DAVIS: Are we all Georgians? Not so fast

"even though I tend to agree with Mr. "Friedman's award of the "gold medal for "stupidity" to Mr. Putin for his brutal "use of military force rather than "diplomacy". Apparently it was stupid of the Russians to send in troops to stop the bloodshed and detooth Gerorgian psychopath president. It would be better to let the people in Osetia to be slaughtered en-masse and then dick arownd the points diplomatically. I am sure, Mr Lanny Davis would have done just that. And so would that fool Tom Friedman

I find your analysis of this situaion insulting. Insulting to my intelligence and to the readers of this publication. You state that it was difficult to find these facts, yet with any effort and a little education anybody could have stated these two weeks ago and been ahead of the curve. Instead I read this and its a big advertisement for the DNC's upcoming convention and their righteous campaign to get Obama elected. There was a time when people were principled, and did things without regard to consequence, because it was the right thing to do. It is clear to me that you and the fools that believe you are too scared to be so honorable. I would hope that you would be so brave as to post all of the facts. Among those that you failed to mention: the Russians have been handing out Russian passports to Georgian citizens for years now, and that they claim those are there citizens, as a pretext for full invasion(illegal?); that Russia invaded Georgia proper outside of both South Ossetia, and Abkhazia occupied multiple cities; failed to follow through on two different ceasefires; not to mention that they bombed the capital of another country, to "defend themselves from attack". You stated that we should work with Russia because you believe Americans "don't like saber rattling that could bring us back to the scary days of the Cold War." That's a weak argument, saying rather than being firm with Russia we should do everything to keep the mighty Russians from hurting us. Keeping the status quo is never a legitimate option. In fact it is this lack of action that will keep the status quo. Doing nothing in Georgia will benefit no one and only further isolate our country from our interests abroad. There was a time when the U.S. was willing to do what was necessary to defend democracy, but if all you are interested in is not rocking the boat, then both your newspaper and you have become so worried about losing everything that you're willing to do nothing to keep it. I hope Obama has more backbone than you do.

One of the reasons Georgia (or I should say Shaakaskvili) was angry was because last year Russia cut off Georgia's wine imports. I think this was a major source of income for Georgia, because the wine store next to me (I am American living in Russia) closed its doors for a month. I asked why and was told that most Russian wine came from Georgia. Some things on Russian TV: The Georgians blasted the statues in the park in Tskhinvali. Why did they do that? Also, what is the purpose of riddling apartment buildings with artillery? These buildings, known as "Krushchovka's," built during his reign, do not win any architectural prizes, but actual people did live there, and now they live in tents. Why did Georgia need tanks and artillery to respond to a few rebels, their "justification" for their invasion. A "disproportionate" response? The Russians sent in ambulances and evacuation trucks first (through the major point of egress to/from South Ossetia, the tunnel), and pulled all the wounded out before they rolled in the tanks to get a little payback. Georgia, alone, casts the veto to prevent Russia from joining the WTO. Isn't it time to allow the last major non-member country in the world, membership, when countries like China, which openly practices intellectual piracy and steals technology, are members in good standing? What is the reason for the unrelenting hatred toward Russia? This is not 1955, the Soviet Union is gone. The US policy since Gorbachev has been to isolate Russia and chew the old USSR to bits. At one time, they were even referring to the terrorists of Chechnya, who gassed hundreds to death in a Moscow theatre and slaughtered 300 children in Breslan, as "freedom fighters." US policy is to accept the granting of freedom to all the former USSR republics and give nothing back. Ethnic Russians are denied the basic human right to vote in the Baltics, although they have lived there for generations. Silence from US. In the Ukraine, the Crimea is 100% Russian. They want "Soyuz" (Union) with Russia. In Kiev, during Bush's visit, the Western media positioned their cameras to omit the 20,000 anti-NATO demonstrators. There was neither word nor picture, in the Western media, or anything concerning Ukrainian opposition to NATO, and not a word allowed inside Ukraine government to oppose anything that regime decides to do with it's 55% ethnic majority. They did show their true concern for human rights by banning the use of Russian in government (this includes all the TV and Radio stations), continually egged on by Western media with their anti-Russia scorn. My impression of Shaakashvili is a guy with 9 eggs in his carton (Russsian eggs come 10 to a carton). The guy had a loony smile on his face while things were hot. He was packed and ready to go when he thought the Russkies were going to go all the way to Tblisi.

I doubt you saw this in US, but the Russians played it many times on the TV. Shaakaskvili is walking down the street with his bodygaurds and two other men. Suddenly there is a loud popping noise and the security bundles him into an iron blanket. His head pops out and swivels, frightened. Everyone else is calm. Shaakashvili, bundled in his security blanket, looks like a scared turtle, vainly trying to find the "gunman". It turns out to be some fireworks. Mad Mikhail constantly lied throughout this, or exaggerated. He issued wild paranoid accusations. The Western media eat it all up, like little puppy dogs. He accused them of "trying" to bomb their US-inspired, anti-Russian pipeline. Like it would be a real problem to bomb the pipeline if Russia really wanted to. Condi Rice's statement "Russia is acting like it has always acted" is truly offensive and shows her prejudice. What "diplomat" would start a meeting of the minds by saying the other side is still threatening and belligerent? The US, however, does NOT even want to talk to Russia. It has NEVER wanted to talk to Russia. This latest media-generated "invasion" is just another accuse to cut non-existent ties to Russia. WHAT ties? The US says it will cut its military cooperation. The only military "cooperation" I see is that of the US militarily organizing all the other guys (Poland, Latvia, Czech Republic, etc.) on the Euro-block into a street gang against Russia. Why does the US want missiles in Poland? Well to attack Russia of course, it seems pretty obvious, since the missiles will be on Russia's border, that the US regards the real enemy as Russia, not Iran. It didn't take long for US intentions to be made manifest, with their reaction to and support of Georgia's attack on Russian citizens. Gee, wouldn't it be better to talk, to communicate, to reach some understanding, instead of constantly refusing to talk, address issues, bargain, negotiate, give a inch, make any concession? Russia is supposed to provide all the concessions, the US, none. And US will not allow Russia into the WTO. This is nothing new; it has not allowed Russia in for the past twenty years, and now has a Georgian stooge ready to cast a veto. To the US, George Bush and Condeleeza Rice, it is 1955.

If Western media and governments were actually concerned about human rights, they would take action in Sudan and Zimbabwe, and prohibit trade with China. I am really impressed with the "humanitarian aid" delivered by US warships. The Russian TV also refers to it as "humanitarian aid" but they also provide details of its armament - such as Tomahawk cruise missiles; most Russian cities are within range. The US troops are unloading cartons of bottled water. Water? they don't have water in Georgia? No, the water infrastructure was not destroyed by Russia, the water supply in Georgia is mostly direct from the ground (hand water-pump). But is the US delivering a message in a bottle? Is it like Pogo in the US now? "We have met the enemy and he is us." And I can't wait for November election. Which of these two morons will be in charge of the world's mightiest military? Too bad we can't have the old Russian choice: the last election selection was "none of the above."

This article describes the Clinton era groping for legal excuses not to act paradigm. It completely ignores the fact that Putin was waiting to pounce on Georgia. Russia entered with such overwhelming force and speed that there is no other assumption. Russia's "peacekeeping" forces were an invasion force. Davis is also ignoring the security risk scenario that Europe is energy intimidation vulnerable, the BTC pipeline can provide up to 17% of their imported oil, Iran has threatened the Straits of Hormuz, Russia is provoking Israel by threatening to provide more weapons systems to Syria and advanced Anti Air systems to Iran in hopes instigating an attack on Iran thereby increasing energy leverage in Europe to almost 40% not including natural gas. Why else is Russia keeping control of the port and remaining around Gori. This energy intimidation leverage is the assymetrical tool for dismantling NATO. It's not a matter of being soft on Russia, it's a matter of analyzing Putin's strategy and all of the "coincidences" of this particular incident. This is also a patronizing article to soften Obama's initial demurred decision and make McCain's look like a jump to conclusions.

"anti-Russian pipeline." That's the point where you lost me. Because that's the point where objective analysis turns into propaganda. "But is the US delivering a message in a bottle?" Yes. it's called unity and that water is a symbol of our support. Putin can go to hell, and take his cronies with them. They're only trying to recapture the glory they lost when the Soviet Union fell. Putin and his cronies care less about South Ossetia independence then they do about the independence of Chechnya, and we all know how Putin feels about that, don't we. The only reason the Russian government is "supporting" the "independence" of any former soviet state or or group is to gain control of over it and return it to Russian control. Georgia is just another former state that need a little reminder of who the Big Boy was in the region (emphasis on WAS!). It time we stepped up to Putin and called his bluff. Send him scurrying back to Moscow with his tail between his legs, so to speak.

Contrary to the author's claim Russia did everything it could to avoid bloodshed in Georgia diplomatically. In fact it warned of the coming aggression from Saakashvili, Russian officials called on many occasions for Georgia to sign a non use of force agreement to resolve the conflict with South Osetians and Abhazians. Russian officials called an emergency UN counsel meeting on the eve of Georgian invasion of South Osetia calling for renouncing for use of force only to be blocked by US, British and a few others. The level of disinformation in western media regarding this conflict is just incredible. I recommend everyone to watch this documentary shot in South Osetia during Georgian invasion. Wounds of Tshinvali. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgSvYtjzZt8

Russia invaded because Georgia moved tanks and troops inside Georgia? Was there a UN proclaimed "no tank zone" like the "no fly zone" that existed in Iraq? Simply because ethnic Russians live in areas such as S. Ossentia that gives Russia no rights over the territory. If it does, then we are in big trouble througout the Southwest.

Lanny and the pro-Soviet commenters ignore the facts but that is not surprising from libtards. The fact is that before Aug 7 the Russians who were living in the so-called "South Ossetia" deliberately provoked the Georgians with sevral terrorist incidents. When Georgia finally lost patience and moved to put a stop to the Soviet terrorism the pre-positioned Soviet forces rolled in. I wish Bush would grow a pair and at least send in US Special Forces to harass the Soviet forces occupying the 2 provinces and the port of Georgia to make them withdraw. Instead he just talks. Lanny Davis acts like Petain while Bush acts like Chamberlain.

Is US still a democratic country? People of america don’t want US to be the World Empire. US should be just strong regional power. That’s what the nation wants. And dear Lanny Davis, please stop feeding us with your crap.

Bottom line is that the president of Georgia over played his hand big time- regardless of whether he was right or wrong. He brought a knife to a gun fight. We don't need allies like that.

Thanks for a sober sight at a situation. I, as the citizen of Russia, cannot agree only with a gold medal for Putin. To not enter an army - to doom the osetins to destruction, and to use the "proportional" answer - means an inhaling of operations for uncertain term and a lot of victims from both parties. Georgia has not executed the law on secession of the USSR and for this reason the conflict in South Ossetia and Abkhazia lasts since 1992. Under this law autonomous republics (it are Abkhazia and South Osetia) in structure of Georgia should define the destiny itself, but Georgia has refused up to them in it. And Georgia began force of the weapon to convince not consent with it. And it not first time! Georgia was independent during 1918 - 1921. Also has had time to arrange slaughter in South Ossetia – 17 000 killed - old men, women, children. For three days! Sorry for my English.

Thank you for the article. I thank you not because I am Russian, but because this is not the typical article in the Western media which I read and saw a lot during this conflict. Indeed I am biased, but so are most of the Western media. I can't recall that CNN showed Georgian army attacking Tshinvali on August, 7. I don't remember that anyone mentioned that actually on that day Russian diplomats were in Georgia and Georgian officials agreed to meet the next day (August, 8) with South Ossetians to discuss the issue. So, while Georgians were bombing South Ossetia the whole night and day, the Western media were silent. But as Russians crossed the border, "Oh, MY GOD!!!". In a few minutes CNN screams "Russia invades Georgia." Wall Street publishes an article by Mr. Saakashvili (yeah, he was writing it under Russian bombs that's why it's so good:)). What did we hear? As the author described, "Bad Russian evil-empire invaders" attacked "good little democracy Georgia." Ok, we are all biased in a sence. I don't want to judge who is right and who is wrong. It's too complex matter. But don't you think that Western media (and US, in particular) were way TOO biased toward Georgia. Without any analysis they blamed Russia for everything (and some keep doing it even today). Isn't it because they stereotyped Russia and put label on it? And now it's hard to get rid of this anchor in their minds?

It`s a grate pity that in tis article isn`t told anything about the population of Samachablo(South Osetia as they call it now). It means not only the Osetians(which are settled there beginning of the 20th century) but also the Georgians, the natives of the region which because of russian troops and permanent oppress from osetian separatists during the last 15 years where forced to leave their homes. I`d like to ask a qustion: are the human rits of 160 000 Georgians violated? Besides there are many mixed families(georgian-osetian), Is it possible they want to fight each other? Of course not. But Kremlin has another plans... Marika from Georgia