I think that it was a very good decision for Russia and Europe that the russians kept their heads somewhat cool, and did not go for the full strategic military advantage that could been had when entering Georgia - but rather is playing up to the media onslaught by firstly of Georgia, but also the US and others, for "winning hearts and minds" - which it seemingly was all about anyways to gain political capital and geopolitical leverage. Almost everyone now seem to be involved in some kind of diplomatic damage control - a comforting sign at least. The Russians take the high road and claim protection of the minorities as their concern, Georgia claims attack on liberty and democracy, the US also tries the humanitarian route while hinting of russian imperialism and Europe talks stability. Even Israel seems stopping the celebration of IDF-supported "successful attacks" in Georgia. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1011720.html Our friends in Georgia By Anshel Pfeffer Talking to official Israeli representatives in Georgia can be confusing. One moment they're bragging about their close ties with senior members of the local government "He's our man, he's been working with us for years," they say of a government minister and the next they're emphasizing that Israel does not support either side, and is trying to keep its head above the murky waters of the Caucasian swamp. It can be said almost with certainty that Israel bet on the wrong horse here, and is trying to limit its damage which may turn out to be particularly serious as swiftly as possible. Israel wanted to play a central role in Georgia. Ostensibly, this was a perfect opportunity. A pro-Western government that controls a central oil transport junction, with senior officials who are Jewish and were even educated in Israel, and an army thirsty for Israeli weapons and knowledge. On top of all that, our American ally was also a senior partner in the Georgian project. Advertisement Many diplomatic and business opportunities opened there, and battalions of former generals, diligent entrepreneurs and middlemen quickly swooped down on them. Now, as the Russian media, guided by the Putin government, is emphasizing Israel's contribution to "the Georgian aggression," the Israeli Foreign Ministry is suddenly quick to mention that it always has warned against the wholesale weapons export permits issued by the Defense Ministry. ... To date, Putin and his ostensible successor Dmitry Medvedev were considered sympathetic to the Jews; they maintain warm ties with the leaders of the Moscow Jewish community, and with Russian-Jewish oligarchs Roman Abramovich, Lev Leviev and their associates. But make no mistake: It's a marriage of convenience. Putin has played the Israeli-Jewish card in the past; about four years ago, during one of the crises with Ukraine, Putin spoke of the influence of "Zionist advisers." If the situation in Georgia worsens, anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli notes will begin slipping into Russian propaganda. Overly blatant Israeli involvement and a strong Jewish presence in the Georgian government would probably lead to that. Official Israel has understood the message, although belatedly, and it is beginning to lower its profile. For now the 12,000 Jews living in Georgia have chosen to tie their fate with that country, and there seems to be no panicked flight. If this changes, the Israeli government has contingency plans to rescue them. These plans are dependent on Putin's goodwill. Israel has a long, unfortunate history of supporting failing, problematic regimes, from Idi Amin in Uganda to Augusto Pinochet in Chile, including the generals in Argentina and the Phalanges in Lebanon. The establishment repeatedly has been enticed to believe Israel can be a regional power, and has paid a painful price every time. Now, we may be able to thank Putin for quickly showing Israel the limits of its power and influence, and letting it escape with minimal damages. Lol, is there any wonder some people/the world get upset with Israel sometimes? The IDF bragging of how they helped in killing russians does not exactly help.
I am sure you meant to say that Israelis (not the IDF) helped in training (not killing) Georgian troops who utilizing this training killed a significant number of Russian invaders and shot down dozens of russian planes in a battle for the independence of their country. Actually it's you who is upset (and obsessed) with Israel, the world is upset with Russia. Their actions have been supported by Cuba and a few anonymous idiots on the internet with fringe anti-american views. All other governments (and peoples) have unequivocal condemned the invasion. You think you're clever? LOL Your spin sucks, it is awful, simplistic and completely transparent.
Furthermore, Saakashvili answered to israeli reporters: "The Israeli weapons have proved very effective," he said at a press conference at his office. When asked whether the Israeli arms played a role in the military successes he claimed the Georgian army had achieved, he joked: "Are you asking me as a representative of Elbit or of Israel Aerospace Industries?" To a reporter's question about Jews who have fled the fighting and come to Israel, he said: "We have two Israeli cabinet ministers, one deals with war [Defense Minister David Kezerashvili], and the other with negotiations [State Minister for Territorial Integration Temur Yakobashvili], and that is the Israeli involvement here: Both war and peace are in the hands of Israeli Jews." http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1011298.html Lol, Israel somehow "only" played a role in the military question, and the question about "territorial integration" ... Just the two things you'd want to get you would like to get out of control ... not!
BTW, Saakashvili is a Columbia Law School graduate, former human rights officer for the interim State Council of Georgia, he also received a diploma from the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. Saakashvili founded the United National Movement (UNM) in October 2001, a left-of-center political party akin to the Social Democrats in Europe... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikheil_Saakashvili Vladimir Putin on the other hand is a former KGB officer with the record of totalitarianism, suppression of democratic initiatives, wide-scale crackdown on media freedoms, brutal crushing of separatist movements and many other equally dubious distinctions.
Georgia leaves Russia-dominated alliance Georgia's parliament has voted unanimously to take the country out of a Russia-dominated regional alliance. Lawmakers voted Thursday after Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili asked parliament to take action to leave the Commonwealth of Independent States. The CIS is a loose alliance of ex-Soviet nations. The alliance is dominated by Moscow. Georgia's departure will leave 11 member states. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/14/europe/EU-Georgia-Russia-CIS.php
Well, it seems that commercial interests as well as geopolitical strategies external to the Georgia issue itself have influenced the course of things. A shame about the disrespect for the civilian population of Georgia and the miniorities ... It seems Putin and his government has a bit more intelligence (in every sense of the word) than Saakashvili and his government. I also heard by the Republican party in Georgia, that they want to end this type of presidential rule, and have a strong parliamentary system. That hopefully could provide a more mature and stable democracy for the future and security of Georgia.
If that was true, if the entire world condemned Russia unequivocally, Russia would not be free to do this. They may be powerful, but they certainly wouldn't afford to be up against the EU, the US, China, India, Japan and Brazil. No, the condemnation of Russia is very limited, even in the West. Just look at Israel, at how they're shutting up and butting out now, trying to save face. Only ones who truly has come out to support Georgia is other Eastern European countries who feels the threat, and to some extent the US. That's it. The rest of the world aren't really taking any part. You think you win points by being a huge pile of reeking horse shit? Maybe some people try to avoid you (nobody wants to step in shit), but it doesn't make your claims any more true.
Russia lost the Georgian War by Andrei Illarionov (a liberal economist and former policy advisor to the Russian president) 1. The war against Georgia was a brilliant provocation carefully planned and successfully carried out by the Russian leadership. The campaign was practically identical to the plan carried out in another theatre at another time â [Chechen warlord Shamil] Basaevâs attack into Dagestan and the beginning of the second Chechen war in 1999. ... 3. the financial, foreign policy, and moral losses of Russia are much more significant than those of Georgia. 4. The Russian leadership did not achieve its main goal â the ouster of [Georgian President] Mikheil Saakashvili, change of the political regime in Georgia, and Georgiaâs rejection of membership in NATO. Rather, the opposite has happened. 5. The international community regards Russia as the aggressor that brought its forces into the territory of another member state of the United Nations. The international community regards Georgia as the victim of aggression. 6. Russia has found itself in almost total isolation in foreign policy terms. Only Cuba supported Russiaâs intervention in Georgia. Neither Iran, nor Venezuela or Uzbekistan, not even Belarus said a word in Russiaâs support. 7. The G8 has, in effect, become the G7. ... 8. The Russian leadership succeeded in something that the rest of the world did not (want to) believe: The resurgence of fear of the âRussian bearâ. ... 11. The war helped reveal the true faces of some so-called liberals and democrats, who previously had condemned the âimperial syndrome,â but when it manifested itself, quickly caved in to the regime, calling for an attack on Tbilisi and for the reinforcement of Russiaâs defence and law enforcement agencies. ... 13. The war confirmed once more the validity of the most important principles of conduct of morally conscious Russian citizens in relation to the present regime: âdo not believe, âdo not fear, âdo not beg, âdo not cooperate. http://www.theotherrussia.org/2008/08/13/illarionov-russia-lost-the-georgian-war/
First of all, that list is by no means fact based, it is the wishful thinking of anti-government Russians. And second, not saying anything about Russia is by no means the same as condemning Russia. On the contrary, by shutting up, they virtually say they accept. I think it was Edmund Burke who once said that "All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." Certainly the large portion of good men are doing nothing.
a_person, of course Russia had a lot to lose from the conflict and escalation, that has been my point all along. Geopolitically - the US is the big winner, and would be the winner in every scenario by having the region destabilized. Not that the US would have "ordered" Saakashvili to attack, but they would not lose anything by having him attack. Commercial interests of Israel might also have a lot to gain, it seems. Now, we see the real battle - about diplomatic leverage and political support from the various populations - in the game of geopolitical strategy.