Friday, August 22, 2008

The Georgian state flag flies at half mast behind the statue of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in his hometown of Gori, now under control of Russian troops, August 20, 2008.
(David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

Rather strange... town is suppose to be "under control of Russian troops" yet it flies the Georgian flag. Georgia is suppose to be the most democratic country in x-communist states, yet it maintains the statue of the Stalin!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Gucci Protest!


Russain soldiers stand guard as a Georgian protester shouts near the town of Igoeti, 50 kms from Tbilisi,Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008. Georgian activists got into a tense argument with Russian soldiers over the military conflict with Georgia as they held a rally in the town outside the strategic city of Gori. ( AP Photo /Sergei Grits)

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

American Hypocrisy Institute (aka AEI)

Frederick W. Kagan of American Enterprise Institute has the following to say about Russian response to the conflict that Georgia started on opening night of Olympics:


The Russians have also established several principles and precedents:

* That Russia has the right to respond to conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia by strategic attack against Georgia


* That Russia has the right to use its military force to bomb and invade the undisputed sovereign territory of a neighbor for the purpose of defending the “dignity and lives of Russian citizens,” which was the basis that Medvedev has repeatedly advanced for the operation


There is nothing new about this "principles and precedents". In 1983 Ronald Reagan "invade the undisputed sovereign territory of" Granada for the purpose of protecting the lives of American Medical Students (whoes lives were not even threatened!) See: Remembering Reagan’s Invasion of Grenada



* That Russian Federation law extends to cover all Russian citizens, wherever they might be located.

* That Russian Federation law can be used to bring charges against non-Russian citizens who are not resident in Russia for crimes not committed on Russian territory, if their actions are “against the interests of the Russian Federation.”



How is that different than war on terror, Guantanamo bay.... There is 8 years of Bush administration precedence on these issues, all of which was supported or initiated by AEI. Why are they complaining now?


* That Russian military forces can take pre-emptive action, including ground occupation, to protect themselves from the possibility of danger posed by foreign forces on foreign soil.


Interestingly, a few years ago, while promoting The Project for New American Century, Bill Kristol and Mr Kagan say:

"We seem to have forgotten the essential elements of the Reagan administration's success: a military that is strong and ready to meet both present and future challenges; a foreign policy that boldly and purposefully promotes American principles abroad; and national leadership that accepts the U.S. global responsibilities."


It seems that, thanks to Neocons, the Russian have remembered the essential elements of Regan administration's successes!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Saakashvili the new Saddam?

President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia reminds me of President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. They both are very brave when it comes time to send their military to attack others but when it comes to themselves they are the chicken hawks:

The Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili, was pushed to the ground by bodyguards when a jet flew overhead during his tour of the Georgian city of Gori....

Wednesday, August 06, 2008