UPDATE 9/10 8:28pm: Russian Muslim Leader
Declares Anti-US Jihad
Talgat Tadzhuddin, one of Russia's two competing
chief muftis, has once again declared jihad against the US, this time
because of its support for Georgia, ...
UPDATE: The Marxist Obama can be depended upon to take the KGBs’ side (I know they changed the name) in any conflict. The Post editorial that follows gives an example.
Putin is trying to overthrow Georgia’s pro-free market, pro American president Mikheil Saakashvilli. For starters, he proclaimed a boycott on Georgia’s wines and spirits. It hurt the economy because Russia was their largest market. But the Georgians didn’t whine about it –they started marketing to the EU and America. We can help them by buying their wines. Georgian brandy is good stuff. Historian Richard Holbrooke says that if Saakashvili survives, Putin loses and freedom wins. I’ll drink to that. [I got this info from the 9/6 WSJ article, How’s Your Drink? by Eric Felton eric.felton@wsj.com -Geo.
August 15, 2008 Editorial in the New York Post
The phone may not have rung at 3 a.m., but when word came of Russia 's brutal invasion of neighboring Georgia , one of the two presidential candidates instinctively understood the adventure's long-range implications.
And one did not.
Indeed, the crisis in the Caucasus is giving voters real insight into how John McCain and Barack Obama might handle a foreign-policy emergency.
In his first public reaction, Obama merely called on " Georgia and Russia to show restraint" - a reflexive exercise in what Sen. Joe Lieberman rightly labeled "moral neutrality."
Then Obama called for a UN Security Council resolution condemning Russia - apparently unaware that Moscow , a permanent Security Council member, can veto any such resolution.
He also suggested sending an international force under "an appropriate UN mandate" to South Ossetia . (See above, Security Council veto.)
Obama's initial reaction was that only Georgia 's territorial sovereignty was at stake - and that the way to resolve that issue was to negotiate.
But McCain immediately understood that the real issue wasn't just a Georgian territory violation, but Vladimir Putin's premeditated effort to let Eastern Europe know that Russia intends thoroughly to dominate what it terms its "near abroad."
And, belligerently, to let the world know that Moscow again considers itself a player on the global stage.
"World history is often made in remote, obscure countries," McCain said. "It is being made in Georgia today."
Translation: Small regional clashes can have ominous wider implications.
And, unlike even President Bush, McCain appreciates the real nature of Russia 's leader.
Where Bush famously described looking into Putin's soul and seeing someone "straightforward and trustworthy," McCain retorted: "I looked into Mr. Putin's eyes, and I saw three things: a K and a G and a B."
His firm line from the start - calling on Russia to be booted from the G-8 and for NATO to immediately admit Georgia - was a model of what the entire Western response should have been.
Obama's campaign, meanwhile, decried McCain's approach as "belligerent," and pointed out that one of his advisers formerly lobbied for the Georgian government - criticism that mirrored almost exactly attacks on McCain emanating from Putin's foreign ministry.
Pretty weak beer.
The crisis in Georgia was the first real election-season test for the two men who seek to become commander-in-chief.
Only one passed.
Daryl said, "Talking, cajoling, and threats of a good scolding worked just great with Hitler and Tojo, too.
Obama should become President of Sesame Street. He may be able to handle that.
Leave being Commander-in-Chief and leading America through the dangers of the real world to John McCain. We can trust him to handle that.
Check out what Russia is up to post Georgia invasion. America is lost in the presidential election and Putin knows it - they are moving their chess pieces - belligerent war posturing. Much thanks to Van for the links.
Russia prepares to launch Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant J Post
Russia says to send nuclear warship to Caribbean
US-Russian naval rivalries heat up over Black, Caspian, Persian Gulf seas Debka
DEBKAfile's military sources report Washington is testing the Turkish
government's response to the permanent anchoring of US warships at either of the
two Georgian ports of Poti or Batumi. This would be quid pro quo for Moscow's
interest in bases in Iranian Azerbaijan and the Persian Gulf.
Our sources
report that the US anticipates a protracted period of tension with Russia for
the following reasons:
1. US and NATO vessels will need safe coastal
berths when the approaching winter storms strike the Black Sea. As time goes by,
Turkey, which under international conventions controls the passage of naval
vessels through the Dardanelles, will be under increasing pressure from Russia
to block the waterway to NATO.
3. Washington is well aware of the talk
in Moscow and Tehran in recent days about establishing Russian naval bases in
Iran: Iranian Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea and an Iranian-held island in the
Persian Gulf.
The latter, if Moscow and Tehran reached agreement, would
terminate US naval control of the Persian Gulf waters opposite Iran forces and
drastically upset the balance of strength in the region. Washington's response
to this talk is its bid for a permanent Black Sea base.
Here's some more on the Russia Venezuela Naval issue. A good piece from the excellent IBD Editorials series. They get it.
The Russians have little respect for Chavez, but their anger over the U.S.
missile shield treaty with Poland and the U.S. Navy's relief mission to Georgia
coincide their interests with his.
This threat to sea lanes will increase
the burden on U.S. forces who must monitor the new activity. It also underscores
how important it is for Congress to permit new drilling for reasons of national
security. If Russia can gain control of 25% of Europe's oil just by menacing
Georgia, it could get an even more impressive return in the Caribbean.
Van opines, "the entrance to the Black Sea is through the narrow Dardanelle Straits. Russia is trying to persuade Turkey to block this vital passage to our ships. Russia is Turkey's biggest trading partner, so the economic incentive is great.
Russia has announced plans to acquire an Iranian port for its Mediterranean fleet. This would spell the end of our dominance of the Persian Gulf region.
Russia has announced plans to finish the Iranian Nuclear plant at Busheir. This has been on hold for 5 years, due to pressure from the U.S. That understanding has now gone south.
Venezuela/Chavez has made huge military purchases of planes, armament and submarines as of late. There are also stories out there that Hezbollah is operating there against the Jews.
The STRATEGIC BALANCE of POWER in the world is in a major state of flux right now. The pieces on the chessboard are being re-arranged. To put it in non-diplomatic terms, the shit is going to hit the fan soon!"
Recent Comments