New Cold War Doesn't Faze Russian Leader

Medvedev Recognizes Georgian Breakaway Provinces; U.S. Slams Move As "Irresponsible"

(CBS/AP)  Russia stunned the West on Tuesday by recognizing the independence claims of two Georgian breakaway regions, and U.S. warships plied the waters off of Georgia in a gambit the Kremlin saw as gunboat diplomacy.

The announcement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ignored the strong opposition of Europe and the United States, and signaled the Kremlin's determination to shape its neighbors' destinies even at the risk of closing its doors to the West.

"We are not afraid of anything, including the prospect of a Cold War," President Dmitry Medvedev said hours after announcing the Kremlin's decision and one day after Parliament had supported the recognition.

While the risk of a military clash with the West seemed remote, the lack of high-level public diplomacy between the White House and the Kremlin added to an uneasy sense here at least of an escalating crisis.

Medvedev also promised a Russian military response to a U.S. missile defense system in Europe. Washington says the system would counter threats from Iran and North Korea, but Russia says it is aimed at blunting Russian nuclear capability.

The Kremlin's recognition of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia suggested it was willing to risk nearly two decades of economic, political and diplomatic bonds with its Cold War antagonists.

Medvedev's grim announcement, carried on national television, inspired jubilation on the streets of the rebel capitals. In the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali, a parade of cars bearing the South Ossetian and Russian flags blared their horns, women cried for joy and gunmen fired their weapons in the air.

The United States, surprised by the speed of the Russian response, threatened a veto in the U.N. Security Council should Russia ask for international recognition for the territories.

"Abkhazia and South Ossetia are a part of the internationally recognized borders of Georgia and it's going to remain so," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said. President Bush called the Russian move "irresponsible."

Germany and France also criticized the decision, while the British Foreign Office said it did "nothing to improve the prospects of peace in the Caucasus."

The Kremlin insists, despite some doubts in the West, that its invasion of Georgia was a spur-of-the-moment response to the Georgian military's surprise crackdown on South Ossetia.

By contrast, Moscow has had weeks to weigh the consequences of recognizing the breakaway regions.

As the West focused on Russia's effort to shift Georgia's internationally recognized borders, the Kremlin denounced the U.S. use of a Navy destroyer and Coast Guard cutter named the Dallas to deliver aid to Georgia's Black Sea coast.

"Normally battleships do not deliver aid," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dryly told reporters in English, apparently confusing the word "warship" with "battleship."

Earlier Tuesday, the United States said it intends to deliver humanitarian aid by ship on Wednesday to the beleaguered Georgian port city of Poti, which Russian troops still control through checkpoints on the city's outskirts.

The Kremlin said it accepted the independence claims because the Georgian military assault amounted to "genocide."

But beyond a handful of resolute U.S. foes, such as Cuba and Venezuela, few other nations seem likely to follow the Kremlin's lead.

And the declaration seems to have little practical impact on the lives of people living in the separatist regions, who have lived for years under Russia's economic, political and military umbrella.

Still, the Kremlin recognition marked an initial step toward what could become a push for territorial expansion. Many South Ossetians have expressed a desire for integration into Russia.

Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin later downplayed any resurgence of a Cold War, though he acknowledged a period of difficult relations with the West were in store.

"I want to remind you that Cold War was a completely different beast when we were really at each other's throats in a big way internationally, and this is not going to happen under any circumstances," he said at the U.N. in New York.

Churkin also said Georgia's attack on South Ossetia negated U.N. resolutions guaranteeing Georgian territorial integrity. Churkin said the military actions of Georgia's president created a "new reality" both for South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The Kremlin's rush to recognize the two regions took Western nations by surprise. Moscow made the move with barely a breather, or dialogue with the West, after the brief war and Russia's pullback from military positions in Georgia late last week.

Medvedev told his nation Georgia had forced Russia's hand.

"Saakashvili chose genocide to fulfill his political plans," Medvedev said. "Georgia chose the least human way to achieve its goal - to absorb South Ossetia by eliminating a whole nation."

Russia's action is likely to send political tremors through Georgia, a Western ally in the Caucasus region, a major transit corridor for energy supplies to Europe and a strategic crossroads close to the Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan and energy-rich Central Asia.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, a fervent ally of the West, has staked his political career on restoring Georgian sovereignty over its breakaway regions. Georgia's humiliating defeat in its short war with Russia this month could shape the country's politics for years to come.

Georgia's state minister on reintegration, Timur Yakobashvili, told The Associated Press Medvedev's announcement had "no legal status."

Lavrov said recognition was "absolutely unavoidable" for Russia. "Short of losing our dignity as a nation, we couldn't act otherwise," he said.

Alexander Konovalov, president of Moscow's Institute of Strategic Assessment, said that while Medvedev's action was perhaps unavoidable, it was also the result of a chain of missteps by all sides.

He said Saakashvili bore the blame for the devastating attack on Tskhinvali, which triggered the Russian invasion of the small former Soviet republic. "But Russian leaders are guilty too because they kept this conflict warm for many years and tried to use it as a political instrument," he said.

All of the consequences of recognition were not immediately clear, but in the short term Medvedev's announcement seemed to deepen Moscow's isolation.

"This is burning at least one very important bridge," said Masha Lipman, a Russia expert with the Carnegie Moscow Center think tank.

Russian existing membership in the G-8 group of industrial nations may be threatened, as well as its bid for membership in the World Trade Organization.

There are also fears the crisis could spill over into the collaboration between Washington and Moscow on nuclear non-proliferation and cooperation in battling terrorism.

Several experts said the declaration limits Russia's room for diplomatic maneuvering.

It undermines the Kremlin's long-standing criticism of the U.S. for acting unilaterally, and it appears to weaken Moscow's rationale for opposing the independence of Kosovo, which formally broke with Serbia in February.

More dangerously, perhaps, recognition for rebel governments in Abkhazia and South Ossetia appears to undercut Russia's rejection, on the grounds of territorial integrity, of the independence claims by separatists in its own turbulent North Caucasus.

Russia will likely argue that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are special cases and that it still regards territorial integrity as crucial principle - an argument unlikely to convince separatists in the North Caucasus.

[jmurrieta1]

What a nice little war John McCain has organized for his own benefit.

Clearly he''s told Saakashvili, "you scratch my back, I scratch yours". Saaks then attacks civilians, the Russians respond predictably, and John McCain gets to run into the spotlight and try to look presidential.

Then, if McCain gets elected, fat paybacks to Saaks, which feeds real well into Cold War John''s program.

And no doubt Bushit thinks he''ll help this program along by sending a military destroyer instead of a cargo ship with "humanitarian aid".

You could carry more freight on a freighter, but that wouldn''t be as provocative as a US Navy destroyer. Destroyers don''t carry much, but Bush and McCain could care less about the people of the region.

They just want to use it for Henry Kissinger type Realpolitik.

[antoniof123]

Leave it alone America Georigia has been trying to exterminate this small group and purge them from life for a long time. You could see this coming, plus it is what neo cons live for always wanting to fight.

[johnpatrick9]

This area is not our sphere of influence and no amount of pompous posturing on our part is going to make it so.The Georgians are dopes and are not worth one drop of American blood or treasure.

[jgunther7]

The people of Ossetia and Abkhazia have won! They can now live in freedom. The evil forces of George Bush and John McCain have been defeated. The people of Georgia are near revolt and Saakashvili is on the run, hiding out in Tbilisi. Presumably eating his tie. The U.S. Navy destroyer U.S.S. McFoul is standing by to take him away by helicopter if the people storm his bunker.

[gobluesstl]

WOW....what a bunch of cowards , Russia hasn''t won anything yet . Please tell me how John McCain has anything to do with this . You people , jmurrieta1 , espnmspn , johnpatrick , jgunther7 . What a bunch of psycho-babble . And how do people live in freedom ...IN A COMMUNIST COUNTRY . I''m not for fighting over Georgia , but I am for kicking your ***** out of our country . Or how about just kicking your little chicken-*** ***** .

[crusader1200]

If Russia persists with the charade of recognition for South Ossetia on the grounds that "this is the will of the people", then perhaps we will see Russia recognising the "will of the people" in Chetchnya and allowing them to leave the Russian Federation.

[jmurrieta1]

In other news, citizens of southern Texas announced that they planned to reattach their territory to the United States of Mexico.

"This land was seized illegally by the gringos, and we are simply exercising our right of self-determination" spokesperson Joaquin Murrieta announced.

The US government, recognizing the right of self-determination of all peoples, announced that it would be taking no military action.

[kenammons]

bush is starting more trouble for the next president. russia has dominated that part of world for centuries and we are deliberatly provoking them. putting us forces and spending tax money on any aid to georgia is a clear example of little george''s arrogiance and disregard for the people of this country

[jmurrieta1]

"I''''m not for fighting over Georgia , but I am for kicking your ***** out of our country . Or how about just kicking your little chicken-*** ***** "--Posted by gobluesstl


Come and try it, tough guy! You Righties are a hoot--all aggressive while hiding behind your screen name.

Be sure and post your address, telephone number, and email address so we can find you and see if you have the balls for your threat.

John McCain is almost certainly involved in urging and instigating Saakashvili in precipitating this conflict.

McCain''s campaign boss is a paid lobbyinst for Saaks. The lobbyist received almost a million dollars for his work.

And we know how money motivates John McCain. He''s jealous of all the houses his wife owns, and wants to buy one of his own.

[gobluesstl]

jmurrieta1....Isn''t that what you and all your Nobama-phobes are doing . Oh and It would be a pleasure!!!!!!

[gobluesstl]

jmurrieta1...McCain is ALMOST CERTAINLY ????? SSSOOOOO YOU DON''T KNOW RIGHT ! WOW what a Lefty.......You''ll really be crying in a few months ........I''ll be the guy waving the American Flag .....McCain FOR PRESIDENT !!!! It''s time to put a REAL AMERICAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE !!!YOU GO JOHN !!!!!!

[gobluesstl]

HHHhhhhmmmmmmmm......SMELLS LIKE CHICKEN IN HERE !!!!!!! Nobama is , and will loose . Then what will you all do !!!

[jmurrieta1]

"Oh and It would be a pleasure!!!!!! "--Posted by gobluesstl


go back to jerking off in front of the TV set when Anne Coulter comes on, sonny

[jmurrieta1]

McCain is all mouth.

Like anybody in the Pentagon is going to let Nutcase McCain start a war with Russia where the US invasion fleet would have to enter the Black Sea!

Besides, the US is mostly used to killing marginally armed peasants, like in Vietnam. The Russians aren''t quite such a soft target, but if Real Tough Mean *** "gobluesstl" wants to volunteer to lead the landing parties, I say let''s see how quick he signs up.

Most of these Righties are real brave--with other peoples'' lives only.

Like George Bush and Dik Cheney were during the Vietnam war.

[trrrorislam3]

Obama''s DNC Message: I''m Like You
CBSNews.com Reports: Democrats To Push Obama%u2019s Similarities With Average Americans

rightttttttttttttt

HUSSEIN puts foreigns ahead of americans,,,

how many non-muslim americans have a syrian born muslim tony rezko helping you buy a multi million dollar house???

how many non-muslim americans travelled to pakistan for spring break???

how many non-muslim americans say the muslim call to prayer is the prettiests sounds on earth at sunset???

how many americans want to have to learn spanish???

how many americans want to give tens of millions of illegals amnesty???

how many americans want open borders???

how many americans want to send one trillion of their taxpayer dollars to kenya???

how many americans want to spend their taxpayer dollars on slavery reparations when they already paid via the civil war with their blood???

hmmmmm manchurian candidate maybe,,, hmmmm

[misha128-2009]

Once upon a time Pretend President McCain ...

Let me know as soon as Pretend President McCain orders more Pretend US troops to Georgia just like the Pretend US troops he said he sent to Afghanistan. Which was later amended by his pretend campaign (because Pretend President McCain does not even speak for his Pretend Campaign) to be pretend NATO troops hoping no one will notice -- they did not ezist. Does anyone believe the pretend troops sent by a self-appointed Pretend President McCain scared the real Al Qaeda or the real Taliban? Anyone believes the same self-appointed Pretend President McCain will scare the real Russians by dispatching even more Pretend US troops to Georgia? This is not experienced National Security. This doesn''t even qualify as bad acting or senility. This is just plain old pathetic pandering to those so gullible that they revel in their own ignorance.

[hotpaulie]

trrrorislam3 - look at what your bush and cheney faction have accomplished...why the h e l l would I vote Republican?

[hotpaulie]

trrrorislam3 - look at what your bush and cheney faction have accomplished...why the h e l l would I vote Republican?

[misha128-2009]

hmmmmm manchurian candidate maybe,,, hmmmm

Posted by trrrorislam3

Manchurian Candidate -- brainwashed in captivity --
are you referring to Senator John "POW" McCain

[trrrorislam3]

VOTE GOP,,, BLOCK AMNESTY,,,

[misha128-2009]

VOTE GOP,,, BLOCK AMNESTY,,,

Posted by trrrorislam3

When will John "Fence First" McCain transform back into John "Amnesty" McCain tommorrow, next week or next month?

[gobluesstl]

Oh jmurrieta1.....I have been a member of the U.S. Army Infantry for 11 years . I have been in AND FOUGHT in every venue that America is engaged in . I WILL LEAD THE WAY . ANY TIME , AND ANYWHERE , My Country sends me . I am NOT afraid to fight Russia . Actually I have STUDIED the Russian way of war MOST of my life . So now what do have to say DORK....

[thegoodtexan]

jmurrieta1 says Texas ... planned to reattach their territory to the United States of Mexico. I am not sure what Texas has to do with Georgia, but jmurrieta1 should be aware that Texas is the only state in the union that has the right to succeed. However it would be highly unlikely unless they had a Hispanic majority and the US economy collapsed. Be careful what you wish for, it just might come true.

[misha128-2009]

GoodTexan -- you could also become 5 states of you wanted too.

[gobluesstl]

goodtexan if Texas leaves.....The Dallas Cowboys stay !!!!!! OK ?

[trrrorislam3]

Posted by misha128 at 10:58 AM : Aug 26, 2008

GOP BLOCKED THE LAST AMNESTY BILL,,,

name one demonic-rat that is against amnesty nancy,,,

not one of the many demonic-rat candidates for president were against amnesy,,,

not one,,,

[jmurrieta1]

My my, the goosesteppers are all stirred up!

I love it.

Spew on, ret*rds!

[misha128-2009]

Posted by trrrorislam3

-- And the Question was --- try again please.

When will John "Fence First" McCain transform back into John "Amnesty" McCain tommorrow, next week or next month?

[misha128-2009]

GOP BLOCKED THE LAST AMNESTY BILL,,,

Posted by trrrorislam3

And when the get done losing seats in both the House and the Senate in 2008? Especially considering the large number of GOP retirements.

[displeased]

My my, the goosesteppers are all stirred up!
I love it.
Spew on, ret*rds!
Posted by jmurrieta1

It doesn''t take much to get those knuckleheads groaning. When they don''t have anything meaningful to say, they spew insults and threats like the bunch of spoiled neocons that they represent. I''m looking forward to their whining when Obama wins.

[notblue]

To all the leftwing ingrates that lame America for EVERYTHING, explain how the the Russians who invaded Georgia are not responsible? I forgot the enemies of Democracy get the free pass here at leftwing central.

[prudentvoter]

notblue, I don''t know where you have been. Russia, Georgia and Ossetia had a treaty that Russia and Georgia would be restricted to 500 troops each in Ossetia as peace keepers. When Georgia attacked Ossetia, they immediately exceeded their limit. Like that famous Georgian Joseph Stalin said, %u201Ctreaties are like pie crust, they are made to be broken%u201D. Russia hesitated to make sure that the treaty had in fact been broken, and called it to the attention of the Security Council. The United States blocked the Security Council from taking action and Condoleezza Rice and Saakashvili pretended to call a cease-fire to consolidate their gains. But it was only a ruse and Ossetia knew it. Georgia was continuing to advance. Once the Russians determined that the treaty was dead and that the Security Council was not going to act, they poured their own troops in. No holds barred, they overran the Georgians and took full control of the region to save and protect the people of Ossetia and Abkhazia. Condoleezza Rice is now trying to play the innocent and force cease-fire objectives that were never agreed. Saakashvili is eating his tie. He has committed undeniable war crimes and is being protected by the Americans. The whole situation is a disgrace to the United States. Condoleessa Rice has become a vile war criminal herself. Nobody trusts the United States anymore.

[screan_name]

Russia gave repeated warnings to Georgia and the U.S. not to interfere with the breakaway provinces but they were ignored. Poke a bear and you''ll get mauled.

[notblue]

prudentvoter, blah blah blah it''s all Bush''s fault it''s all americas fault, same old same old.

[mecury69]

Geez,

A little levity is needed...

Can''t some of these Eurasian countries come up with a flag that takes a little imagination and inspiration in their design? Yet another three striped banner.

Yawn...

[dodaz-2009]

It might be hard to believe,.. But this whole Fiasco revolves around OIL,..w/ all it''s plots and sub-plots... and who will be controlling it etc.. etc...

[dodaz-2009]

Just what a Bunch of lunatics ordered,,,

[notblue]

matvei1107, I come to these posts every day and witness the BUSH DeRANGEMENT SYNDROME, he is blamed for everything from natural disasters, Islamic extremism, global warming and you have the nerve to state my responses lack intelligence. Tell me how blaming ONE MAN for all the modern worlds ills is intelligent????? It semms to me no one is more simplistic and idiotic that the lefwtwingers that frequent this site. When no intelligent rebuttal is given in response to my statement insults are the mainstay, so stuff it, take a step back and read for yourself.

[valhalla14]

These Libs are pissed off; they scatter like cockroaches when somebody actually presents the FACTS to them. The Libs mother Russia was attacked, so like the typical liberal kooks that they are, they start the blame game, instead of taking reasonability for themselves, for them which is nearly impossible.

And you think your neo-Marxist prophet; Barrack "The Red" Obama is going to save you? You wackocrats are dumber than I was giving you credit for.

[charlieot]

matvei1107, I come to these posts every day and witness the BUSH DeRANGEMENT SYNDROME, he is blamed for everything from natural disasters, Islamic extremism, global warming and you have the nerve to state my responses lack intelligence. Tell me how blaming ONE MAN for all the modern worlds ills is intelligent????? It semms to me no one is more simplistic and idiotic that the lefwtwingers that frequent this site. When no intelligent rebuttal is given in response to my statement insults are the mainstay, so stuff it, take a step back and read for yourself.
Posted by notblue at 12:37 PM : Aug 26, 2008

notblue...
There is more than enough vitriolic speech on both sides...having said that I can reply to your statement w/o blaming any US officials...

Georgia sent troops into Ossetia...Russia took offense and retaliated. Who is right or wrong is a completely separate question; one I cannot answer. I don''t know enough about the history of the issue or the historical relationships of Russia and Georgia to make a rational judgement. I doubt that many in this forum have such knowledge, but would welcome the opportunity to learn.

[charlieot]

It might be hard to believe,.. But this whole Fiasco revolves around OIL,..w/ all it''''s plots and sub-plots... and who will be controlling it etc.. etc...

Posted by dodaz at 12:28 PM : Aug 26, 2008

dodaz...
Would you perhaps be able to cite some credible sources providing an objective basis for this conclusion?

[charlieot]

George Bush, *** Cheney and their band or criminal clowns have traded off having Russia as an ally (who we need to help control Iran) for Poland. Real smart dealing there....

Dangreous fools are running the U.S.

Posted by mascarponi at 11:50 AM : Aug 26, 2008

mascarponi...Let''s face it...Russia hasn''t done us a whole lot of good with Iran lately. Witness their handling of Iran''s nuclear program...backdoor deals with Tehran, obstructing sanctions and Security Council actions...
Make no mistake...Russia is looks out for Russia.

[guadalcanal3]

A deal should be made: Kosovo back to Serbia...for Georgia to keep it''s dissenting provinces.

[existinguser]

It might be hard to believe,.. But this whole Fiasco revolves around OIL,..w/ all it''''''''s plots and sub-plots... and who will be controlling it etc.. etc...
Posted by dodaz at 12:28 PM : Aug 26, 2008

dodaz...
Would you perhaps be able to cite some credible sources providing an objective basis for this conclusion?

Posted by charlieot at 12:54 PM : Aug 26, 2008
_________________________________________

charlieot,
it is a matter of simple facts... here, this should help you better understand what''s at stake:
. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_2fjoSixTU .
. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1HJJA4Tfv4 .
. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq8oAI9Wirk .

[tothestars2]

The problem with Russia(unlike the left dems in america) is they don''t give a bears a-- what the rest of the world thinks of them. They don''t have the problems with enspireamentalests,or anyone else when it comes to drilling for oil, they just shoot them. If you get in the way of the ruling party you wind up with lead poisening, or worse, plutonium. Their seedy underworld makes ours look like disneyland employees. But then thats just my opinion.

[jmurrieta1]

The Bushite Neocons have now completely blown a chance for cooperative relationships with the Russians, who face many of the same challenges as the US such as Islamic fundamentalism.

Between their stupid insistence on installing a missile defense system in Poland where it can be of absolutely no use in deflecting missiles originating in North Korea or Iran, their condenscending lectures delivered by Condee Rice and Don Rumsfeld, and their ridiculous provocation of Georgia to attack civilians, the Bushite Neocons have trashed the relationship.

Truth to tell, Bushite Neocons including Cold War McCain like hostile relationships. It lets their puppeteer defense contractors make a lot of money, and keeps the peasants in a state of fear which benefits the Republicans. Republicans feed on fear.

[fiberglass3]

Posted by charlieot: Would you perhaps be able to cite some credible sources providing an objective basis for this conclusion?


CBS News article ABOARD THE U.S.S. MCFAUL, Aug. 24, 2008

"Georgia straddles a key westward route for oil from Azerbaijan and other Caspian Sea nations including Kazakhstan, giving it added strategic importance as the U.S. and the European Union seek to decrease Russia''s dominance of oil and gas exports from the former Soviet Union."

[jgunther7]

The US navy is not only there to protect the murderers and war criminals. They also have to protect John McCain%u2019s business interest. John McCain%u2019s group gets an $800,000 kick back from Georgia. US taxpayers give Georgia millions, and the Georgians in turn kick back $800,000 to McCains campaign manager. The US navy is there to protect McCains dirty little deal.

[ajaxtheleast]

Dont knock a cold war!

Cold war at it''s best is a game of chess.

We''ll have to wait for Obama though to

enjoy an intreasting match.

But untill then we can avail ourselves

of the entertainment of watching a

Foosball player challenge a Russian

in a game of cold war strategies.

[charlieot]

Fiberglass and existinguser...
Thanks for the info, I''ll check the links when I have a moment...