Ever since Russia launched a massive counter-offensive in response to Georgia’s attempt to retake the pro-Russian, breakaway region of South Ossetia, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has been omnipresent in Western media. He has appeared on CBS, CNN, BBC and pretty much every other English-language TV channel to accuse Russia of penetrating Georgia far beyond Ossetia, planning an assault on the capital and plotting his overthrow.
On Aug 11 he wrote an opinion column in the Wall Street Journal warning Georgia’s fall would mean the fall of the West.
At the start of the conflict the verdict was unequivocal. Saakashvili was winning the media war hands down. While the Kremlin’s press operation was largely silent, Saakashvili, an urbane, U.S.-educated lawyer, was assured in putting Georgia’s case. The world’s media and many political leaders swung behind him (in words if not deeds).
But is the tide turning? Saakashvili’s wall-to-wall media coverage may be starting to work against him and the Russians have become more nimble in dealing with the media and countering Saakashvili’s accusations.
Even close ally the United States has reined him in, knocking down his assertion that U.S. forces would take control of Georgia’s airports and ports.
Is Saakashvili’s well-oiled public relations machine starting to work against him? Is he losing sympathy internationally?
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Ukraine may not be Georgia, but Russia has shown time and time again that it does not honor western political or diplomatic logic. Russia was interested in “participating” in NATO in order to find out how far NATO is willing to go. With that knowledge they made their tentative plans and proceeded as situation in Georgia developed. Consequently, do not expect Russia to behave toward Ukraine any different, because everything they have done in Georgia was from their point of view a total success. The criticism of invading South Ossetia’s as well as that of Georgia remains as criticism only. They withdrew from interacting with NATO and from their perspective they can sacrifice being included in G7 or even WTO. They and we know that possession is 100% ownership, at least those are our laws and the Russians are banking on it. You remember very well what the Russian generals were saying during the first days of the invasion and what their final action became! That is a chess game Russian style.
Now Russia has declared that they will keep part of Georgia, a sovereign country, as “buffer” area to “protect” South Ossetia, and thus annexing part of Georgia. Is that not what Hitler did when he annexed Austria, Sudeten Deutsche, Schlesien, Lorraine etc? And what has Russian action done to Georgia as a nation by seizing strategic portion of their land and thus interfering with the operation of their oil pipe line and other economic activities? In Ukraine you have the same situation where the pipe line that is supposed to operate from Odessa to Brody is being run in reverse to satisfy the Russian government right now! So what is going to stop Russia from annexing part of Ukraine and protect their “near abroad”? Our criticism?
And what a charade “near abroad” represents! Our politicians are explaining, that Russia is looking at their “near abroad” as we would at Mexico, Canada, etc. In other words, we can not expect Russian to sit quite when we set up antimissile system in Poland, just as we would not like to see such antimissiles and warheads set up in Cuba. But such comparison is deeply flawed. European powers relinquished their power in all their colonies but not Russia. Russia’s colonies were countries that they conquered all around themselves. This included Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan etc. Oh, yes! Where would you place Chechnya? Regardless, how can the West sit back and allow Russia to haul in all the colonies that received their freedom? Is it because Russia calls these places “near abroad”? What moral right does Russia have haul in their former colonies? What moral responsibility does the West have to protect these democracies? If the Free World is afraid of doing something unconventional that Russia has not foreseen on their chessboard, then let us go home and crawl in a hole, hoping that Russia will treat us gently.
It is pathetic that Germany, which was to a great extend saved from Russian exploitation by US and British forces, and France, which was liberated by US and British troops, did not have the guts to accept Georgia and Ukraine into NATO at the Bucharest meeting to avoid the current upheaval. It was obvious as to the consequences of their action. Of course Georgia and Ukraine are not militarily ready, but Germany and France could have helped to getting these countries ready instead of having the US do all the heavy lifting. There may be some choices that US has to save the day, such as signing a “major non-NATO alliance” with Ukraine and perhaps even Georgia, as NY Times has suggested. And thank you Germany and France for nothing!
Bohdan Slabyj
- Posted by Bohdan SlabyjYou cant be surprised when russia invaded south ossetia and then georgia proper, and the western outrage to the russian invasion of georgia proper isnt surprising either
But what is surprising (to me) is that when Russia was only in south ossetia, and not (yet)in georgia proper, the west still seemed pretty pissed, even though russia, at this point in time, was only defending the south ossetians from georgian aggression. Russia, before they invaded georgia proper, was propping up a democracy, the south ossetian government was popularly elected and the populace wanted independence from georgia. Yet, despite the wests bluster for freedom and democracy, the west still chose to condemn russia for helping the ossetian republic and then the west gave (verbal only) support to georgia.
I just had a thought, what if Georgia was china and south ossetia and abkahzia were tibet and xinjiang?
Ok in this hypothetical scenario, china is weak pollitically and militarily, and two provinces of tibet and xinjiang just broke off. Now china moves militarily to take them back, but as china does so, another foreign power moves in (india, russia, maybe pakistan or something) and pushes china out, like russia did to georgia.
Now, i can give you a whole list of reasons why this wont hapen in the next thousand years, not the least is that china has a big military comparatively and georgia had no chance against russia, but hypothetically OK? what if?
THere are some differences between what hapened in georgia and my hypothetical situation that apply to my question. Georgia is democratic, china is best discribed as an ogliarchy. Georgia is, to put it simply, liked by the west, china is routinely critizised by the west and even hated by many in both parties (in america that is).
Now the question is, what would the wests response be in this hypothetical situation? Will they denounce the interfering power as an agressor? or will they support china’s territorial integrity? will they say “china had it comming, they brought it on themselves” like the way some people here are saying about Saakashvili, or will they critisize the other country as being a bully?
- Posted by hypotheticusRussia wants more power, like any other country. NATO is opposed to russian power increase, because NATO wants more power for itself, and georgia wanted to join NATO. Russia doesnt like that. Russia thinks they can teach the world a lesson by invading a country, the lesson is, dont mess with us, do what we say more of the time.
But the russian invasion wasnt really to increase russian influence, those ogliarchs should have known that the invasion will only unite people against them. In todays world, more power comes through cunning diplomacy, way less power comes through tanks. Instead, the invasion was meant to try to boost Russian pride and try to erase the humiliation that they think they have faced. THe russians invaded for all pathos reasons, honor, ego, nationalism, not much logos or rationality was involved.
If the Russian only went as far as pushing the georgians out of the seperatist region and kept the nationalist rhetoric down low, then people would likely not oppose the russians as much. But they didnt, and now the west and all the all soviet satelite states are uniting against russis.
Meanwhile in the United states, people are trying to frame Russia as immoral undemocratic imperialists trying to destroy freedom. You can say they are basicly like the imperialists of old, and they certanly arent fully democratic, but enemies of freedom? evil empire? THe US needs to get its head out of the idealistic sands about freedom and democracy and start facing the real politick. Lets get realistic here and drop the rhtoric.
- Posted by hypotheticusSaakashvilli is banking on McCain’s win. If McCain loses the election, Saakashvilli will lose all of the support and it will be highly likely that he will be prosecuted for crimes against humanity.
Republicans can not afford to admit their huge mis-assessment of Saakashvilli, just like US made a mistake when they helped Saddam come to power in 1963. In this case Saakashvilli showed his collors very early and that is a huge liability for US administration.
I don’t like Obama for president, but if Dems were smart, they would expose Saakshvilli for what he is, and his ties to McCain campain and that would probably helped them win votes.
PS. I think Condi saw right through Saakashvilli when she was in Tbilissi. Obviously she can’t say anything now, but once she is out of office next year, I hope she’ll speak her mind.
- Posted by FromUSAwithLoveThe whole debacle has stupidity and outdated methods painted all over it.
The guy who runs Georgia is an inept fool and Putin is about as diplomatic as a ten foot grenade.
What a group of idiots!
I feel sorry for the people, who as usual, suffer under the leadership of inadequate disturbed men.
They should both STOP the aggression and shut up.
Then they need to make good the damage done to their people.
Some hope!
- Posted by The Truth Is...There are so many really good comments here. Though one thing is missing. You have to realize, countries are not people and a word “shame” is unknown for big politics. One French diplomat of old said: “Diplomacy is an art of what’s possible”. Many of you criticize the US and Israel for what they have done in past as well as what they do now. But ask yourselves why do they do that? The answer is simple. Because there is no other force which could resist. Latest events in Georgia showed that a new power is coming. So I’d say we, as a world society, will be witnessing many, sometimes painful, changes.
- Posted by AndreyAnother thin is there practically no white and black in politics. It is mostly gray of different shades. In case of South Osetia Saakashvili and his supporters were closer to the black side and Russians closer to the white. Is Russia absolutely right and innocent? No. Off course it has its own agenda, its own interest. But it was Russia who saved lives of Osetians. I’m pretty sure, ask any of them and they will praise Russia for it.
Reading posted messages one can find dozens of topics to talk on. Talking about problems openly is another way to improve lives.
Here is a clear example of one-sided view of US mass-media:
- Posted by Dmitryhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8XI2Chc6 uQ
Pretty nice of Fox news…
Reuters reports a one-sided story of this conflict. The real victims are regular Ossetians, many of them lost their lives, their loved ones and those who survived are refugees because of Saakashvilli’s air strikes. His wishful thinking and warmongering cost dearly to people in the region. He adopted democratic rhetoric well and is more than eager to turn his country into American/ NATO military base, I suppose that is enough to be portrayed as a hero in the media.
- Posted by LaraOur world is in danger the US with it’s Rebublican goroes and their conquering machine awakened the rusian ego and now with over 2400 Nuclear silos at their fingertips, One can expect a Nuclear war with Rusia demanding their peace of cake, and the US already absorbed and used i/3 of the world resources and still continuing to do so with no fairshare at sight.
What next? is the big question let us wait and see
- Posted by siyadsaakashvili started this war of provocation and he paid dearly for it.Russia had warned him of the repercutions if he dare to anger moscow by shelling seperatists in South Ossetia but he foolisly believed America will come to his aid and he was brushed and disappointed. the best way for Georgia now is to drop his plan to join NATO and enjoy cosy relationships with the west and Russia. If he fail to do so the very unlikely war between NATO and Russia will be fought on Georgian soil: not in Washington or Moscow or Brussel. A word is enough for the wise.
- Posted by teslimJust speculation, but could Saakashvili have been tricked by the Bushies into attacking (with false-promised support) to destroy US/Russian relations in an attempt to scupper the future Obama presidency?
A small cat amongst the pigeons for you.
- Posted by Kym OveryMost of you here are missing the point. The war between Russia and Georgia has nothing to do with Kosovo and has nothing to do with Hamas. By the way, those of you who complain about why this is getting coverage and not other conflicts that are of equal or bigger significance? Well, dah it only involves like world’s largest country RUSSIA.
- Posted by READAnd does anybody in their right mind, actually really think that Putin can actually care about the fate of the people in South Ossetia??? This whole war is Russia’s last-ditch desperate attempt to reclaim some parts of former Soviet Union. The question is simple, will US allow this? We already know that EU has no problem with Russia expending on the continent.
Saakashvili spent one billion of dollars for army in 2007 with gdp = $10.bln. Georgia is a nice country but impoverished - gdp went down 72% in early 90-s. He could spend money better for development - now it’s $2.4 th. gdp per head. That kind of economy is not for the war.
World should help these small countries to turn from wars to some simple matters of everyday living - better frozen conflicts than destruction of Tshinval.
Saakashvili before turning to ask for help in English had his few hours in the morning of Friday 8 and declared his victory in Georgian.
- Posted by LenLen
Of course this is all hypocrisy, on both sides. This is all game of powers: Yugoslavia was bombed by US and Nato without any regards for “territorial integrity”, and Kosovo was treated in the same way by the west — because serbs are Russian friends. Russia whacked Chechnya on their end. Not to mention American invasions into other countries, like Iraq and Afganistan.
- Posted by DennisBut as a world power, Russia has more claim to that area, because it is so far away from western Europe/USA and Russians are rightfully concerned about hostile Nato surrounding their country. They also have a moral upper hand here, they are preventing genocide of christian Ossetians and muslim Abkhasians who live in this land since ancient times (unlike muslim colonizers of ancient Serbian land of Kosovo). Imperial policies of Bush and his neocon buddies will lead us Americans to disaster!
http://static.oper.ru/data/gallery/l1048 752874.jpg
- Posted by nonameGeorgia “military exercise” was just a probe of Russian’s forces capabilities. The real war is in preparation right now by Ukrainian President Yushchenko. Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles were used to shot down 4 Russian airplanes. Ukraine sent weapons, trained the Georgian fighters (and probably participated as well). And behind Yushchenko and Saakashvili are the same neo-cons from Cheney team.
- Posted by Oleg