Posted on 08/11/2008 6:28:44 AM PDT by rrstar96
Today America faces a big test. Will we stand up for Georgia? Or will we betray her in the way that the United States so often betrays its friends and allies abroad?
A depressingly consistent aspect of American foreign policy since the Korean War has been to let down peoples who fight for us, trust us, or depend on us. Remember the Montagnards of Vietnam who fought so valiantly with our Green Berets during the Indochina conflict? Most of them ended up dead or in reeducation camps and it was decades before the survivors were even given visas to come to the USA.
Osama bin Laden himself has pointed out to his followers that America is a fair-weather friend, and that when things get tough — Lebanon in 1982, Somalia in 1993 — American administrations can be counted on to cut and run.
As the U.S. figures out what to do about the Russia-Georgian war, it should bear in mind that the world is watching very closely. Georgia has proved itself as a true friend and ally of the United States; it has sent thousands of troops from its small army to help the U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sure the Georgians got themselves into this conflict by launching a bid to recapture South Ossetia. But it wasn’t unprovoked — the Russians have been building up the government and armed forces of the breakaway province for years, and have been applying every kind of pressure to stop Georgia joining NATO, including aggressive measures like shooting down a Georgian aircraft earlier this year. And the Russians are in no position to criticize Georgia’s efforts to recapture breakaway territory given the tens of thousands the Russians killed to reverse Chechnya’s attempts to break free.
As Russian bombs rain down on key Georgian military bases, Ukraine and the Baltic states know all too well that they are next on the list for Russian invasion — probably with the same pretext of protecting Russian citizens — if the Kremlin gets away with crushing Georgia.
Also watching what happens in the Caucasus with one eye on the U.S. will be allied countries like Taiwan (it knows that U.S. corporations have long been pushing successive U.S. administrations to abandon Taiwanese democracy), Pakistan (it’s been dumped before), India, Turkey, the Gulf states, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, Australia, and Colombia… the list goes on.
The Bush administration is said to be obsessed with loyalty. But at the same time, it is habitually disloyal to America’s friends and allies. None of the over 30 countries that have sent troops to take part in the invasion and reconstruction of Iraq have been economically or politically rewarded in any way. Indeed the administration has taken them so much for granted than it hasn’t barely acknowledged their contribution, still less thanked them. This has damaged the administration because it plays into the myth of “unilateralism.” But much worse than that, it has also damaged American interests. Our allies have realized that America is neither grateful nor reliable. If the Poles had got anything for their stalwart support in Iraq — even something as cheap and easy as more visas to the U.S., the Kaczinsky government might not have fallen and the Poles might not be taking their troops out. If Tony Blair could have pointed at a single major defense contract from the United States — say a small aircraft carrier to be built in one of Britain’s desperate shipyards — he could have replied convincingly to charges of being “America’s poodle.”
But Georgia is a bigger test.
We don’t have to go to war for her (fortunately for irresolute Western governments, Georgia’s not in NATO) but we must back her in every other way: diplomatically, economically and with military technology and advice, now and after any ceasefire that is called.
If we don’t, if we let our ally be defeated and humiliated by the Russians, everyone will know that friendship with America carries more risk than rewards. Moreover it will genuinely signal a new age of American isolation. The diminution and weakness described or predicted by so many “declinist” authors will become a reality.
— Jonathan Foreman is deputy editor of Standpoint magazine.
We have already taken the step of angering the Russians by personally airlifting Georgia’s 2000 troops from Iraq back home to fight. I’m not sure how much deeper we can go.
the russians look at it,
the west took kosovo from us,
so we have the right to do the same.
Looks to be right on. It’s already 8:30AM CST 08/11 and no big news about how we are going to assist Georgia, this after a couple of days of Russia attacking civilians. Where’s Code Pink?? ...waiting...
Russia is making a killing with oil @ $147/bbl, so need to scare the oil speculators with the blowing up of that pipeline to keep crude from dropping to $80/bbl.
I think this would be the equivalent of Mexico arming and recruiting from a border town and then having them hold a revolution from America. Then the Mexican army flying and bombing that border town. “It’s just one little town” wouldn’t even factor in and I don’t see America bowing to that tactic. Georgia should be commended for standing up for it’s tiny self. Whatever the end result of that might be. Russia needs to get a thump and be reminded they are not the superpower they think themselves to be. Or the child will become increasingly bratty.
IMO the best thing we can do right now is to bomb all the Iranian nuclear facilites. The Russians are in no position right now to do anything about it. It will send a message to Russia and it will solve a national security issue at the same time.
Russia must think that because Bush is a lame duck and Obama will be President that they can do anything without a worry.
But then, Israel would be more than happy to do it.
WE need to be the ones to do it. WE need to let Russia and the rest of the world know that we are going to protect our own national security.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I would hope that right now we’re supplying hardware, training and intelligence to the Georgians. Saakasvhili has stated the Georgians will never give up their independence, hopefully he can hold his political base. If they’re properly armed I would think the Georgians in a guerilla style setting could give the Russians a real bloody nose and put a kink in Putin’s expansionist plans.
I’m hoping we’re also giving them access to our satellite recon assets.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I suppose it depends on how much animosity the Georgians have against the Russians.
Don’t know how much deeper you can go?
Back to the REAGAN years!Star war!Weakening PUTIN on the international stage,supporting democratic opposition in RUSSIA and last but not least create a DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE out of the useless U.N. as RUSSIA,CHINA are in the Security Council...
Among other things, we need to pray for the Georgians who are traditionally a Christian & Jewish people surrounded by islamo-nuts.
Bombing Iran could only help them in the long run.
Also please pray for 2000 Osetian civilians killed by Georgians. Ossetians are mostly Christian too.
I would agree with that. Aren’t the Ossetians Russian Orthodox? Georgia would be the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Is it possible this is a backroom trade, Georgia for Iran?
One word - Kosovo.
“And we need Russia more than we need Georgia at the moment.”
Don’t be surprised if the desire for countries to become American allies drops to the lowest levels since Vietnam.
Yes, Goergia made some huge miscalculations and the inaction by Nato makes it clear that Russia will make them pay the price. That being said, if we can’t stand by our friends and allies in their time of need, do we have any honor left?
Who’s next? Taiwan or Japan being left to the tender mercies of the ChiComs?
“...the way that the United States so often betrays friends and allies abroad.”
What crap. We are not the defenders of Georgia. We have no legal or ‘moral’ obligation to help them get out of a war they started and can not finish.
If this putz is so convinced of the US’s wickedness, and Georgia’s virtue...
he is free to leave and fight for whatever he believes. My country will not support his personal vendetta.
The problem is that US actually arrange “revolution of Roses” leading Saakashvli to power. Moreover, Saakashvli and his gevernment were on official paylist of State Department! Plus US actively supported his regime by sending various types of weapons and providing military instructors to Georgian army.
They are stooges agreed. Time to cut them loose. Backing these losers is making it complicated for everyone.
My current speculation is yes, it is a trade. I started speculating that way yesterday but this mornigs news that Israel was backing away from supporting Georgia reinforced my wild donkey guess.
Well f*** that. Put me down as an American who believes in standing behind our word.
Get lost Troll, you are so full of Sh** it isn’t funny. I wish Jim Rob would start banning you Russian a**hats from the site.
You are full of crap and CS to boot. Your country won't defend Georgia? What country is that anyway?
Putin thinks he's in a James Bond movie. What a fool he is.
U.S.A.
Judging from the President’s speech, I’d have to say you are wrong.
I’d have to say you are probably right.
Can you hold on a minute... I want my wife to read that... aloud.
It wasn't like Bush & Putin sat down with trading cards, but more of a default type situation.
Did I mention my opinion was a wild donkey guess?
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