America Must Stand Up For Georgia

National Review: We Don't Have To Go To War, But We Must Back Her In Every Other Way

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Jonathan Foreman.

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Today America faces a big test. Will we stand up for Georgia? Or will we betray her in the way that the United States so often betrays its friends and allies abroad?

A depressingly consistent aspect of American foreign policy since the Korean War has been to let down peoples who fight for us, trust us, or depend on us. Remember the Montagnards of Vietnam who fought so valiantly with our Green Berets during the Indochina conflict? Most of them ended up dead or in reeducation camps and it was decades before the survivors were even given visas to come to the USA.
Osama bin Laden himself has pointed out to his followers that America is a fair-weather friend, and that when things get tough - Lebanon in 1982, Somalia in 1993 - American administrations can be counted on to cut and run.

As the U.S. figures out what to do about the Russia-Georgian war, it should bear in mind that the world is watching very closely. Georgia has proved itself as a true friend and ally of the United States; it has sent thousands of troops from its small army to help the U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sure the Georgians got themselves into this conflict by launching a bid to recapture South Ossetia. But it wasn’t unprovoked - the Russians have been building up the government and armed forces of the breakaway province for years, and have been applying every kind of pressure to stop Georgia joining NATO, including aggressive measures like shooting down a Georgian aircraft earlier this year. And the Russians are in no position to criticize Georgia’s efforts to recapture breakaway territory given the tens of thousands the Russians killed to reverse Chechnya’s attempts to break free.

As Russian bombs rain down on key Georgian military bases, Ukraine and the Baltic states know all too well that they are next on the list for Russian invasion - probably with the same pretext of protecting Russian citizens - if the Kremlin gets away with crushing Georgia.

Also watching what happens in the Caucasus with one eye on the U.S. will be allied countries like Taiwan (it knows that U.S. corporations have long been pushing successive U.S. administrations to abandon Taiwanese democracy), Pakistan (it’s been dumped before), India, Turkey, the Gulf states, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, Australia, and Colombia… the list goes on.

The Bush administration is said to be obsessed with loyalty. But at the same time, it is habitually disloyal to America’s friends and allies. None of the over 30 countries that have sent troops to take part in the invasion and reconstruction of Iraq have been economically or politically rewarded in any way. Indeed the administration has taken them so much for granted than it hasn’t barely acknowledged their contribution, still less thanked them. This has damaged the administration because it plays into the myth of “unilateralism.” But much worse than that, it has also damaged American interests. Our allies have realized that America is neither grateful nor reliable. If the Poles had got anything for their stalwart support in Iraq - even something as cheap and easy as more visas to the U.S., the Kaczinsky government might not have fallen and the Poles might not be taking their troops out. If Tony Blair could have pointed at a single major defense contract from the United States - say a small aircraft carrier to be built in one of Britain’s desperate shipyards - he could have replied convincingly to charges of being “America’s poodle.”

But Georgia is a bigger test.

We don’t have to go to war for her (fortunately for irresolute Western governments, Georgia’s not in NATO) but we must back her in every other way: diplomatically, economically and with military technology and advice, now and after any ceasefire that is called.

If we don’t, if we let our ally be defeated and humiliated by the Russians, everyone will know that friendship with America carries more risk than rewards. Moreover it will genuinely signal a new age of American isolation. The diminution and weakness described or predicted by so many “declinist” authors will become a reality.

[Razzl]

It Dr. Strangelove to make the leap of neocon faith that Georgia''s foolish attack against a powerful Russian army means militarily powerful and competent Ukraine must be next on the list. You guys are so incapable of sorting out your propaganda from your foreign policy judgement that nobody in their right mind would pay any serious attention to what you have to say. As an American citizen who''s determined to stay out of parochial foreign wars that shouldn''t involve us I say, the Georgians asked for what they''re getting and we should stay out. And I expect my government to be run by people who care what I think about this, and not just what a bunch of self-appointed ideologues from their think tanks think about it...

[caliguy55]

The writer of this article, and everyone who believes as he does, has my blessing to get on a ship or plane, buy a rifle, and travel to Georgia to fight the Russians. In fact, I wish all such Americans would do so. Our country would be a much better place to live.

[middleman8]

Hip, Hip, Hooray, Russia is on its way

The Yanks have had their chance

Now watch em dance

What can be done by one motley crew

Can also be done by two.

[mcvet-1]

LOL You have to LOVE fascist!! We are up to our eyes in a NEEDLESS War started on LIES, our Military is flat worn out, we have a debt from that stupidity that would choke a horse, ALL our former friends are not friends anymore and the fascist want to make a show of support for a leader and country that WE encouraged to create this situation. I''m telling you folks if we do NOT toss these losers out of office, we will be buried in War and Debt for as long as we live.

[noloyalisti]

Right on Russia, this is a message to those who think of getting in bed with the fascist Americans. Don''t do it or we will crush you. We know what these scummy neo con Americans want. More power to Russia.

[noloyalisti]

Typical National Republican Order mentality: The U.S. is always right, fascism is great for the people, and whatever we think is what is reality. Oh, and the Grand Oil Party be us.

These guys have lost all credibility a long time ago. It is past time that the world stands up to unite against American hegemony.

[mitch5511]

There are far-reaching implications in this situation. The US needs to stay out of it completely and shut the F up!

McCain''s call to NATO-ize the war is not only frightening, it''s also delusional: both NATO and US forces are already stretched beyond the breaking point, even by Joint Chief of Staff chairman Michael Millen''s own recent assessment.

For being an x-POW, he sure is pro-war! He is trying real hard to pull us into WWIII!

In addition, I choked on my coffee when I heard Bush''s speech stating it was wrong for Russia to invade a sovereign nation. WHAT IN THE HELL DID HE DO??? Bush has no room to talk. His administration invaded a sovereign country, Iraq. For what? Oil. Guess why Russia went after Georgia. Remember they are both using false pretenses to gain control over what they deem important. Guess why the US is quick to defend Georgia. Yep. OIL! Once again, it has become a driving factor between these countries.

The Bush administration set a very dangerous precedent when they invaded Iraq. Now other countries think its okay to do as well.

[noloyalisti]

How dare the National Republican Organ (NRO) preach about Russia invading other countries. Georgia was actually a threat to Russia through their unholy alliance with the US. So unlike Iraq who posed no threat to us and we knew it.

[ajmarine111]

European leaders feel a special responsibility for preventing further escalation and several of them have condemned a "disproportionate" use of force by Russia. The European Commission has called for an end to all Russian military activity on Georgian soil.

But at the same time European diplomats accept that Mikheil Saakashvili initiated military action in seeking to reassert Georgian control of its breakaway province of South Ossetia, perhaps hoping that he could consolidate power there while the world was preoccupied with the Olympics.

At the time of the Rose Revolution in 2003, European lawmakers saw Saakashvili through similarly tinted spectacles, but nowadays they regard him as a somewhat headstrong figure who had already damaged his credentials as a democrat by the way in which he suppressed dissent in his country last November.

Georgia may claim that South Ossetia''''s leaders are controlled by the Russia''''s FSB security service but Europeans sense Saakashvili gave Russia the excuse it was looking for to intervene, insisting that its own "peace-keepers" in South Ossetia were under threat and had to be protected.

If Saakashvili thought that the Europeans in particular and the Western world in general would rally to his cause, he miscalculated. European diplomats have for a while been confessing a degree of "Georgia fatigue."

[susanhelit]

Georgia slaughtered civilians - they didn''t take on the separatist government nor military - they went after helpless civilians in their homes. No, we don''t need to back Georgia - I''m ashamed that we are. McCain''s blind rhetoric ignoring Georgia''s criminal actions (even in a formal declared war, it''s illegal to bomb civilians!) shows exactly what type of president he would be.

[scottyusa]

Georgia made a big mistake. They placed their arm in the lion''s cage. No one can help them. The USA is all tied up already, and Europe gets oil from Russia. We have seen Russia close the spigot in the past for political reasons. Keep in mind that if Georgia was a NATO country we would be obligated to come to their defense. Russia wants the Soviet Union back. The most that could happen is to remove Russia from the United Nations. Not a bad idea since they oppose anything worthwhile that the United Nations comes up with anyways. Good riddance.

[pdchapin]

This article is just plain delusional. Has the author looked at a map recently? There is nothing we can do about Georgia and making silly statements like McCain''s in the end just emphasize our inability to actually do anything. We might encourage the Georgians to keep fighting awhile and run up more casualties and property damage, but the reality is if you live next to a major power, you''ve got to learn how to keep them happy, or at least not angry enough to jump on you.

[marshall_nee]

Bil Kristol eat your heart out.

[wogerwabbit]

You better believe the Georgians did this with Bush/neocon backing over Caspian Sea oil pipelines... another oil war. Sure, let''s stir up this hornets nest and see what happens... let''s send some more other peoples kids off to war to die for the priviledged few.

[davewrite1]

Thanks to George W. Bush, our nation is too broke, too enfeebled, too divided, and too mired in war and debt to wield any influence Russia. It''s not in Russia''s interest to let Georgia join hands with the West.

As other commentators have pointed out, our President''s hypocrisy is painfully obvious. After all, America''s Decider attacked a sovereign nation for no other reason than "suspicious motives."

As we sink under GWB''s leadership, other nations are rising to new power.

[jn122736]

You better believe the Georgians did this with Bush/neocon backing over Caspian Sea oil pipelines... another oil war. Sure, let''''s stir up this hornets nest and see what happens... let''''s send some more other peoples kids off to war to die for the priviledged few.

Posted by WogerWabbit at 04:45 PM : Aug 12, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WogerWabbit;

Bush may not be very smart, but even he, and especially those actually calling the shots in his administration, knows full well that Russia STILL has the missile capacity to deliver warheads onto American soil and that means it would not be just the military (troops) dying.
McCain, on the other hand just might be crazy enough to initiate the total destruction of the entire world. Now that is scary.

If it had been McCain, instead of JFK, as commander-in-chief during the Cuban missile crises, we might not even be here right now.

[ajmarine111]

America Must Stand Up For Georgia


Why?

The President of France is there, let the French stand up for Georgia.

[veteran188]

Once again the propaganda arm of the conservative republicons rears its very ugly head,

the NRO is a dirt rag of NON-information,

The United States, stand up for the country of Georgia?

What a crock, The United States, under this criminal conservative administration, can not even stand up for

the americans in New Orleans!

[bluestardad]

THIS ENTIRE INVASION THING IS JUST LIKE BUSH AND YOUR NRO NEOCONS INVADING IRAQ!

THERE NEEDS TO BE A STRONG WORLD COURT AND WAR CRIMES TRIALS TO STOP THIS TYPE OF MESS!

[messiahx4eve]

And YOU, Mr. Jonathan Foreman, may dine up my shorts at the end of this business day. As other countries could care less about us or me, so I do so for them. I have ENOUGH on my plate with dealing with life here, and I will be D*A*M*N*E*D if I am going to worry about what goes on over there and how much MONEY I can send to help when we have people in our own freakin'' country needing help right here. Mr. Jonathan Foreman, get a life, get a clue, get your head on straight & open your eyes and look around here. WE ARE NOT THE GLOBAL POLICE PATROL.

[jncc1701]

Yes Mr Jonathan Foreman just as soon as we stop laying off teachers due to budget cuts.

[ourtomorrows]

Mr. Foreman is correct to a point. I disagree with him however, that members of the coalition that assisted with the Iraq campaign have not seen some political and economic rewards, I think that is just false. I think also his when the going gets tough we leave comment is an variance with the facts. We are still in Afghanistan, we are still in Iraq. We left Somalia in 1993 only after it was clear that the mission objectives of supplying food to the Somali people were not going to be possible with out a full scale military effort. Remember, Somalia was a humanitarian relief effort. His discussion of 1982 is also flawed. One should point out as well that in both cases, the American PEOPLE put heavy pressure on the respective administrations to alter policy.

To those of you who believe we can sit back and let everyone else handle the Russians, you are naive and foolish. We are still the only true super power left and for better or worse our part to play is that of global policeman. History shows clearly that when we turn our backs on the world, disaster strikes.

Past administrations, Republican and Democrat, have placed policy and expediency over what is right at times. President Bush''s entire foreign policy is based to an extent on the opposite. What is expedient, popular, maybe even diplomatically adroit is not policy.

Foreman is correct however, that the US must back Georgia

[ourtomorrows]

As other commentators have pointed out, our President''''s hypocrisy is painfully obvious. After all, America''''s Decider attacked a sovereign nation for no other reason than "suspicious motives."

As we sink under GWB''''s leadership, other nations are rising to new power.

Posted by davewrite1

Your post is simply ignorant and manages to ignore actual facts. The movement against Iraq was based on YEARS of Security Council resolutions that had been ignored by Hussein who did not believe anyone would dare attack him. He was wrong. The evidence pointed to WMDs, we didnt find many, but we don''t know what was smuggled off to Syria before the invasion began.

More to the point, the two situations are completely different. The US put together a coalition of THIRTY nations that joined it against Iraq and there is still a strong argument to be made that the invasion was carrying out the terms of the UN security council resolutions. Hussein had YEARS (over TEN) to change his ways and he did not. The invasion of Iraq followed YEARS of diplomatic maneuvering and Hussein''s regime continually thumbing its nose at the UN, US and EU.

Georgia launched a military operation to take back its OWN PROVINCE which had fallen away. One day later, with no warning, not attempt to resolve the situation through any other channel, Russia invaded Georgia with NO support from ANYONE else. To compare the two situations is intensely ignorant and shows no grasp of the facts.

[andylance1]

Putin gave Europe and America a wake up call. We foolishly thought Russia was a new friend we could do business with. Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice - shame on me.

We are warned. Russia is our enemy. Nothing has changed. They are still a primitive, dangerous and warlike people who want to dominate their neighbors and destroy us if they can.

[stevador39]

Drop the war mongering U.S. Congress and the propaganda press corp on Georgia. You guys like war, so go fight one. If you feel you owe the world, go die for it.

[tbweb]

My Russian friend made a very good point, Georgia is in Russia`s back yard and in a matter of minutes Moscow can have fighter jets blanket Georgia`s airspace and there isn`t much anyone can do about it! Georgia is too close to Russia and the help Georgia requires is too far away! Russia is huge, spanning 5 Time Zones and can swallow Georgia anytime it wants. Those are the real facts on the ground, unfortunately.

[patriot12436]

America needs to mind its own business. This was an internal matter for Russia and Georgia to resolve.

[jerome4l]

I''m a Soldier currently serving my 3rd tour and the only Georgia I want to stand up for is the one in America. Let them solve there own problems because America can''t police the world.

[veteran188]

The US can''t even back New Orleans!

What a joke!

Thanks to the conservatives we are powerless

[grumpas]

What do these people want another war?????? We already have two going were losing. We need to mind our own business.

[talkingham]

Since Der Decider and Darth Cheney have hobbled our ground forces in a useless and pointless never ending war in Iraq we can''t do anything anyway except use nukes. Georgia ain''t worth it, and they with Condi''s visit there in July started this mess anyway. Let them finish it McCain whose is buddy buddy with high-paid Georgian lobbyist and in no way impartial.

Do you really think it is a coincidence that Georgia attacked Russian forces just a couple of weeks after Condi visited?

[tejasdemo]

Yea, just what we need...another war. More death.

Tell ya what, Jonathon Foreman....you go first.

[ramos937]

All Russia understands is force. And no way will we commit troops to this conflict or any other conflict. Georgia misread our statements of support.

Question: Since Poland, Ukrine and the other former soviet states say that Russia wants to reinstate the former USSR, why do they not help Georgia with troops?

[puldr]

If we had been ethical and moral in our approach to Iraq, and not invaded a country that had nothing to do with 9-11 and did not have weapons of mass destruction, now we may have had the moral authority to talk to Russia about settling this conflict with Georgia! Now, practically speaking, since Georgia is right there next to Russia, we cannot do anything!! Let''s face it: Even if we are the most powerful country in the world, militarily, etc, we still cannot be God-like and do anything we want!!! Our most powerful weapon is our moral (not military) authority and what stems from ideals of freedom, democracy and the power of ideas!!!

[talkingham]

Condi tricked the Georgians. Now they are as fried as USA Jawgia chitlins. Great job Bushies!

Bush has made our military as impotent as himself. Mission Occomplished!

[lsipela]

Is there oil in Georgia, other than the oil pipeline that goes thru it? If there is oil involved, the repubs will want war with Russia...

[random_radar]

Jonathan Foreman says we need to get involved in foreign wars (and by implication sacrifice your sons and daughters on the alter of Mars).

George Washington said to avoid foreign entanglements and be a friend to all nations.

George is a smarter and better man than Jonathan. Unfortunately, Washington is dead and Jonathan Foreman is making lots of money preaching his jingoist gospel. Fortunately, I can still think so I advise you to think too and ignore the nationalist quislings who encourage war and blood shed. (And no one has to pay me to stand up for what is right and good, either.)

[noloyalisti]

The Grand Oil Party, the party of death and taxes? The new Nazi fascists. And the conservative want more of the McSame! God forgive America!

[hasher471]

Ah! Another Repug War Hog speaks.
I agree the Russians are over aggresive in this.
However, it was Georgia than went into South Osstenia and got the pee pee''s wack. So because they''re getting put back into their place WE''RE supposed to shed America blood.

This guy, Jonathan Foreman is a jerk. Plus, he probably voted for Bush, which means his political opinions have been revoked.

[noloyalisti]

I realize that when I say McSame, many Repigs don''t get it. They voted for Bush twice so they want more of the McSame.

[mitch5511]

It''s all about the oil folks!

Georgia is sitting on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which runs through Georgia, well south of South Ossetia. The pipeline, in which British Petroleum is the lead partner, can carry up to one million barrels of oil per day. It is of considerable strategic significance, as it is the only means by which countries in the region like Azerbaijan can get their oil into the international market without relying on Russia.

It is crucial to the world%u2019s volatile energy market and the only oil and gas route that bypasses Russia%u2019s stranglehold on energy exports from the region.

[maddog0802]

NEWSFLASH: OIL!! OIL!! OIL!!! It''s all about OIL!!!
Georgia has a huge oil pipeline in it!! The Russkies want it!! They''re building themselves another one, but that will take several more years. And we know how greedy the ex-Commies are! What does McBush want for America? "more oil! more oil!!!"
What does Obama want for America? New technologies, so we don''t NEED any more oil!! The Arabs, Russkies, and all oil-rich nations will then be at OUR MERCY!! We won''t have to fight and die for it, and pay Exxon out our noses for it!!! Wake up, America!! Vote Obama/Democratic this fall!! Out with the Republican war-for-oil idiots!!

[maddog0802]

NEWSFLASH: OIL!! OIL!! OIL!! It''s all about OIL!!!
There''s a huge oil pipeline in Georgia! The Russkies want it!! And I say: let them have it! If Obama and the Dems get elected this fall, we''ll start a 10-year Apollo-type crash program to get America OFF of oil! Should have been done 8 years ago, but Dumbya and his Texas oil buddies wouldn''t stand for that, no way! And what exactly is Mcbush''s energy plan? DRILL DRILL DRILL!! MORE OIL!!! What a dope! Obama ''08!

[veteran188]

The republicons rejected McCain in favor of Bush?

Think About That For A Moment.

Now the republicons are saying they made a mistake, we need MCBUSHSAME!

The republicons need to get off the fascist nazi plan

[talkingham]

No, Americans must sit down for Georgia. There''s a lot more to this than the last 5 days including our ill-timed recognition of Islamic Kosovo against the wishes of Serbia. Now russia can recognize whomever they wish too. It''s called titfortat:
Georgia''s efforts to bring the breakaway region of South Ossetia to heel have backfired so drastically that it may have lost control of both it and rebel-held Abkhazia for good.

Western diplomats and analysts said Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has little hope of reasserting his authority in the two regions after his failed invasion of South Ossetia.

A ceasefire agreement to end nearly a week of fighting between Georgian and Russian troops has given a new sense of confidence to the separatists in Abkhazia, and in mountainous South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which hugs the Black Sea.

Sergei Shamba, self-styled foreign minister of Abkhazia, told Reuters that Georgia should now accept it is a separate country.

"We have held talks with Georgia for 15 years and now we will only talk with them after recognition of our independence," Shamba said.

[noloyalisti]

Yes, it is about the oil. The corporations that run the military and the media, also got their guys into the White House. Their guys then invited them in to write the oil policy and drive the price up. Then one of them spread the word that it was the Democrats fault (or was it Clinton''s, or Roosevelt, or Obama). It definitely was not the fascists fault.

[superdem]

As usual, the Republicans dance for those who pay, and the Georgians have paid McCain''s campaign chairman for years. So of COURSE McCain jumps to the defense of people Americans have never heard about. Only America has the right to invade nations and invoke our will regarding how they must live. No one else ! Do as we SAY, not as we DO.

[generey]

"Today America faces a big test. Will we stand up for Georgia? Or will we betray her in the way that the United States so often betrays its friends and allies abroad?"

TALK ABOUT PROPAGANDA!!!!! "Betray"? "HER"? OMG...too funny! It is about time to deal with our own problem''s.

[whitemale08]

Betray who?

A handfull of cauckasian folks Georgia is no way worth 3/4ths of the world''s population in wake of a thermo-nuclear holocaust.

The "international community" tried to warn for 8 years that our leaders in the U.S. and the U.K. were crazy "Republican Suicide Bombers".

[barbaraf4]

So we will finally go to war with Russia. I guess the Idiot in Chief wasn''t that good of a judge of character when he "looked into Putin''s soul."