Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili held high-profile White House meetings today with President Obama, who promised to help expand trade between the two nations and support the Georgian military’s reconstruction.
The visit was aimed at bolstering Georgia’s ambitions to join NATO, which are supported loudly by the US but appear overwhelmingly opposed across the rest of the alliance. The elephant in the room was the 2008 Russo-Georgian War.
In that brief war, Georgia attacked Russian forces in the secessionist enclave of South Ossetia. The result was massive Russian retaliation, which destroyed much of Georgia’s military and saw both South Ossetia and Abkhazia declaring formal independence from Georgia.
The US has refused to recognize the new republics, and even today Obama reiterated his support for Georgia’s “territorial integrity,” including reclaiming both of those territories. Saakashvili has vowed to reclaim them by any means necessary, but both have reached security deals with Russia which make such a reunification virtually impossible.
The security arrangements also stand in the way of Georgia’s NATO ambitions, as the alliance is never going to agree to admit the nation given the current situation on the ground. Both sides were careful not to mention the war in today’s talks, but it will cast a big shadow over all dealings with the Georgians going forward.
Shaakashvili did not attack Russian forces in South Ossetia. He attacked Ossetian forces.
You are absolutely right!
Georgian troops entered Tskhinvali after bombing it first, and killing sleeping civilians. Then Ossetian militia and International Peacekeeping Forces got involved.
Russian forces were NOT in Tskhinvali at the time of Georgian offense.
Here is what Israeli DEBKA FILE reported on Aug.8th, and erased later:
Several sites reposted it at the time.
ISRAEL KBR AND THE CASPIAN OIL HOW IT ALL STARTED!!
Date: Aug 8, 2008 1:46 PM
http://www. debka. com/article. php?aid=1358
Israel backs Georgia in Caspian Oil Pipeline Battle with RussiaDEBKAfile Exclusive Report
August 8, 2008, 4:26 PM (GMT+02:00)
Georgian tanks and infantry, aided by Israeli military advisers, captured the capital of breakaway South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, early Friday, Aug. 8, bringing the Georgian-Russian conflict over the province to a military climax… http://www.scribd.com/doc/4628512/Israel-Kbr-and-…
Yes, it will cast a HUGE shadow. The EU is not going to risk a nuclear confrontation with Russia while Georgia is under the control of this moron — and Obama knows it. Of course, the NATO alliance exists as another arm of US hegemony and should've disbanded after the fall of the USSR……but that's another issue in of itself.
The admission of Georgia into NATO would be the admission by defacto for Irsael. The leader of Georgia is a rabid zionist and he has allowed his nation to be a forward base for Israel. Russian understands this and they will clearly cause major problems for the old colonial nations AKA NATO.
Just say no.
Did Saakashvili bring his EC and NATO flags with him? They always look so nice in counterpoint to that crusader flag the Georgians claim as their own.
They would be a good reminders to Mr. Obama that 'gallant little Georgia' won't be trifled with.
^^^^^^^^^^ Mikhail Saakashviliis a deranged MORON…. His great idea, attack Russia during the Olympics,…….. Hey, no one will B watching…!!! Before Georgia can get ANY credibility, Mikhail Saakashvili needs to go…………….. No, the uppity mouse will not be able to beat the cat in a fight.. even if the cat is attacked while sleeping………. Gotta loveit, Vaudville sans the hook..!!! Ditto his defense portfolio holders…..that were involved in the fiasco war… Bye…Bye… BYE..!!!
Lol. The idiot thought the Russians, of all people, were going to accept the fait accompli.
Mikheil Saakashvili is a puppet of George Soros, who funded
his rise to power, and funded all the "color revolutions" of former-Soviet
territories.
Badri Patarkatsishvili, the primary political opponent to Saakashvili, was
found dead under mysterious circumstances in London.
He has appointed Israelis to positions of power.
David Kezerashvili (Defense) and Temur Yakobashvili (Territorial Integration).
are Israelis whom
"Saakashvili has vowed to reclaim them by any means necessary"
If he would only eat his tie again to show he really means business this time . . . The Russians must be laughing their butts off.
he should go eat another tie.
Marty, you are incorrect Georgia attacked BOTH Nth and Sth Ossetia, Russias were attacked directly in Nth Ossetia at the opening of hostilities. Furthermore Russsia is the OFFICIAL peacekeeper force of the United Nations in relation to both South Ossetia and Abkahzia. It was BEFORE the Georgian attack and it still is with that Peacekeeper Force being subject to annual UN security council review. To be blunt the Russian Response was measured and tactical. It didnt stop the oil pipe line from use. It only took as much ground as required to stop shelling and rocket attacks on the UN mandated protected area. Russia also took the main east west Highway to stop flanking manouevers and troop movements.
The interesting thing to watch was the initial report by Fox News blamed Georgia and within 24 hours the stories changed to Russian Aggression after the then Republican Nominee Senator McCain came forward in support of Georgia (who failed to tell us all that his campaign manager had been given several Million dollars Personally to lobby for Saakashvili's Georgian Government.)
Some where there is a very funny video of Saakashvili eating his tie.
Oh, goodie! Another bully joins the pack.