Barack Obama Mimics George Bush on Russia’s Invasion?
By Larry Johnson on August 9, 2008 at 6:30 PM in Current Affairs
I am writing this from Ford Island, Hawaii–which sits in the middle of Pearl Harbor. Sixty eight years ago the Japanese launched a surprise attack against the United States and destroyed a significant portion of the U.S. fleet in the Pacific. My room is 300 yards from the resting hulk of the USS Arizona, which blew up and sank with over 1100 U.S. sailors entombed. A few yards south of the memorial for the USS Arizona is the battleship USS Missouri. The battleship named for my state of birth was the platform in the Tokyo harbor where Japan surrendered to General Douglas MacArthur.
These two naval monuments–one a sunken graveyard and the other a floating museum–are the bookends for the U.S. war against Japan. The war started with the sinking of one and ended in a somber ceremony on the teakwood deck of the other.
Which brings us to the newest war in the 21st century–Russia’s invasion of Georgia. Ben Smith at the Politico offers this summary:
Russia has long attempted to reclaim now-sovereign parts of the former Soviet Union, stoking conflicts in the enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which are universally recognized to be Georgian soil. Russia has also used the ensuing military tensions to set back Georgia’s bid to enter NATO.
But Georgia appears to have sparked the conflict by marching on the South Ossetian capital as Russia’s powerful Prime Minister Vladimir Putin headed to Beijing for the Olympic Games. Russia, in turn, welcomed the conflict, launching a large-scale attack on its smaller neighbor and sending tanks across its border.
Both American candidates back Georgia’s sovereignty and its turn toward the West. But their first statements on the crisis revealed differences of substance and style.
So how do they differ? Smith says that Barack has adopted the position of the the White House, the European Union, NATO and a series of European powers:
“I strongly condemn the outbreak of violence in Georgia, and urge an immediate end to armed conflict,” Obama said in a written statement. “Now is the time for Georgia and Russia to show restraint and to avoid an escalation to full-scale war. Georgia’s territorial integrity must be respected.”
Obama added briefly that the international community should get involved. More than an hour later, as more details of Russia’s incursion into Georgia emerged, he cited Russia more directly: “What is clear is that Russia has invaded Georgia’s sovereign — has encroached on Georgia’s sovereignty,” he told reporters in Sacramento.
And McCain?
“[T]he news reports indicate that Russian military forces crossed an internationally recognized border into the sovereign territory of Georgia. Russia should immediately and unconditionally cease its military operations and withdraw all forces from sovereign Georgian territory.
“The government of Georgia has called for a ceasefire and for a resumption of direct talks on South Ossetia with international mediators. The U.S. should immediately work with the EU and the OSCE to put diplomatic pressure on Russia to reverse this perilous course that it has chosen.”
The fact that Barack’s position mimics that of the Bush White House does not necessarily mean Americans should feel comforted. Let’s start with the fact that we live in a damn glass house. Our unprovoked invasion of Iraq does not give us much moral authority for lecturing other countries about violating sovereignty of others.
Nonetheless, this case is more egregious on the part of the Russians. Georgia is a democracy and is friendly with the West. Georgia is not governed by a brutal thug like Saddam Hussein. And Georgia has been cooperating with the United States in going after Islamic extremists. For many years Islamic radicals directly tied to Osama Bin Laden operated in the Pankisi Gorge of Georgia.
Let me suggest that the reaction of George Bush and Barack Obama is weak and dangerous. If someone invades your house and is killing your family members are your supposed to show “restraint?” Give me a break. Trying to treat the Russians and Georgians as equals in this dispute sends a message of weakness that is likely to embolden Russia and leave the Georgians with a sense of betrayal.
I am not advocating we enter this war on the ground and that we fight alongside the Georgians. But Barack’s comparatively weak, mealy mouthed response to the violation of another country’s sovereignty does not give me a warm, fuzzy feeling. And the fact that he is lining up with the likes of the failed Presidency of George Bush is even more troubling. At least John McCain seems to understand that unprovoked aggression, left unchallenged, leads to more violence and more death.
Just another instance where Obama has no clue.
I thought Barky was in Hawaii on vacation
now he’s speaking with he told reporters in Sacramento. ?? So he’s back on the mainland??
With his new and improved COLB!
Where’s WALDOBAMA?
One question why are you were Obama is?
So the President of Georgia decided to invade the contested land while Putin is at the Olympics. Did this president seem to think that the entire Russian army went to the Olympics too? So now Putin can see this as a way to re-take Georgia back into the Russian fold?
Does this President of Georgia have a brain or am I misunderstanding the events here?
You cannot “invade” your own territory. South Ossetia is Georgian territory.
Larry,
I read Ben Smith’s article and I find it flawed.
The real reason for this war is Russia’s wish to control Gas Pipes from Azerbaijan and oil pipes from Turkmenistan. These countries together with Georgia and Turkey with the help of western oil companies are planning the construction of these pips through Georgia and Turkey. Russia is trying to force the pipes to go through it so the can continue their choke hold of Europe. There is quite a lot of details and history to this dispute. This is the background to Russia’s support of South Ossetia and pressure on Georgia.
Putin is clearly the thug here and McCain called it. This is no time to play Jimmy Carter.
On the comparison Between Bush and Obama. Bush is in a position to say something less provocative in public while negotiating with Putin in a different tone. Obama is not a factor in this and his statement stands on it’s own.
Georgia needs to show strength and resolve through military means, Russians respect military strength. Georgia has tanks and weapons courtesy of the US, but how many US forces are nearby and available to assist Georgia if needed? Talks can come later as we need to rethink how we deal with Russia. Russia feels isolated from the US and we could use Russia as an ally against Radical Islamic Terrorists.
Simonov…BP is doin the pipeline…so Brits are heavy into this. Europe has a big Headache on their hands….
Yet Europe continues to play weak, knowing the the US and only the US will once again come to the rescue. And Citizen of the Wold takes the same weak line as Europe. This is the same guy that wants to negotiate with Iran.
This is a major test for the European Union….Hmmmm…..
Well said. To call and end to armed conflict is not weakness, it is merely sanity! Thousands of lives are at stake… we invaded iraq to stop the harboring of terrorists, and the continuation of rule by a madman who tortured and killed his own people.
This author is a radical, and should not be taken seriously. Who the hell is he anyway?!
And, wasn’t that attack 67 years ago, not 68?
?
Sarkozy could be a wild card….Brown although smart as a whip lacks hutzpah…maybe….I’m still ponderin who will step up…Hmmmm
Agreed Larry…Russia has been arming separatists in the region….Putin is using the phony ( Hitler Lie ) of protecting Ethnic Russians in Georgia. Putin has given these separatists Russian Passports….Russian tanks have gone over the border and they have gone deep into Georgian Real estate according to maps on the BBC. Putin has wanted to reclaim real estate that was former Soviet Bloc….Folks in Eastern Europe have gotta be nervous bout now.
Obama response = weak and made Putin smile…
McCain response = Callin Putin on his BS…and Putin reaches for a shot o vodka in a slight sweat….hmmm
South Ossetia is only Georgian territory according to the Georgians, Larry.
The South Ossetians , on the other hand, do not WANT to be part of Georgia, and haven’t been, since 1992.
They’ve been fighting Georgian border excursions for years.
Yes and they are related to the Russian Cossacks. There are actual Cossack associations in Russia preparing for war in Southern Ossetia.
Yeah, I think you’re misunderstanding the events…
South Ossetia has acted autonomously since 1992, so why now is Georgia throwing its weight around?
Ehemmm….Because Putin gave separatists Russian Passports ? How long does it take for tanks to roll in over the border….This was planned…
NATO requires a stable Georgian State. Those rebellious entites (South Ossetia and Abkhazia) must be pacified by a new Georgian army.
Because Georgia knows we’ve been spending billions beefing up their military with weapons and training, and they know we want them in NATO.
They moved in on the territory that’s considered itself independent since 1992. What about THEIR sovereignty?
Besides, the United States wants those pipelines.
Give me a freakin Break…MARY…Putin is a KGB thug….He lets Europe FREEZE in winter….BP is building an alternative pipeline…..and Georgia is one of the countries helping them….Exactly why do you think GWB started the missile shit in the first place…Because Putin has made it very clear that he wants back former soviet territory…sheeesh!
I hate GWB…..But this freezin Europe in the winter shakedown is FASCIST THUGGERY of the worst kind…..
hmmm…letting people freeze in the winter…why does that sound familiar????
Excuse me, workingclassartist.
Georgia allowed the US to build a military base there, near that pipeline, and the people of Ossetia don’t WANT to be part of Georgia.
In fact, they’ve had numerous borderline battles to fight Georgia and keep it OUT of their territory.
The “bully” here, is the country of Georgia assuming that with US backing and beefed up weapons (your taxdollars, with a little CIA help to piss off Putin), the president of Georgia ASSumed he could “retake” Ossetia without their agreement.
Putin had warned him not to do it, long ago.
Per AP:
“Russia sent an armored column into the breakaway enclave of S Ossetia AFTER Georgia, a staunch US ally, lauched an offensive to crush separatists.”
Those “separatists” have been fighting Georgia’s aggression since 1992 .
THINK about who wants you to think Putin is the big bad guy, so we can promote western pipeline interests.
If your source of information is AP (American Propaganda)you’ll continue to make dumb statements for the rest of your life.
simanov,
There’s a very informative 9-page story on the front page of the NYTimes website explaining the history of the region.
By an expert in the field.
I suggest you start researching yourself and by that I don’t mean reading has been news papers turn lefty propaganda machine.
But here’s another quote for you, simanov, from the conservative British press:
“In an apparent bid to recapture South Ossetia, Georgia launched a surprise military offensive against the breakaway region, promptin an armed response from neighboring Russia while threatening to further fray US.-Russian relations.”
I think that quote clearly expresses who was the aggressor was , here.
Perhaps the Georgian president thought we WOULD jump in to back him up in his aggression.
Foolish thought.
That’s an oxymoron. I noticed you didn’t cite.
Oxymoron???
You’ve never heard of David Cameron?
A politician, not a journalist or an annalist. We can continue for ever, this is useless. Go study the subject.
Hmmmm…Let’s see using your logic…..
Putin stomps bad separatists in Chechnya = Good Vlad. Cause Chechnya was Russian…..Right ?
Georgia polices it’s own state = Putin has the right to invade GEORGIA….Have you seen the latest MAPS MARY….PUTIN TANKS ARE WELL INTO GEORGIA…
I live in Texas….Texans on occasion like to play a fun cocktail party called let’s secede from the union….So if I get enough Texans together at a kegger with some guns…Why not ask Mexico to help out….And people like you can call me a freedom fighter and call the US an aggressor….
The US has a responsibility to our allies in Eastern Europe. Russia does not have a lengthy legacy of tolerance or passivity. You have been reading up on too much revisionist history….
Translation: I haven’t actually read any of the articles in AP, NY Times, Washington Post, or Wall Street Journal.
Said workingclassartist, who likes to type with LOTS of capital letters.
Once you get personal you loose your credibility.
Sorry, simanov. When Workingartist screamed in capital letters, to me, “go fuck yourself,” it became personal.
Did you read the quote from the conservative British press?
It’s quite informative.
So, Russian pipe - good, western - bad, got it. How about what Georgia wants?
How about what Ossetia wants?
Not a country and a part of Georgia. Since Georgia was occupied for ages, there are a lot of Russians living in Ossetia, they can leave ang move back to Russia.
Mary…the maps I looked at were BBC this morning….and PC BULLSHIT about capital letters is stupid….I use them for emphasis. I mean taking offense over capital letters is a tad silly…..Visual Screaming, how quaint and absurd.
I’ll bet you dismiss on the basis of grammar and spellng too.
Whether you like it or not you sound foolish about your crush on Putin…..3Z’s is probably another hero of yours as well….
“I’ll bet you dismiss on the basis of grammar and spellng too.”
Abviously, you have nothing else to say to Mary! How many languages do you speak I wonder? Do your research first before you begin your disscussion regarding this matter.
Yes you are right, he is a thug and what do thugs want? RESPECT! So now, tanks roll and all the world is paying attention.
OMG…
BO is a wimp and dangerous…
What a stark contrast is shown in the above statements from BO and JM…
God help the USA citizens in understanding the difference between these candidates.
Thank you Larry…
Larry, isn’t it amazing what the Japanese did to Pearl Harbor with the one bomb??!!!
Nice one Idiocracy08.
It’s wonderful that BOBO wants the international community involved. That’s a nice little meaningless catch phrase that will get the BOBOweenies over to their wheels for a vigorous little run to nowhere.
Barky’s first statement sounds like he hadn’t fully comprehended the situation. Like it was some kind of skirmish between a few overzealous soldiers. Later when someone explained the facts to him he came out with something more…ahem…informed. I’m guessing it took awhile to get through that list of 300 advisers to find the dude that knows about Russia.
what absentee ballot strawberry?
August 19th election…I think it will be the canary in the coal mine if Washington turns red this year.
gotcha
As I understand it the South Ossethia territory has been under dispute; so I would not jump to conclusions and blame this whole incident on the Russians. I looks like the Georgians are at fault also. Just trying to be objective here.
Gee Tricia…if Mexico started issuing passports to Texans and we started to secede from the union….Ya think Washington might do somethin about it ?
Look at the map on the BBC….Russian tanks have gone deep into Georgia…
Putin is makin a Land Grab….Kinga like Poland 1939….He’s goin in to save the ethnic Ruskies…just like Adolf was goin to save the ethinic Germans….
Russian tanks have not gone “deep into Georgia.” They’re in Ossetia, which is not the same thing.
Good grief, bud.
South Ossethia was never part of Georgia! Georgians invaded South Ossethia and killed 1,900 civilians! It is not a secret that Geogians were trained and were getting military support from the US for at least 10 years. So, the Georgian President assumed that even if a Georgian-Russian conflict would happen, he will be supported by the US, which is happening right now. And he -Georgian President- is talking about he’s country’s democracy and independence? And….. What do you expect Russia to do? Sit there and watch Georgians killing Ossethians just because Geogians in alliance with the US, and they-Geogians- want Ossethia to be part of their territory because of oil resources? Plus, why do you think Georgians were getting support from the US? It’s been abvious that the American government tried to put its missliles and its millitary forces around Russia. Russians realize that too. They are not stupid, you know. Do you remember what happened when Russians put its missiles in Cuba what happened? The Cold War!
By the standards of some, California is “under dispute” as well. I guess if the U.S. Army conducts an exercise at Ft. Hunter-Liggett, the U.S. would be “at fault” too for provoking an invasion by Mexico.
BINGO…Retired. This territory is not under dispute…It is GEORGIAN.
Putin has been pissed off ever since Georgia entered into agreement with British Petroleum….Putin wants to keep his Winer shakedown scam o’ Europe goin….and I’m not buyin the Ptuin is a great leader shit either….He’s KGB thug FASCIST….THERE IS NO FREE SPEECH IN RUSSIA…HE’S SHUT EM ALL DOWN……Oh Brother !
And you think the presidents of the former countries of the Soviet Union are not former KGBs or the members of the existed Communist Party? I can name a couple of them who were. Can you? Do you know anything about them, or how they gained the power? Abviously, you are fed up with the propaganda and don’t see anything futher that your own two feet. By the way, is there free speech in the US, escpecially after September 11th? I don’t think so!
Hey Retired, the Mexican Army is already violating our boarder with a Boarder Agent being accosted at gun point with in the week.
There have been several hundred “incursions” this year alone by the Mexican army.
So by that standard we should invade Mexico?
All I know is watching BO’s intial statement on the tube, was just so NOT rocking my world with confidence he had the slightest clue of what was going on. Truthfully, I found his response frightning. BO is dangerous in his ignorance. Putin would treat BO like a side of gravy and sadly that is what BO is.
Mr. Johnson “teakwood deck” …nice job, that was “classified” intel.
Such is life with Bush and Barky…..
May I reiterate…it is Barackula that is running for the third term of bush!!
I see McCain’s statement as more direct, specific, and clear. He speaks about specific international bodies with whom we need to engage and interact. Obama’s statement appears to be a little on the vague side—speaks in generalities and he does not give a clear context about what has happened. Thus to me it appears that McCain demonstrates he knows something about what he is talking about whereas Obama is just issuing a general statement about an event that he does not clearly understand—he tries to sound “presidential”. I think everyone is lined up on the Bush line. I think the US push on missile defenses in Poland and possibly Georgia coming into NATO are going to get a Russian reaction that is aggressive. You are especially right in stating that our own Iraq invasion undermines our voice on this event. That is an effect that was always a concern of thoughtful people when we did our Iraqi number and it will haunt us for decades. We would not tolerate a Cuba and Russia is not going to tolerate NATO in Georgia. I was just in Russia for the solar eclipse and in traveling throughout European Russia and on into Siberia it was clear that Russians are much more politically open and public in their politics today. There is real disgust with the legacy of Gorbachev and Yeltsin and the demise of the Soviet Union (but not the demise of the Communist party). I got the sense that Russians today feel that the grand failure of Glosnost and its fallout was losing so much in territory and people and what they like and admire about Putin is that he is taking them back to the center of the world stage where they believe they belong. Russia is back and I don’t think we are going to like what comes forth.
“Now is the time for Russia and Georgia to show restraint…”
Someone please tell Obama that Georgia was invaded by an aggressive neighbor. I think this guy would tell a woman who is being raped that she should “show restraint.”
Obama would react to the bombing of Pearl Harbor by calling for “cooler heads to prevail on both sides.”
God help us if he manages to pull out a win in November.
Yep. Cheer the tanks as they roll over your citizens and blow-up your buildings. Obama is going to promise them some hope and change.
Is this manchild even CAPABLE of taking a definitive stand on ANYTHING?
No, John.
Ossetia has separated itself from Georgia since 1992, acting independently, with lots of Russians living there.
After Bush helped them beef up their military and encouraged them, THEY invaded Ossetia, killing Russians, and Russia invaded to stop Georgia’s encroachment on what Ossetians considered THEIR sovereignty.
Bottom dollar says Bush and CIA (sorry , Larry, but them’s the facts) did it on purpose. We do NOT want Russia to control those pipelines.
SHUT THE FUCK UP MARY!…..You area tedious TROLL….sheeesh!
Blame America Mary…..Keep it up….Putin is a saint….and then go fuck yourself…..YOU POLLUTE THIS BOARD!…..sheeesh!
Who you think you are tell anyone to shut the fuck up, is amazing.
Try reading the AP article, or the NY Times article about the region, about what has happened, and about how Ossetia feels about Georgia.
RETARD
Gee Mary…It’s America….and NQ….If I want to tell you to shut up because you litter the site with multiples….I WILL….
Take your leftist Putin Worship and shove it. I’m sure you have a nice umbrella collection…..
“leftist Putin Worship?”
Good Lord…..NY Times articles and AP background information is not the above bullshit.
You’re hysterical, artist.
READ THE NYTIMES ARTICLE, written by an expert in the field.
Gee Wiz Mary…I read lots of stuff besides the NYT as the NYT hasn’t been credible….I have been lookin at this ever since BP made the agreement…..You on the other hand rely on Mainstream American News Media….HELLO ?
Try the conservative British press, then.
They’re saying the same thing as the NYTimes.
Gee Wiz Mary…..Not the BBC….they had maps up this morning that looks like Putin’s tanks are deeper than you think. Putin is a FASCIST thug….And it’s OBVIOUS TO MOST
FOLKS…..sheeesh!
Mary,
Abviuosly, he has nothing else to say. He is an ignorant person who has to work on his vocabulary. Don’t waste your time trying to expand his knowledge about certain things or trying to educate him. It is too late for that.
I bet you must be under 25. You say Ossetia has been acting independently since 1992, that is only a few years ago, your sense of time is that of a teenager. Israel has been a country for 60 years now, for you that might seem a long time, but for the people of that area it’s only like a couple of minutes.
No, John. Ossetia was invaded by their aggeressive neighbor Georgia.
Ossetians consider GEORGIA to be the bully.
“Georgia was invaded by an aggressive neighbor?” Atually, Geogians attacked South Ossethians on August the 7th and killed 1,900 civilians. Do you ever do your research before you make statements like that?
Larry, is there a real chance that the US will be forced into this conflict? I mean if Georgia requests aid, we would have to step in would we not?
That would be extremely dangerous. Russia is no longer the Soviet Union but it is still an “Evil Empire” and would not blink an eye over using one of its nuclear warheads to decimate an American city. This entire dispute would collapse into a global war pitting the US and EU against Russia and China at the very time that China is hosting the Olympic games. Obama is definitely not ready to face these challanges.
Yeah, well that’s exactly why this is making me nervous. I know we consider Georgia friends, or allies. I just wondered HOW friendly we are. I mean considering the lives that have already been lost, at what point do they feel enough is enough, but will not back down but instead request aid. And who might they request it from…us?
And if they do, then what? Can we really get into a conflict with Russia?
It is too scary to think about, but SOMEone has to!
Georgia is an ally and an applicant to NATO….so anything we do will be with ou European Allies….It’s tricky….But Putin is not the same as the QUACK FRUITCAKES IN KOREA OR IRAN……
If it is proven that Georgia was the aggressor against Ossetia, NATO will not back them. And the aggression will jeopardize their entry into NATO.
Larry, do you happen to be in Hawaii by mere coincidence. I hope not! ; )
d i t t o
J o e
I was going to ask the same thing. Since you are THERE in Hawaii, got any time for some sleuthing Larry, or spying…LOL!
Hope so. I was about to ask if it is a vacation trip or business. I also hope the AG there has taken some time to read his emails. Do you think he might be able to question BO while he’s there?
Best of luck in Hawaii! I hope you find everything you are looking for and more
Thanks Larry!
P.S.
I hope you find some time to ENJOY yourself too. You deserve it
Lor818
What pray tell would we step in with? What virtual combat units do we have available? The US can not and should not act on this unilaterally. There are oil and gas pipeline issues here as well as the questions about South Ossethia where the people associate more with Russia than with the Georgians (or so I have read).
Obama would sit around playing his fiddle while the world burns.
Correction: Playing the Ludacris music on his IPod
Thee BOBO would fiddle with his iPod while the world burns.
BINGO….This is about the pipeline….and Putin’s annual winter shakedown of Europe…..and restoration of the Soviet Block under a new name and management….imho….