The Quiet Conservative August 20, 2008
Making the Hard Call
No one was paying attention to Georgia. No one was paying attention to Russia. The world had
it's eyes fixed on Iraq and Afghanistan. Liberals declared it a lost war, a mistaken war, a war that
was lied about by the administration. Isolationist conservatives declared we should let the rest of the
world rot, it’s not our problem. Various protesters from greens to socialists to outright communists
tried to actively damage our efforts. In the words of Scott McClellan- they were working towards
their own “personal truths”. But facts are stubborn things. They do not bend to personal
perspective. They are what they are. Iraq should have been handled the first time they broke the
1991 cease fire. Instead it was allowed to fester for twelve years and exposed the complete
corruption of the UN and many nation states.
What happened in that time? People took money to allow the status quo to remain. People took
money to allow proscribed items to be smuggled. People took money and made contracts for more
unscrupulous deals. People let the situation fester because to do anything about it would have been
hard or unpopular. Meanwhile a dictator crushed his own people and sponsored terrorism
worldwide.
It seems the nature of humanity is not good. It is evil. Liberals don’t understand that in their
morally vacuous, non judgmental, mindset. There is evil in the world and people willing to do evil.
In his campaign speeches Barak Obama, who only two years ago was an Illinois State Senator,
declared his intentions to gut the military if elected: “I am the only major candidate who opposed
this war from the beginning, as president I will end it. Secondly I will cut tens of billions of dollars
of wasteful spending, I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems, I will not
weaponize space, I will slow our development of future combat systems and I will institute an
Independent Defense Priorities Board to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used
to justify unnecessary spending. Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons, to
seek that goal I will not develop new nuclear weapons, I will seek a global ban on fissile material,
I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBM’s off hair trigger alert and to achieve deep cut in
our government arsenals.” (Speech available on YouTube) Keep this speech in mind.
With the world’s eyes on Beijing, Russia invaded Georgia. It was brutal, it was calculated, it was
long in the planning, and it was evil. It was the old Soviet Union in action. The Georgian military had
gone into South Ossetia to pacify that breakaway region unsettled by Russian intelligence operatives.
Within hours Russia used that excuse to invade. Keep in mind the following:
1. South Ossetia is part of Georgia, not Russia.
2. Russia has been putting troops into South Ossetia as ’peacekeepers’. Those troops include KGB
troops. They were used to unsettle the area.
3. They sent special troops into South Ossetia months ago to improve the rail lines for their logistics
of moving armor into Georgia. It takes days or weeks to move large conventional forces. The
Russians invade in only hours. They were already there. They already planned to invade.
4. They were sending Georgian people Russian passports for months to increase the number of
'Russians' there.
5. If they did have a concern about South Ossetia, they made no effort to appeal to the international
community or the UN. If they felt Georgia was going overboard, in Georgia's own province, they
made no effort to use anything to solve the issue but military force.
6. In fact, they used no diplomatic channels at all. They just invaded.
7. They didn't just invade South Ossetia, they also invaded by land and sea another break away
province, Abkhazia. They took that province over and deliberately sunk Georgian vessels including
coast guard vessels by taking them out into the Black Sea and scuttling them.
8. They didn't stop at the border to the disputed break away provinces but continued into Georgia
cutting the country in half and stopping the roads, rails, and pipeline.
9. They planned to change the government because they don’t like the pro western president and the
potential for Georgia joining NATO.
10. They signed the cease fire proposed by French President Sarkozy but kept on going showing no
signs or interest in abiding by the cease fire. Their tanks are twelve miles from Tiblisi, the Capital of
Georgia. They continue to show no signs of abiding by the cease fire.
11. They continue to occupy and fortify their positions in defiance of international law.
12. They are boldly stealing US Military equipment waiting for transport out of Georgia. US
Military equipment that had been used for joint training exercises with Georgia.
This is a naked power grab of a democratic nation. It is the same as Germany’s taking of the
Sudetenland in 1938. The scenario is the same. Declare another nation is abusing ethnic minorities
and then take possession. The other world powers were so bent on talking and avoiding war they did
nothing other than appeasement. The question is the same now as it was then. Who will stop it?
Who will make the hard call? No one did in 1938. America was across the Atlantic and didn't have
the military. Europe didn't because they, as now, didn't have the fortitude. When no one made the
hard call in 1938, Hitler and Stalin made the easy call as dictators in 1939 and divided Poland
between them, snuffing out a Democratic nation because they could. Japan under Tojo and Hirohito
began their rampage in Asia with the blessing of Germany and Russia. Soon the whole world was
involved in war and millions died because no one would make the hard call. No one stopped evil, no
one stopped the extermination camps...until the dictators came for them.
When Russia invaded Georgia this August three Americans made initial statements on the situation
that are instructive as to who can make the hard call. The first is from President Bush:
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I've just met with my national security team to discuss the
crisis in Georgia. I've spoken with President Saakashvili of Georgia, and President Sarkozy of
France this morning. The United States strongly supports France's efforts, as President of the
European Union, to broker an agreement that will end this conflict.
The United States of America stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia. We
insist that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected.
Russia has stated that changing the government of Georgia is not its goal. The United States and
the world expect Russia to honor that commitment. Russia has also stated that it has halted
military operations and agreed to a provisional cease-fire. Unfortunately, we're receiving reports
of Russian actions that are inconsistent with these statements. We're concerned about reports that
Russian units have taken up positions on the east side of the city of Gori, which allows them to
block the East-West Highway, divide the country, and threaten the capital of Tbilisi.
We're concerned about reports that Russian forces have entered and taken positions in the port city
of Poti, that Russian armored vehicles are blocking access to that port, and that Russia is blowing
up Georgian vessels. We're concerned about reports that Georgian citizens of all ethnic origins
are not being protected. All forces, including Russian forces, have an obligation to protect
innocent civilians from attack.
With these concerns in mind, I have directed a series of steps to demonstrate our solidarity with
the Georgian people and bring about a peaceful resolution to this conflict. I'm sending Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice to France, where she will confer with President Sarkozy. She will then
travel to Tbilisi, where she will personally convey America's unwavering support for Georgia's
democratic government. On this trip she will continue our efforts to rally the free world in the
defense of a free Georgia.
I've also directed Secretary of Defense Bob Gates to begin a humanitarian mission to the people of
Georgia, headed by the United States military. This mission will be vigorous and ongoing. A U.S.
C-17 aircraft with humanitarian supplies is on its way. And in the days ahead we will use U.S.
aircraft, as well as naval forces, to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies.
We expect Russia to honor its commitment to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance. We expect
Russia to ensure that all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, airports, roads,
and airspace, remain open for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for civilian transit. We
expect Russia to meet its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia. And we expect all
Russian forces that entered Georgia in recent days to withdraw from that country.
As I have made clear, Russia's ongoing action raise serious questions about its intentions in
Georgia and the region. In recent years, Russia has sought to integrate into the diplomatic,
political, economic, and security structures of the 21st century. The United States has supported
those efforts. Now Russia is putting its aspirations at risk by taking actions in Georgia that are
inconsistent with the principles of those institutions. To begin to repair the damage to its relations
with the United States, Europe, and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world,
Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis.
Thank you
Obama's Statement on Georgia: Good morning. The situation in Georgia continues to deteriorate
because of the escalation of Russia's use of military force. I have spoken to President Saakashvili,
and conveyed my deep regret over the loss of life, and the suffering of the people of Georgia.
For many months, I have warned that there needs to be active international engagement to
peacefully address the disputes over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, including a high-level and
neutral international mediator, and a genuine international peacekeeping force - not simply
Russian troops.
No matter how this conflict started, Russia has escalated it well beyond the dispute over South
Ossetia and invaded another country. Russia has escalated its military campaign through strategic
bombing and the movement of its ground forces into the heart of Georgia. There is no possible
justification for these attacks.
I reiterate my call for Russia to stop its bombing campaign, to stop flights of Russian aircraft in
Georgian airspace, and to withdraw its ground forces from Georgia. The Georgian government
has proposed a cease-fire and the Russian government should accept it. There is also an urgent
need for humanitarian assistance to reach the people of Georgia, and casualties on both sides.
The United States, Europe and all other concerned countries must stand united in condemning this
aggression, and seeking a peaceful resolution to this crisis. We should continue to push for a
United Nations Security Council Resolution calling for an immediate end to the violence. This is a
clear violation of the sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of Georgia - the UN must
stand up for the sovereignty of its members, and peace in the world.
I welcome the visit of the French and Finnish foreign ministers to Georgia as a first step toward
mediation. There should also be a United Nations mediator to address this crisis, and the United
States should fully support this effort. We should also convene other international forums to
condemn this aggression, to call for an immediate halt to the
violence, and to review multilateral and bilateral arrangements with Russia - including Russia's
interest in joining the World Trade Organization.
The violence taking place along the Black Sea is just miles from Sochi, the site for the Winter
Olympics in 2014. It only adds to the tragedy and outrage of the current situation that Russia has
acted while the world has come together in peace and athletic competition in Beijing. This action
is wholly inconsistent with the Olympic ideal.
While returning to a pre-August 8 military posture is a necessary first step to resolving this crisis,
we cannot tolerate the unacceptable status quo that led to this escalation. That means Russian
peacekeeping troops should be replaced by a genuine international peacekeeping force, Georgia
should refrain from using force in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and a political settlement must be
reached that addresses the status of these disputed regions.
Going forward, the United States and Europe must support the people of Georgia. Beyond
immediate humanitarian assistance, we must provide economic assistance, and help rebuild what
has been destroyed. I have consistently called for deepening relations between Georgia and
transatlantic institutions, including a Membership Action Plan for NATO, and we must continue to
press for that deeper relationship.
The relationship between Russia and the West is long and complicated. There have been
many turning points, for good and ill. This is another turning point.
Let me be clear: we seek a future of cooperative engagement with the Russian government, and
friendship with the Russian people. We want Russia to play its rightful role as a great nation - but
with that role comes the responsibility to act as a force for progress in this new century, not
regression to the conflicts of the past. That is why the United States and the international
community must speak out strongly against this aggression, and for peace and security
McCain's Statement on Georgia: Americans wishing to spend August vacationing with their
families or watching the Olympics may wonder why their newspapers and television screens are
filled with images of war in the small country of Georgia. Concerns about what occurs there might
seem distant and unrelated to the many other interests America has around the world. And yet
Russian aggression against Georgia is both a matter of urgent moral and strategic importance to
the United States of America.
Georgia is an ancient country, at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and one of
the world's first nations to adopt Christianity as an official religion. After a brief period of
independence following the Russian revolution, the Red Army forced Georgia to join the Soviet
Union in 1922. As the Soviet Union crumbled at the end of the Cold War, Georgia regained its
independence in 1991, but its early years were marked by instability, corruption, and economic
crises.
Following fraudulent parliamentary elections in 2003, a peaceful, democratic revolution took
place, led by the U.S.-educated lawyer Mikheil Saakashvili. The Rose Revolution changed things
dramatically and, following his election, President Saakashvili embarked on a series of wide-
ranging and successful reforms. I've met with President Saakashvili many times, including during
several trips to Georgia.
What the people of Georgia have accomplished - in terms of democratic governance, a Western
orientation, and domestic reform - is nothing short of remarkable. That makes Russia's recent
actions against the Georgians all the more alarming. In the face of Russian aggression, the very
existence of independent Georgia - and the survival of its democratically-elected government - are
at stake.
In recent days Moscow has sent its tanks and troops across the internationally recognized border
into the Georgian region of South Ossetia. Statements by Moscow that it was merely aiding the
Ossetians are belied by reports of Russian troops in the region of Abkhazia, repeated Russian
bombing raids across Georgia, and reports of a de facto Russian naval blockade of the Georgian
coast. Whatever tensions and hostilities might have existed between Georgians and Ossetians, they
in no way justify Moscow's path of violent aggression. Russian actions, in clear violation of
international law, have no place in 21st century Europe.
The implications of Russian actions go beyond their threat to the territorial integrity and
independence of a democratic Georgia. Russia is using violence against Georgia, in part, to
intimidate other neighbors - such as Ukraine - for choosing to associate with the West and
adhering to Western political and economic values. As such, the fate of Georgia should be of grave
concern to Americans and all people who welcomed the end of a divided of Europe, and the
independence of former Soviet republics. The international response to this crisis will determine
how Russia manages its relationships with other neighbors. We have other important strategic
interests at stake in Georgia, especially the continued flow of oil through the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan
pipeline, which Russia attempted to bomb in recent days; the operation of a critical
communication and trade route from Georgia through Azerbaijan and Central Asia; and the
integrity and influence of NATO, whose members reaffirmed last April the territorial integrity,
independence, and sovereignty of Georgia.
Yesterday Georgia withdrew its troops from South Ossetia and offered a ceasefire. The Russians
responded by bombing the civilian airport in Georgia's capital, Tblisi, and by stepping up its
offensive in Abkhazia. This pattern of attack appears aimed not at restoring any status quo ante in
South Ossetia, but rather at toppling the democratically elected government of Georgia. This
should be unacceptable to all the democratic countries of the world, and should draw us together
in universal condemnation of Russian aggression.
Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin must understand the severe, long-term
negative consequences that their government's actions will have for Russia's relationship with the
U.S. and Europe. It is time we moved forward with a number of steps.
The United States and our allies should continue efforts to bring a resolution before the UN
Security Council condemning Russian aggression, noting the withdrawal of Georgian troops from
South Ossetia, and calling for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops from
Georgian territory. We should move ahead with the resolution despite Russian veto threats, and
submit Russia to the court of world public opinion.
NATO's North Atlantic Council should convene in emergency session to demand a ceasefire and
begin discussions on both the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to South Ossetia
and the implications for NATO's future relationship with Russia, a Partnership for Peace nation.
NATO's decision to withhold a Membership Action Plan for Georgia might have been viewed as a
green light by Russia for its attacks on Georgia, and I urge the NATO allies to revisit the decision.
The Secretary of State should begin high-level diplomacy, including visiting Europe, to establish a
common Euro-Atlantic position aimed at ending the war and supporting the independence of
Georgia. With the same aim, the U.S. should coordinate with our partners in Germany, France,
and Britain, to seek an emergency meeting of the G-7 foreign ministers to discuss the current
crisis. The visit of French President Sarkozy to Moscow this week is a welcome expression of
transatlantic activism.
Working with allied partners, the U.S. should immediately consult with the Ukrainian government
and other concerned countries on steps to secure their continued independence. This is
particularly important as a number of Russian Black Sea fleet vessels currently in Georgian
territorial waters are stationed at Russia's base in the Ukrainian Crimea.
The U.S. should work with Azerbaijan and Turkey, and other interested friends, to develop plans to
strengthen the security of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.
The U.S. should send immediate economic and humanitarian assistance to help mitigate the
impact the invasion has had on the people of Georgia.
Our united purpose should be to persuade the Russian government to cease its attacks, withdraw
its troops, and enter into negotiations with Georgia. We must remind Russia's leaders that the
benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world require their respect for the values,
stability and peace of that world. World history is often made in remote, obscure countries. It is
being made in Georgia today. It is the responsibility of the leading nations of the world to ensure
that history continues to be a record of humanity's progress toward respecting the values and
security of free people.
Thank you.
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