[tomder55]

George Pat's history left out plenty of provocation by the Ruskies before Georgia decided to move into S.Ossetia .

Actually Georgia has been under attack in one way or another since the Rose Revolution. Russia's goal is the Finlandization of it's former satellite states.
Read Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's oped . He details some of the Ruskie abuses.

Mikheil Saakashvili - Russia's War Is The West's Challenge - washingtonpost.com

[BABRAM]

So how did all this get started? According to Buchanan, "Mikheil Saakashvili's decision to use the opening of the Olympic Games to cover Georgia's invasion of its breakaway province of South Ossetia must rank in stupidity with Gamal Abdel-Nasser's decision to close the Straits of Tiran to Israeli ships.

"After shelling and attacking what he claims is his own country, killing scores of his own Ossetian citizens and sending tens of thousands fleeing into Russia, Saakashvili's army was whipped back into Georgia in 48 hours." Blowback From Bear-Baiting - HUMAN EVENTS

The history of the disputed territory, and people, goes back to the USSR breakup. Ask Buchanan if Dubya was warming up his vocals for singing the national anthem when he started his screaming match with Putin at the Olympics opening ceremony.

[inthebox]

But Gates did not leave the question open . He said :



That was an important signal .... a mistake Ronnie Reagan would never make.

Realistically, how could the USA even think about an armed conflict?
- Iraq and Afghanistan are costing $$$$$ and military resources, economy is not so hot, USA energy sources still questionable. I think Putin knows this.

In Russia's backyard?

For what national security purpose?

I say let the Europeans and the UN handle this one- if they have the will or ability to.
Let them learn how to defend themselves.


We have more on our plate right now, to be taking on another problem.

[tomder55]

Realistically, how could the USA even think about an armed conflict?

I outlined through 3 posts now what I think the US should be doing. It does not involved US armed conflict. It does involve us materially helping Georgia in their defense .

I say let the Europeans and the UN handle this one- if they have the will or ability to.
Let them learn how to defend themselves.

We tried that twice in the 20th Century . How did that work out ?

[inthebox]

I outlined throught 3 posts now what I think the US should be doing. It does not involved US armed conflict. It does involve us materially helping Georgia in their defense .



We tried that twice in the 20th Century . How did that work out ?

What you don't have any confidence on the UN or the Europeans:confused: :D


But the left keeps harangue the USA as the world's policeman :confused: :D

[BABRAM]

Realistically, how could the USA even think about an armed conflict?
- Iraq and Afghanistan are costing $$$$$ and military resources, economy is not so hot, USA energy sources still questionable. I think Putin knows this.

In Russia's backyard?

For what national security purpose?

I say let the Europeans and the UN handle this one- if they have the will or ability to.
Let them learn how to defend themselves.


We have more on our plate right now, to be taking on another problem.

You are being realistic, although diplomatically there are other avenues besides the UN. This is an international chess match and Dubya (this time) is being practical for good reasons. :cool:

[tomder55]

What you don't have any confidence on the UN or the Europeans


But the left keeps harangue the USA as the world's policeman

NATO has been figuratively dead for some time. The fact that it couldn't and wouldn't do anything about Bosnia and Kosovo until the US took the lead was a big hint.Their lame support of the Afghanistan campaign is another . Their appeasing posture regarding this Russian aggression is proof positive that it is time to disolve NATO and begin forming a League of Free Nations . Sure Western European nations would be invited to participate . But they would be no more influential than freer and braver Eastern European free nations or Japan India or Brazil .

The EU wants it's own independent foreign policy . You are right ;let them enforce it with their own muscle . Let them decide to fund their nannystates or their military. But the problem is that I know from history the United States will be dragged into their affairs again eventually when the security threats become more than their soft diplomacy can resolve.

The US called for a NATO meeting for Tuesday . Time to insist that they stop blocking Georgia and Ukraine entry into NATO and get unified support for the Polish decision to deploy defensive missile defense .