we can hand him WWIII in a heartbeat.

[G8 Diplomat]

The Russians took the pipeline, barred Georgia (and thus Turkey) from entering the EU, and have troops along the Iranian border in case we (or the Israelis) try anything. If someone bombs Iran, Russia will step in and fight. If no one bombs Iran, Russia will take advantage of our non-action and is home free. Say hello to WW3 The Great Oil War.

[ETL]

The Russians took the pipeline, barred Georgia (and thus Turkey) from entering the EU, and have troops along the Iranian border in case we (or the Israelis) try anything. If someone bombs Iran, Russia will step in and fight. If no one bombs Iran, Russia will take advantage of our non-action and is home free. Say hello to WW3 The Great Oil War.

Ah, the 'big picture' becomes clearer everyday. And the reason why the commie-led "anti-war" movement and the democrat party so badly wants us out of Iraq. i.e. it's not so much about "oil", but rather Russia (and China) seeking to once again become dominant players on the global stage.

Putin on "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century":
"World democratic opinion has yet to realize the alarming implications of President Vladimir Putin's State of the Union speech on April 25, 2005, in which he said that the collapse of the Soviet Union represented the 'greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.'
http://www.hooverdigest.org/053/beichman.html

From the Sino-Russian Joint Statement of April 23, 1997:
"The two sides [China and Russia] shall, in the spirit of partnership, strive to promote the multipolarization of the world and the establishment of a new international order."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/HI29Ag01.html

Russia, China flex muscles in joint war games
Reuters: Aug 17, 2007

CHEBARKUL, Russia (Reuters) - Russia and China staged their biggest joint exercises on Friday but denied this show of military prowess could lead to the formation of a counterweight to NATO.

"Today's exercises are another step towards strengthening the relations between our countries, a step towards strengthening international peace and security, and first and foremost, the security of our peoples," Putin said.

Fighter jets swooped overhead, commandos jumped from helicopters on to rooftops and the boom of artillery shells shook the firing range in Russia's Ural mountains as two of the largest armies in the world were put through their paces.

The exercises take place against a backdrop of mounting rivalry between the West, and Russia and China for influence over Central Asia, a strategic region that has huge oil, gas and mineral resources.

Russia's growing assertiveness is also causing jitters in the West. Putin announced at the firing range that Russia was resuming Soviet-era sorties by its strategic bomber aircraft near NATO airspace.
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29030120070817?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

U.S. Navy Intercepts Russian Bombers Flying Near Ships
Monday, February 11, 2008
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,330362,00.html

From National Public Radio (NPR):
"Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been visiting countries such as China, Iran and Russia as part of an effort to build a 'strategic alliance' of interests not beholden to the United States. He considers the United States his arch enemy.":
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5729764

From the Russian News and Information Agency:
"'I am determined to expand relations with Russia,' Chavez, known as an outspoken critic of what he calls the United States' unilateralism, told the Russian leader, adding that his determination stemmed from their shared vision of the global order.":
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060727/51913498.html

From WorldThreats.com:
"Chavez pledged that his country would 'stay by Iran at any time and under any condition,' state television reported. Ahmadinejad said he saw in Chavez a kindred spirit." "'We do not have any limitation in cooperation,' Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying. 'Iran and Venezuela are next to each other and supporters of each other. Chavez is a source of a progressive and revolutionary current in South America and his stance in restricting imperialism is tangible.'":
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/29/world/main1847331.shtml

[E. Cartman]

Sorry, but you'll have to repost this again. You forgot to say "neo-con" within the post.

Glad to see someone else recognizes that if you scratch a neo-con, you find a Wilsonian adventurer.

[ncpatriot]

The Great Oil War

I guess Pelosi will still be against the US drilling for oil so that we will be energy independent and have national security

[Dante3]

I agree.

[SJackson]

I do rather wonder whether it isn’t time for President Bush to come home from watching the Beijing Olympics, and do something about this.

I don't know that there's a lot we can do, but that we can do, more accurately will do, but that would at least give the impression that this is an important issue for the US.

President Obama would be on Air Force 1, renamed the Obama Orient Express, to talk to someone. Anyone.

[G8 Diplomat]

but rather Russia (and China) seeking to once again become dominant players on the global stage.

Exactly. And Russia can control Europe by controlling the pipelines that deliver oil to the West. They're already capable of shutting off gas to Ukraine. This South Ossetia conquest is just the beginning of Putin's desire to have the ex-Soviet republics back under his control.

[autumnraine]

I don’t find it to be coincedental that this happened on the day of the start of the games, in China. “Here China, you distract the world while we do what we need to over here”.

China and Russia are in bed together and the rest of the world needs to watch out!

[G8 Diplomat]

That’s a good point. I was actually wondering the same thing. Russia starts a war the same day the Beijing Olympics start? Smells fishy to me too....