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#1 2008-08-14 10:03 am

ShnickyShnack
Commander of Insurgent Cell "Dreamboat"
From: Amidst a superiority complex
Registered: 2001-05-25
Posts: 40220

What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

There's debate about who started the Georgia/Russia conflict.

But really, the causes don't matter. Even if Georgia did poke the metaphorical dragon by pushing into South Ossetia, Russia's response has far exceeded whatever provocation the Georgians might have carried out.

Are Russia's territorial ambitions coming out? Does the Kremlin want a return of the old Russian Empire/Soviet borders? Is it going to seek to annex Georgia, or parts of it?

Today the Russian foreign minister said we should "Forget" Georgian territorial integrity. This to me is a sign that Russia plans to either annex the breakaway regions outright or erase all doubt as to them not being in Georgia ever again. For starters. Who knows what other hunks of land they'll carve off?

Meanwhile, what might be the real cause of the conflict was underlined by some less-publicized Russian actions:

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said Russian troops remained in Poti, a Black Sea port city with an oil terminal that is key to Georgia's fragile economic health.

An APTN crew in Poti saw one destroyed Georgian military boat, about 20 yards long, two Russian armored vehicles and two Russian transport trucks inside the port. They were blocked from moving closer by soldiers who identified themselves as Russian peacekeepers.

Earlier Thursday, on Poti's outskirts, the APTN crew followed a different convoy of Russian troops as they searched a forest for Georgian military equipment.

They're occupying a key oil terminal, and the main oil pipeline running through Georgia to Turkey from Central Asia -- in direct competition to Russian oil exports -- is out of commission.

It would appear, therefore, that this war could well be as naked a grab for control over oil resources as Saddam's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

What, if anything, should NATO, the EU and the US do about this?


"Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders’ equity, myself especially, are in a state of shocked disbelief." -- Alan Greenspan

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#2 2008-08-14 10:13 am

StaticAge
Fearless Vampire Killer
From: Washington DC
Registered: 2002-08-28
Posts: 6385
Website

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

Well, the US has already made its point that a regime change is a bad thing to do (and everyone thought Bush didnt learn anything from Iraq!).


How can a person still have any hopes
who is addicted to what's superficial,
who grubs with greedy hand for treasures
and then is happy to discover earthworms! - Goethe

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#3 2008-08-14 10:22 am

Ribtorus
Member
Registered: 2002-07-11
Posts: 13245

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

Energy makes Georgia an attractive locale for Russian influence. Concretly demonstrating the ineffectiveness of western security claims scores big kudos for the Russian leadership at home and makes other neighbours think twice about what western guarantees actually bring to the table.  Unless Russia is forced from Georgia by an actual threat, they win. If Russia can carry out its Georgia policy on its own terms, it wins.

I don't think NATO should do anything about it. NATO's not a diplomatic organisation. It should confine itself to military operations.

The U.N. and the EU and America should confine themselves to diplomacy. If it turns out that America had pledged meaningful military support to Georgia's security in 2003, (or whenever the pledges were made), then that's America's issue and they should honour their pledges or back away as they see fit.


It's not a movie.

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#4 2008-08-14 10:23 am

user
Your plastic pal who's fun to be with
From: I'm not getting you down, am I
Registered: 2001-10-15
Posts: 14482

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

I think it would be just peachy if Russia left a few bases in Georgia.


Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over.

Unless you become as little children, there's no way you will believe this crap.

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#5 2008-08-14 10:25 am

ShnickyShnack
Commander of Insurgent Cell "Dreamboat"
From: Amidst a superiority complex
Registered: 2001-05-25
Posts: 40220

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

How much leverage does the West have with Russia? Especially when we have our pet obsessions with places like Iran, which Russia is still doing business with -- and which Moscow could make even messier than they already are.


"Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders’ equity, myself especially, are in a state of shocked disbelief." -- Alan Greenspan

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#6 2008-08-14 10:31 am

Ribtorus
Member
Registered: 2002-07-11
Posts: 13245

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

ShnickyShnack wrote:

How much leverage does the West have with Russia? Especially when we have our pet obsessions with places like Iran, which Russia is still doing business with -- and which Moscow could make even messier than they already are.

Obviously not much.

Will Bush, Cheney and the neo-cons in charge* actually grow a pair and honour their claimed committment to Georgian democracy and independence?

*There's plenty of cheerleaders and pundits who can afford to be bellicose knowing it's unlikely their shouts will be acted on. But they can at least say they held to their guns, even if the leadership didn't.


It's not a movie.

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#7 2008-08-14 10:34 am

ShnickyShnack
Commander of Insurgent Cell "Dreamboat"
From: Amidst a superiority complex
Registered: 2001-05-25
Posts: 40220

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

I think there's zero interest -- zero interest in getting tough with a real foe like Russia. Impoverished third world smurf, sure. Potential superpowers, not so much.


"Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders’ equity, myself especially, are in a state of shocked disbelief." -- Alan Greenspan

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#8 2008-08-14 10:38 am

Ribtorus
Member
Registered: 2002-07-11
Posts: 13245

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

I wonder how loud Putin is laughing.

I wonder when Ahmedinijad takes his next trip to Moscow.

Neo-cons are such smurf-ups.


It's not a movie.

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#9 2008-08-14 10:42 am

Tallgeese
Arugula-eating Elitist
From: Fake America
Registered: 2000-10-17
Posts: 30576

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

I think we should wait until they've carved sections out and replaced leaders in Ukraine, Poland, and two or three Stans before we wag our fingers too hard. After all, maps aren't important.


QUESTION: What did Iraqi have to do with that?
BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with what?
QUESTION: The attacks upon the World Trade Center.
BUSH: Nothing

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#10 2008-08-14 10:44 am

ShnickyShnack
Commander of Insurgent Cell "Dreamboat"
From: Amidst a superiority complex
Registered: 2001-05-25
Posts: 40220

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

Tallgeese wrote:

I think we should wait until they've carved sections out and replaced leaders in Ukraine, Poland, and two or three Stans before we wag our fingers too hard. After all, maps aren't important.

At least try to make your trolling make sense.


"Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders’ equity, myself especially, are in a state of shocked disbelief." -- Alan Greenspan

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#11 2008-08-14 10:47 am

Tallgeese
Arugula-eating Elitist
From: Fake America
Registered: 2000-10-17
Posts: 30576

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

ShnickyShnack wrote:

Tallgeese wrote:

I think we should wait until they've carved sections out and replaced leaders in Ukraine, Poland, and two or three Stans before we wag our fingers too hard. After all, maps aren't important.

At least try to make your trolling make sense.

It must have made sense to you if you interpreted it as trolling.


QUESTION: What did Iraqi have to do with that?
BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with what?
QUESTION: The attacks upon the World Trade Center.
BUSH: Nothing

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#12 2008-08-14 10:59 am

ShnickyShnack
Commander of Insurgent Cell "Dreamboat"
From: Amidst a superiority complex
Registered: 2001-05-25
Posts: 40220

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

Tallgeese wrote:

ShnickyShnack wrote:

Tallgeese wrote:

I think we should wait until they've carved sections out and replaced leaders in Ukraine, Poland, and two or three Stans before we wag our fingers too hard. After all, maps aren't important.

At least try to make your trolling make sense.

It must have made sense to you if you interpreted it as trolling.

A thread about Georgia and a grumpy reference to maps. Doesn't take a genius, I'm afraid. Unfortunately in this context it was completely nonsensical.


"Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders’ equity, myself especially, are in a state of shocked disbelief." -- Alan Greenspan

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#13 2008-08-14 10:59 am

JakeTheTall
Cargo Cultist
From: In Permanent Opposition
Registered: 2003-03-13
Posts: 7848

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

I think its time the US nuked Russia.  That's really show other trouble-makers we're smurfing crazy and to not mess with our wishes.


“I don’t see (subprime mortgage market troubles) imposing a serious problem. I think it’s going to be largely contained”  -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, April 2007

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#14 2008-08-14 12:00 pm

Metacell
lower class snob
From: The space between the spaces
Registered: 2005-03-19
Posts: 4827
Website

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

I don't see how Russia's actions are any worse than what we do on a continual basis around the world.

EDIT: The fact that they are dealing with an immediate local threat makes it that much more understandable...a powerful empire never tolerates open hostility on its borders and overwhelming violent retribution is utterly standard.  (Doesn't mean I agree with it BTW, just wondering what right we (in the US) have to criticize when we have done far worse to neighboring nations that threatened to start independent populist democracies that don't serve our commercial interests.

Last edited by Metacell (2008-08-14 12:04 pm)


...having nothing in them of the feelings or principles of '76, now look to a single and splendid government of an aristocracy, founded on banking institutions and moneyed incorporations under the guise and cloak of their favored branches of manufactures, commerce and navigation, riding and ruling over the plundered ploughman and beggared yeomanry. -- TJ

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#15 2008-08-14 12:03 pm

Colonel Panic
You need to restart
From: The bowels of code
Registered: 2003-10-12
Posts: 519

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

Metacell wrote:

I don't see how Russia's actions are any worse than what we do on a continual basis around the world.

Worse, don't you mean less great?
Russia's just liberating the crap out of Georgia.


Have you tried repairing permissions?

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#16 2008-08-14 12:14 pm

Metacell
lower class snob
From: The space between the spaces
Registered: 2005-03-19
Posts: 4827
Website

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

hee-hee....probably saving the general population from a corrupt military coup.


...having nothing in them of the feelings or principles of '76, now look to a single and splendid government of an aristocracy, founded on banking institutions and moneyed incorporations under the guise and cloak of their favored branches of manufactures, commerce and navigation, riding and ruling over the plundered ploughman and beggared yeomanry. -- TJ

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#17 2008-08-14 12:16 pm

Proost
Member
From: chair
Registered: 2002-12-08
Posts: 1600

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

Not much I hope...
Don't make matters even worse, better try to listen to both sides and get on middle ground. Also I think they should talk tougher to the Georgian president, I believe he only attacked because he knew he got support from the US/Europe.
With trying to place anti nuclair rocket systems close to Russia also don't help.

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#18 2008-08-14 12:21 pm

Tallgeese
Arugula-eating Elitist
From: Fake America
Registered: 2000-10-17
Posts: 30576

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

Metacell wrote:

I don't see how Russia's actions are any worse than what we do on a continual basis around the world.

EDIT: The fact that they are dealing with an immediate local threat makes it that much more understandable...a powerful empire never tolerates open hostility on its borders and overwhelming violent retribution is utterly standard.  (Doesn't mean I agree with it BTW, just wondering what right we (in the US) have to criticize when we have done far worse to neighboring nations that threatened to start independent populist democracies that don't serve our commercial interests.

Whether or not America's crimes give them "the right" to say anything, what Russia is doing is wrong. I refuse to accept the "if you do something bad, you give up the ability to pressure someone else about their bad actions" line of thought.


QUESTION: What did Iraqi have to do with that?
BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with what?
QUESTION: The attacks upon the World Trade Center.
BUSH: Nothing

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#19 2008-08-14 12:22 pm

Metacell
lower class snob
From: The space between the spaces
Registered: 2005-03-19
Posts: 4827
Website

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

Oh I think the UN should get involved, I just think the only thing the US can do is make things worse.


...having nothing in them of the feelings or principles of '76, now look to a single and splendid government of an aristocracy, founded on banking institutions and moneyed incorporations under the guise and cloak of their favored branches of manufactures, commerce and navigation, riding and ruling over the plundered ploughman and beggared yeomanry. -- TJ

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#20 2008-08-14 12:36 pm

NokX
Member of the Month
From: Knoxville, TN
Registered: 2000-07-17
Posts: 6190

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

i don't think the USA should get involved at all.  and we need to pull our military bases out of every other country while we're at it.


"Those who would give us a 'living' Constitution are actually giving us a dead Constitution, since such a thing is completely unable to protect us against the encroachments of government power." Kevin Gutzman

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#21 2008-08-14 12:37 pm

Tallgeese
Arugula-eating Elitist
From: Fake America
Registered: 2000-10-17
Posts: 30576

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

Yes, isolationism worked SO well for us in the past.


QUESTION: What did Iraqi have to do with that?
BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with what?
QUESTION: The attacks upon the World Trade Center.
BUSH: Nothing

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#22 2008-08-14 12:45 pm

Chickenhawk
Friends don't let friends hunt drunk
From: The bad air state
Registered: 2005-06-01
Posts: 4879

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

Tallgeese wrote:

Yes, isolationism worked SO well for us in the past.

Indeed.

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#23 2008-08-14 1:26 pm

JakeTheTall
Cargo Cultist
From: In Permanent Opposition
Registered: 2003-03-13
Posts: 7848

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

nuke 'em nuke 'em nuke 'em !


“I don’t see (subprime mortgage market troubles) imposing a serious problem. I think it’s going to be largely contained”  -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, April 2007

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#24 2008-08-14 1:27 pm

Proost
Member
From: chair
Registered: 2002-12-08
Posts: 1600

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7561926.stm

US and Poland agree shield deal
The US and Poland have agreed a preliminary deal on plans for the controversial US defence shield, Warsaw has announced.

The plan would see the US base 10 missile interceptors in Poland in exchange for help strengthening Polish defences, said PM Donald Tusk.

The scheme is highly controversial and has been opposed by Russia.

Poland is reported to have demanded security help after Moscow threatened to target its missiles at the bases.

The Polish Foreign Ministry told the PAP news agency that the deal would be signed at 1800 GMT.

The US signed a deal with the Czech Republic in July to base tracking radars there as part of the missile defence system.

Washington says it needs the system to protect itself and Europe from missile attack by what it calls rogue states, such as Iran. The US wants the sites to be in operation by about 2012.

Russia has expressed concern about the system in the past, with one official saying the deal "complicates" global security.

How stupid they can be/get?

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#25 2008-08-14 1:33 pm

sturner
Royal High Poobah
Moderator
From: Carrollton, TX USA
Registered: 2000-01-31
Posts: 9866

Re: What should the West do about Russia/Georgia?

Well there is our only leverage, aka the Turkish Air Bases during the Cuban Missle Crisis. We agree to let the missle installations not be installed, they get their butts out of Georgia.


"There were places in the world commemorating those times when wizards hadn't been quite as clever [as to refrain from doing magic when you knew how easy it was], and on many of them the grass would never grow again."  Terry Prachett

There are 3 types of people, those who can count and those who can't.

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