America, Frozen Conflicts, Georgian Politics, International, Russia, South Caucasus, european politics
Bush’s statement and instant reaction
In his most harsh and strongly worded statements since the outbreak of hostilities between Russia and Georgia US President Bush has warned Russia not to overthrow Georgia’s “duly elected government” and that their continued actions against the sovereign nation of Georgia has “wounded its world standing and endangered ties with the West.” Bush said “”Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century.”
Media pundits seem to be praising this statement and saying it is very harsh criticism of Russia but this writer, as an American citizen, believes that more must be done to come to the aid and support of a staunch ally who, before this conflict with Russia, had the third highest contingent of troops serving in the Iraqi coalition.
12 Aug 2008 PCV Telavi
I agree that more needs to be done; having a much larger and more publicized contingent of foreign envoys to occupy Tbilisi immediately with the President and act as a human diplomatic blockade/witness to the injustice would help, along with an instant call for economic sanctions targeting Russia. With oil prices subsiding temporarily we as a world community can adjust world demand away from Russian oil and gas and create new lines of supply to those who will need altternate fuels. As we are evidently unwilling to commit troops, we need to give the Georgian people assurance that their peaceful resistance to make the takeover of Tbilisi and Georgia unmanageable for Russia will draw real encouragement and support from more active allies, including notably the US and the UK. If they could band together for Afghanistan and Iraq, why not Georgia? Otherwise Ukraine and all of the bordering states will be next in line for this brutality, and anyone abroad or in the US Congress who will not join in this effort NOW, before it is effectively too late within a day ot two, with Gerogia’s President, dead, in prison or, at best, in exile. Surely those who withhold support from Georgia in their hour of need deserve the sternest treatment from a coalition - and not by making them eat Stolichnaya fries.