Putin accuses US of provoking conflict in Georgia, possibly for the election

[Plane]

They also get a Black Sea port.

Yes, but this is no longer the 16th century and the Tsar's troubled search for a warm-water port. The Russians lease Sevastopol from the Ukrainians.

The Russians return to Czarist behavior strikes me as incongruous.

[_JS]

They also get a Black Sea port.

Yes, but this is no longer the 16th century and the Tsar's troubled search for a warm-water port. The Russians lease Sevastopol from the Ukrainians.

The Russians return to Czarist behavior strikes me as incongruous.

It strikes me as not being true.

[Plane]

I take nothing back , Putin himself has said he was protecting Russians.

So the Russians intentions were purely selfish and evil (genocide as you said) whereas America's intentions when invading sovereign nations is purely benevolent and spreading freedom and democracy?

Yes

[_JS]

I take nothing back , Putin himself has said he was protecting Russians.

So the Russians intentions were purely selfish and evil (genocide as you said) whereas America's intentions when invading sovereign nations is purely benevolent and spreading freedom and democracy?

Yes

You've got no proof of this.

So you're either a racist or a nationalist. Or both.

[BT]

What makes your claim any different?

Russia has siezed the ports and have every intention of staying their.

Iraqi oil is going out for contract bid by the Iraqi's. If we went in for the oil, Iraq wouldn't have much to say about the matter now would they. Kinda like the South Osetians.

[_JS]

South Ossetia has no ports.

We were there for quite some time before Iraq pumped anything. Have you given the Russians the same amount of time to withdraw from Georgia back to South Ossetia and Abkhazia?

And what is this highly valued port on the Black Sea?

[BT]

My bad. The port of Poti is a Georgian port that Russia has seized.

[Michael Tee]

Why don't we all cut the bullshit?  The Russians had as much right to stop the installation of hostile military bases in Georgia as the U.S. did to stop Russian missile batteries from being installed in Cuba.

I'm a little bit disappointed in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's failure to back Russia in this.  I think this has to lead to some very hard thinking in Russian diplomatic circles - - why and where did they fail, how could they have brought the SCO around, what needs to be done to develop this alliance to the point where it works as well for Russia as NATO does for the U.S.A.?  As I see it, Russia is finally emerging from the long slump that began with the fall of Communism and the former Warsaw Pact countries' alignment with the U.S.A. and/or NATO.  Protecting its Georgian border is a vital first step in that re-emergence, but other steps will also have to be taken at other points along its borders.

I think Russia is definitely in need of powerful, dependable and durable alliances if it is to withstand the U.S. drive for total world domination.  The SCO is a good start, but it's still pretty shaky at this point, as Georgia obviously demonstrates.  In order to cement a more serviceable alliance, I think Russia needs to develop a vision for the SCO of what it can become, what it should be.  Obviously that vision will have to show the same benefits for the other members as the Russians would like it to show for them.  What contributions it needs from the other member states, what inducements it can or should offer to them.  Building strong alliances takes work, and dedication. 

Somehow Putin needs to inspire the youngest and the smartest Russians to set to work building the new post-communist state, and that includes a whole new series of alliances and diplomatic triumphs.    One of the greatest strengths of the U.S.S.R. in its earliest days was the vast supply of energetic, enthusiastic, brilliant young intellectuals, fired up to a fever pitch by the possibility of building a radically new socialist state in Russia that would honour the basic principles of "from each according to his ability . . . " and forever end the exploitation of man by man.  I don't know what idea, other than communism, could create that kind of energy and enthusiasm in Russia or anywhere else, today.

[Plane]

I don't know what idea, other than communism, could create that kind of energy and enthusiasm in Russia or anywhere else, today.

Manifest destiny , empire and glory.


What hostile military bases are you talking about?

[Michael Tee]

<<What hostile military bases are you talking about?>>

If Georgia were to join NATO, every military base in Georgia would be a hostile military base.

[Plane]

<<What hostile military bases are you talking about?>>

If Georgia were to join NATO, every military base in Georgia would be a hostile military base.

Piffle , unless we are to consider all of Russia hostile to us.

The invasion potential was the very reason that those Countrys were eager to join , some of them do not enjoy being invaded.

If we needed a recxruiting tool for Nato , what would be a better one than this?

[Michael Tee]

<<The invasion potential was the very reason that those Countrys were eager to join , some of them do not enjoy being invaded.>>

Obviously, from the point of view of the Georgians.  But what was the motive of the U.S.A. in wanting to take Georgia into NATO?

<<If we needed a recxruiting tool for Nato , what would be a better one than this?>>

On the other hand, if the Russians wanted a reason to invade Georgia, what would be a better one than Georgia joining an anti-Russian military alliance whose most influential member just happens to be the biggest current threat to world peace and a serial aggressor and invader?

[Plane]

When did NATO bcome anti Russian?

This is a club that includes most of Rusias tradeing partners , its biggest lenders and customers.


NATO has never invaded Russia , nor prepared to .


The most egregious offense NATO has committed recently was to install anti invasion excuse me ,anti aircraft missles in Poland.

Of Course the US was unwilling to provide these missles untill the invasion of Georgia , this made the Polish request seem more reasonable.

[Plane]

To diffuse the fact that he would be the oldest person ever elected president, John McCain likes to talk about his gene pool -- and how his mother is still going strong at age 90. But the quality of one's genes is only one determinant of longevity. Considering McCain's history with skin cancer, who knows what his medical future holds.

My understanding is that Sarah Palin is a nice lady. I certainly don't agree with her on most of the important social issues. Other than her interesting life story, I don't know much about her. I don't know if McCain knows much about her.

God forbid something bad should befall a 72-year-old man who's had skin cancer. But if it does, is this truly the woman we want dealing with Putin on an instant's notice?

For me, the answer is no.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ari-emanuel/one-heartbeat-away_b_122549.html


So Putin is the world leader you most need maleness for dealing with?

[Michael Tee]

<<When did NATO bcome anti Russian?>>

The whole reason for it was to protect Europe against Soviet "expansionism."

<<This is a club that includes most of Rusias tradeing partners , its biggest lenders and customers.>>

so?  that does not guarantee their friendliness.  Tony Soprano might be your biggest lender and your biggest customer, but that doesn't mean he'll never hit you.


<<NATO has never invaded Russia ...>>

Ha ha ha ha ha ha, you are hilarious, plane.

For your information, the following is a partial list of NATO member countries which have invaded Russia since the Bolshevik Revolution:  Great Britain, France, Canada, the U.S.A., Poland, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Spain, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia.

<< . . . nor prepared to.>>

No?  so all those SAC bombers were just conducting meteorological studies?