Obama, our Nominee's statements on Georgia in April and July 2008. OBama got it Right!

[FrenchieCat]

It is my opinion that if Barack Obama was President, this confrontation would have been diplomatically avoided before it began.

Statement of Senator Obama on Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty
Chicago, IL | April 21, 2008
Statement on Georgian territorial integrity and sovereignty and Russian President Putin's decree establishing legal ties between Russia and the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Georgia is a sovereign country, a member of the United Nations, and a close friend of the United States. I welcome the desire by Georgia, as well as Ukraine, to seek closer ties with NATO.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree establishing closer governmental and legal relations with the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, without the approval of the Georgian government, is deeply troubling and contrary to Russia's obligations as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Putin's declaration falls short of recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries, but these pledges of closer ties to these two regions threatens the Georgian government and emboldens the secessionist forces in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has offered to negotiate substantial autonomy for these regions. Negotiations between the Georgian government and regional leaders, fully supported by international organizations and responsible governments, are the right way to proceed. By contrast, Russia's unilateral decree outside of legal United Nations procedures and principles is fundamentally counterproductive.

Since the end of the Cold War, Republican and Democratic administrations have supported the independence and sovereignty of all states of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. We must continue to do so. The advance of democracy and peace in the region is a remarkable achievement that cannot be undone by unilateral acts designed to undermine the territorial integrity of democratic countries like Georgia.
http://www.barackobama.com/2008/04/21/statement_of_senator_obama_on.php

Region Between Georgia and Russia
Senator Barack Obama

www.barackobama.com
Statement of Senator Obama on Tensions in the Caucasus Region Between Georgia and Russia
Chicago, IL | July 23, 2008

Chicago, IL -- "Over the last several weeks, Russia and Georgia have been engaged in a steadily more dangerous confrontation over two secessionist regions of Georgia -- South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Although these territories are located within Georgia's internationally-recognized borders, the Russian government seems determined to challenge Georgia's territorial integrity in both places. Developments took an especially provocative turn several days ago when four Russian warplanes violated Georgian airspace close to the Georgian capital for forty minutes.

All parties -- Russia first and foremost -- must now reduce tensions, avoid the risks of war, and reengage in peaceful negotiations.

As I stated in April of this year, I am committed to upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. This commitment has long been a fundamental building block of U.S. policy, and it will not change under an Obama Administration. I also affirm Georgia's right to pursue NATO membership. This aspiration in no way threatens the legitimate defense interests of Georgia's neighbors.

Only a political settlement can resolve the conflicts over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia needs to roll back the aggressive actions it has taken in the last three months. The Georgian government must resist the temptation to be drawn into a military conflict. All parties must make clear that they are committed to a diplomatic settlement and will not seek to resolve this dispute by force.

The international community must become more active in trying to defuse this confrontation. The fact that Russia has become a party to the conflict means that Russia is not qualified to play the role of a mediator. The visit to Georgia by German Foreign Minister Steinmeier this week was a positive, important step towards establishing a larger role for the European Union. The Euro-Atlantic community must speak with one voice in helping to promote peace in this volatile region. As part of the de-escalation process, a multilateral peacekeeping force must eventually replace the Russian peacekeeping force currently deployed in Abkhazia."
http://www.russiaprofile.org/page.php?pageid=CDI+Russia+Profile+List&articleid=a1216912656

[Median Democrat]

1. Thanks for The Post!

This statement seems closest to the solution based on the NYT's description of the reasons that lead to the war:

/snip

Several other long-term factors had also contributed to the possibility of war. They included the Kremlin’s military successes in Chechnya, which gave Russia the latitude and sense of internal security it needed to free up troops to cross its borders, and the exuberant support of the United States for President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, a figure loathed by the Kremlin on both personal and political terms.

Moreover, by preparing Georgian soldiers for duty in Iraq, the United States appeared to have helped embolden Georgia, if inadvertently, to enter a fight it could not win.

American officials and a military officer who have dealt with Georgia said privately that as a result, the war risked becoming a foreign policy catastrophe for the United States, whose image and authority in the region were in question after it had proven unable to assist Georgia or to restrain the Kremlin while the Russian Army pressed its attack.

* * *

This feeling was especially true among Russian specialists, who said that, whatever the merits of Mr. Saakashvili’s positions, his impulsiveness and nationalism sometimes outstripped his common sense.

The risks were intensified by the fact that the United States did not merely encourage Georgia’s young democracy, it helped militarize the weak Georgian state.

/snip

[FrenchieCat]

2. Again, I believe if Obama was President,

this whole thing would not be happening.

This is as of a direct result of Bush Foreign policy, and the example he set in Iraq.

McCain blustering against Russia is going to backfire.

[Median Democrat]

3. McCain's Tough Talk Is Just Talk Unless He Is Really Stupid Or...

Georgia is paying McCain's advisor really well. Russia is not Iran. We are not going to be able to treat them like the fourth member of the Axis of Evil. The biggest mistake was encouraging or tacitly supporting Georgia's "surprise" escalation. As the NYT notes, somehow, Georgia was emboldened to make that initial attack despite Russian threats that it would counter-attack.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Attack, attack, attack! That's all he knows.

[FrenchieCat]

5. Obama's judgment was correct again, of course.

[democracy1st]

6. K & R

[phrigndumass]

7. K/R ... peaceful negotiations, not in the republican handbook

That would be emboldenin' and empowerin' terraists :crazy:

[nsd]

8. kick

[AtomicKitten]

9. Excellent.

K&R

[Blue_Roses]

10. I get so sick of the MSM asking and prodding

their idiotic questions as to whether Obama can handle foreign affairs.

Just today, John Roberts, on CNN was grilling Bill Richardson about McCain vs. Obama and this Georgia crisis. He was implying that Obama didn't have the experience because of his "short" time in the senate.:wtf: does that have to do with knowledge?

Good grief. I wanted to throw something...and that reminds me, I have an email to send to right now:argh:

[eridani]

11. The Soviet Union had no real right to "territorial integrity"

That approach scales down, to the point where Georgia has no right to it either. If Georgia can be free of the Soviet Union, why can't South Ossetia be free of Georgia?