U.S. knew Georgia trouble was coming, but couldn't stop it

[DogPoundPup]

By Jonathan S. Landay | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Bush administration officials, worried by what they saw as a series of provocative Russian actions, repeatedly warned Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to avoid giving the Kremlin an excuse to intervene in his country militarily, U.S. officials said Monday.

But in the end, the warnings failed to stop the Georgian president — a Bush favorite — from launching an attack last week that on Monday seemed likely to end not only in his country’s military humiliation but complete occupation by Russian forces.

The cost of the fighting in lives has yet to be tallied. But President Bush on Monday made it clear that the outcome was sure to mark a turning point in Russia’s relations with the West. It might also prove costly for the West’s relationship with the budding democracies of Eastern Europe, which now must contemplate a world where the United States could do little to protect a close ally in the face of a determined Russian onslaught.

"Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people," President Bush proclaimed after returning from China. "Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century."

"These actions jeopardize Russia's relations with the United States and Europe," Bush said. "It's time for Russia to be true to its word to act to end this crisis."

Pentagon officials said that despite having 130 trainers assigned to Georgia, they had no advance notice of Georgia’s sudden move last Thursday to send thousands of Georgian troops into South Ossetia to capture that province's capital, Tskhinvali.
To read the entire article: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/47631.html

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Who would ever invade a sovereign nation?

Oh, yeah. That's right.

Silly me...............

[Demeter]

6. Who Needs An Excuse?

The Boy George didn't.

[Andy Canuck]

8. He needed an excuse

so he made one up.

[tularetom]

2. Bush is a shitty poker player

He's tipped his hand so many times in the past that nobody is buying his bluff anymore.

And he's naive enough to think that his opinion really matters to anyone.

Plus he's getting really lousy advice from that renowned expert on all things Russian, Condom Sleezy Rice.

[Joe Chi Minh]

12. He's terrific at "beggar my neighbour".

[bemildred]

3. Yeah, ha ha, let the butt-covering begin. Again. nt

[Doctor_J]

4. It's official - no one listens to Stupid on any subject

No moral authority, no intelligence, no gravitas. He's the weakest man ever to live in the WH

[Phredicles]

5. Why does this sound like spin after the fact?

I find it hard to believe our client state would have undertaken such an action if we'd told them to desist.

[Demeter]

7. Maybe We Didn't Pay Our Bills

or maybe Putin made us a better offer.

Slime. The BFEE is pure slime.

[Heather MC]

14. YOU ARE CORRECT SIR YES! Gorbachev (can't spell) issued a statement

Saying Georgia believed they would have support from the WEST
AKA the good ple US of A

[sourmilk]

9. Considering what the attack and subsequent pipeline shutdown will do to oil prices...

...are we at all sure that Shrub didn't actually encourage Saakashvili to be openly provocative?

[caraher]

10. and for that matter...

it seems to me that having "Russian aggression" to point to helps their efforts to revive the lucrative Cold War. It's harder to sell missile defense boondoggles when the foe is "Islamofascism" than when it's the well-known "Russkies."

[Joe Chi Minh]

11. An American commentator said on our news this evening in the UK, that

Obama has been warning about it for a while now, urging that appropriate discussions should be initiated/represntations made on the subject, with the parties concerned. Something along those lines. Dealing with it while there was time and the opportunity. He cited three or four occasions.

Of course, beyond a certain "tipping point", attitudes harden on all sides, and all future diplomacy can be jeopardised.

[Demeter]

15. That's news in the US

Even on this board it's hard to get any hard factual info on Obama positions.

[Joe Chi Minh]

16. Well, I hope he gets out the news himself whenever he can.

[depakid]

13. Couldn't "stop it?"

America PROVOKED IT- and now they're trying to pass long this shallow spin?