Saakashvili Warns Russia Conflict Start of ‘Chain of Events’; Russia Demands U.S. Choose Sides
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Related subjects: Diplomacy & Politics, Europe, The Russian Federation, U.S. Politics Comments Off
Georgian pres. Mikheil Saakashvili has said he fears Russia’s military action against his nation is the start of a “chain of events”, rooted in “never-ending appetite” of those he views as Russia’s militarists, that could compromise security across the Sough Caucasus, eastern Europe and the Middle East. He also accuses Russia of having no intention of honoring the tentative ceasefire that was announced yesterday. Russia today has told the United States it must choose between supporting Georgia or being able to cooperate with Russian in other international affairs.
Saakashvili says of both Pres. Medvedev and Premier Putin that “they don’t speak to us at all”, and asked “what kind of perverse people are doing this”, speaking of the reports of ongoing attacks, by tanks and heavy artillery on sites across Georgia. Pres. Bush has said he is concerned Russia’s aim is to topple the democratically elected government of a sovereign state, calling it a “dramatic and brutal escalation”.
Pres. Bush, who had once said he looked into the eyes of Vladimir Putin and saw “his soul”, has now veered toward increasingly tough language condemning Russia’s actions in Georgia. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has now said Russia must recognize that this will not be treated like 1968, when it could simply invade and conquer Prague with little to no international consequences, but the Bush administration has issued no specifics about possible consequences.
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Pres. Bush declared “Russia must keep its word and bring this crisis to an end”, saying Russia is “putting its aspirations at risk”, regarding international security cooperation and economic bodies. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has said the G7 group of leading industrial democracies should “reconsider” whether Russia should be entitled to participate in the trade-policy planning group that has become known as the G8.
Saying he wanted “dialogue with Russia”, and that he did not foresee “a return to nuclear standoffs”, McCain reiterated his position that Russia needs to be made to understand that “In the 21st century, nations don’t invade other nations”. Critics from both liberal and conservative circles have said Bush administration Russia policy (treating Putin as a friend and ally) and the Iraq war, make it difficult to use any real leverage to stop Russia’s actions in Georgia.
The US and the EU are increasingly talking of NATO’s intentions, the use of military aircraft for humanitarian aid-delivery, and the revocation of Russia’s privileges in certain diplomatic circles, in order to increase pressure on the Kremlin. This, as reports suggest Russia launched a massive “denial of service” cyber-attack against Georgia’s government weeks before invading, and that the cyber-sabotage increased dramatically as the military intervention got underway, suggesting a premeditated strategy to cripple the smaller neighbor.
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