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Russia's War is the West's Challenge (WaPo Op-Ed by President of Georgia)
The Washington Post ^ | Wednesday, August 13, 2008 | Mikheil Saakashvili

Posted on 08/13/2008 5:49:48 PM PDT by kristinn

TBILISI, Georgia -- Russia's invasion of Georgia strikes at the heart of Western values and our 21st-century system of security. If the international community allows Russia to crush our democratic, independent state, it will be giving carte blanche to authoritarian governments everywhere. Russia intends to destroy not just a country but an idea.

For too long, we all underestimated the ruthlessness of the regime in Moscow. Yesterday brought further evidence of its duplicity: Within 24 hours of agreeing to a cease-fire, Russian forces were rampaging through Gori; blocking the port of Poti; sinking Georgian vessels; and -- worst of all -- brutally purging Georgian villages in South Ossetia, raping women and executing men.

The Russian leadership cannot be trusted -- and this hard reality should guide the West's response. Only Western peacekeepers can end the war.

Russia also seeks to destroy our economy and is bombing factories, ports and other vital sites. Accordingly, we need to establish a modern version of the Berlin Airlift; the United Nations, the United States, Canada and others are moving in this direction, for which we are deeply grateful.

SNIP

This war threatens not only Georgia but security and liberty around the world. If the international community fails to take a resolute stand, it will have sounded the death knell for the spread of freedom and democracy everywhere.

SNIP

I have staked my country's fate on the West's rhetoric about democracy and liberty. As Georgians come under attack, we must ask: If the West is not with us, who is it with? If the line is not drawn now, when will it be drawn? We cannot allow Georgia to become the first victim of a new world order as imagined by Moscow.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: caucasus; easterneurope; geopolitics; georgia; saakashvili; sorospuppet; southossetia; thewest; war
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Will 2008 turn out different than 1968? Only time will tell.
1 posted on 08/13/2008 5:49:48 PM PDT by kristinn
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To: kristinn

This guy’s country is being invaded and he has time to write an op-ed to the Washington Post?

Churchill he ain’t.


2 posted on 08/13/2008 5:53:07 PM PDT by Patrick1
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To: kristinn

I know I do not trust Putin. I am not sure if I trust this guy either.


3 posted on 08/13/2008 5:54:03 PM PDT by microgood
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To: kristinn
1968-Chicago-Checkoslovakia....Viet Nam
2008-Denver-Georgia.....Iraq

Just that those on the outside at Chicago are inside at Denver.

4 posted on 08/13/2008 5:54:41 PM PDT by Roccus (Able Danger??? What's an Able Danger?????)
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To: kristinn
blocking the port of Poti

Excuse me?

5 posted on 08/13/2008 5:55:50 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Patrick1

He has to speak and write publically and often, unless of course he plans on picking up a Rifle...


6 posted on 08/13/2008 5:57:26 PM PDT by padre35 (Conservative in Exile/ Romans 10.10/Eze 11.2)
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To: Patrick1

What an ignorant thing to say. Under the circumstances, I would say the Op-ed and television interviews like the one he gave to Glenn Beck are amont the most effective things he could do right now.

Do you think if he was in a war room directing the movement of the tiny Georgian military, he would be influencing the outcome more than taking an hour to pen an op-ed aimed at American and world public opinion.


7 posted on 08/13/2008 6:00:17 PM PDT by NavVet ( If you don't defend Conservatism in the Primaries, you won't have it to defend in November)
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To: Patrick1
What a despicable comment.

Churchill found time to deliver radio appeals during The Blitz, yet you criticize Saakashvili for writing an appeal during this current blitz.

I'm amazed you possess the requisite faculties to access the internet - it's a marvel akin to watching a dog walk on its hind legs.

8 posted on 08/13/2008 6:01:15 PM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that those who call themselves Constitutionalists know the least about the Constitution?)
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To: Patrick1

I never can understand the line of reasoning you just used. How exactly is him writing an Op-Ed appealing to westerners to come to the aid of his nation somehow bad?


9 posted on 08/13/2008 6:01:18 PM PDT by aft_lizard (One animal actually its eats its own brains to conserve energy, we call them liberals.)
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To: Patrick1

He’s fighting a battle for world opinion, for cripe’s sake. What to do expect him to do, wave his magic wand and make the Russian tanks disappear?


10 posted on 08/13/2008 6:01:28 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: microgood

Do you have anything to base the second half of that comment on, or have you just been listening to Barrack too much.


11 posted on 08/13/2008 6:01:59 PM PDT by NavVet ( If you don't defend Conservatism in the Primaries, you won't have it to defend in November)
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To: NavVet; Patrick1

Patrick1’s manners are as deficient as his knowledge of history, pathetically enough.


12 posted on 08/13/2008 6:02:38 PM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that those who call themselves Constitutionalists know the least about the Constitution?)
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To: Patrick1
This guy’s country is being invaded and he has time to write an op-ed to the Washington Post? Churchill he ain’t.

Oh come on. He's named the issues right in front of our government. This was no letter to the editor.

13 posted on 08/13/2008 6:03:10 PM PDT by sionnsar (Impeach Obama |Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: MarMema

Ping.


14 posted on 08/13/2008 6:03:15 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Patrick1

>Churchill he ain’t.

Churchill did the same thing, he knew he had to try to convince some Americans that his cause was just.


15 posted on 08/13/2008 6:05:10 PM PDT by flyfree
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To: wideawake

Maybe he should go on E! next. He can appear just after Elizabeth Edwards.

Then Oprah. Please....lead your nation don’t pander to the Western MSM.


16 posted on 08/13/2008 6:05:16 PM PDT by Patrick1
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To: mylife

Poti is a major Georgian Black Sea port. According to Fox News, the Russians have been blowing up Georgian ships in the harbor and taking others out into the Black Sea and sinking them after the so called cease fire was to take effect.


17 posted on 08/13/2008 6:05:44 PM PDT by Truth29
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To: kristinn

This is a good sign for a Capitol Hill consensus to reverse the Russian invasion. The fact that WaPo is printing his plea for assistance is an indication that even liberals are starting to look askance at Putin’s adventure. Georgia may have a fighting chance, after all.


18 posted on 08/13/2008 6:05:53 PM PDT by Zhang Fei
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To: Patrick1

I thought the article rather Churchillian in tone and
substance. Perhaps you are not familiar with his Pre WWII. speeches?


19 posted on 08/13/2008 6:06:57 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Patrick1

Historian YOU ain’t.

Churchill was a master communicator, especially in the pre-war and England Alone days, trying to lure America’s help.


20 posted on 08/13/2008 6:08:32 PM PDT by Petronski (The God of Life will condemn the Chinese government. Laogai means GULAG.)
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