See Global Voices special coverage page on the South Ossetia crisis.
With the massive deployment of Russian forces in Georgia, the small South Caucasus country's conflict with Moscow over the breakaway region of South Ossetia has obvious political ramifications thousands of miles away in the United States where presidential elections will be held on 4 November. With some alleging that the crisis reflects a struggle between the West and Russia, where the U.S. Presidential candidates stand on the matter is fast becoming a significant campaign issue.
While Republican candidate John McCain takes a firm anti-Russian stand, the Democratic Party's Barack Obama is more neutral on the matter and calls for restraint from both Georgia and Russia. At the heart of the matter is the perpetual debate over foreign policy and Western energy interests in the region as well as U.S. military support for Georgia.
Across The Pond examines other reasons for the differences in approach. The blog run by Deutsche Welle also solicits the opinion of its readers.
What's the reason for the different reactions by McCain and Obama? As Martin writes, the McCain camp sees a “commander-in chief opportunity” for their candidate. But, adds Martin, Obama's team also sees an opportunity: To show that McCain is beholden once again to lobbying interests. His foreign policy adviser Randy Scheuneman lobbied for Georgia from 2003 until recently.
But what do you think? Who has the better argument on the Russia-Georgia conflict McCain or Obama?
Making the question a political hot potato is the question of U.S. foreign policy. The Washington Note clearly blames the U.S. for the events in motion today.
When Kosovo declared independence and the US and other European states recognized it — thus sidestepping Russia's veto in the United Nations Security Council — many of us believed that the price for Russian cooperation in other major global problems just went much higher and that the chance of a clash over Georgia's breakaway border provinces increased dramatically.
[…]
It is possible that Condoleezza Rice's July 10th visit to Tbilisi and joint press conference with Saakashvili was interpreted by him that American power and resolve were firmly behind Georgia and its intention to reassert control over the autonomous provinces. The Georgian president miscalculated about American power in the world today and our resolve to take on Russia directly — no matter how much the Washington Post's Fred Hiatt and Anne Applebaum would like to see the situation differently.
While the seeds of this conflict between Georgia and Russia had been planted long ago, the U.S. helped engineer events that are now undermining its own interests and the global perception of American power.
Other bloggers are also starting to comment on the positions of the two U.S. presidential candidates. The Carpetbagger Report says that McCain's position is alarming.
Obama, calling for restraint and condemning the “outbreak of violence,” also criticized Russia for having “invaded Georgia’s sovereign” and having “encroached on Georgia’s sovereignty.” Obama’s line was largely consistent with that of the Bush White House, the European Union, NATO, and a series of European powers.
John McCain took a different line, which, as Smith noted, “put him more closely in line with the moral clarity and American exceptionalism projected by President Bush’s first term.”
[…]
Wait, would-be presidents should appreciate nuance when dealing with an international crisis? Credible candidates should be able to recognize gray areas in complex parts of Eastern Europe? Thoughtful would-be leaders need not to rush to view the world as a series of good guys and bad guys?
[…]
Let’s be clear: if McCain the Candidate is a reliable indicator of what we can expect from McCain the President, the presumptive Republican nominee would apparently be anxious to exacerbate the burgeoning war, and antagonize Russia.
There’s a lot going on right now, but this is a very important development in the presidential campaign. Ben Smith characterized this as a “true ‘3 a.m. moment’” for the presidential candidates. And at this point, McCain is once again looking pretty scary.
Donklephant also sides with Obama.
Obama sides with Georgia, but takes a more diplomatic stance and is carefully to not vilify Russia…
[…]
McCain is much more pointed and has no problem making Russia the bad guy…
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Personally, I’m in favor of the Obama approach, because Georgia’s hands certain aren’t clean in all of this, and even the Bush administration has stated as much…
[…]
Long story short, Obama’s approach gives us more flexibility to negotiate with Russia, while McCain’s draws a line in the sand with empty threats that Russia could easily ignore. Why? Because there’s virtually no chance we’ll stick our necks out for a country like Georgia…not when they tried to capture the capital of South Ossetia, but have since been pushed back by Russia’s overwhelming military might. This is a VERY local skirmish, and I can guarantee you that Americans want absolutely NO part of it.
Blogger Interrupted also uses the crisis in Georgia to argue the case for an Obama presidency.
[…] Georgia could become a microcosm of the foreign policy debate this year - a Bush-McCain policy, dominated by knee jerk platitudes, vs. the diplomatic seriousness of Barack Obama, dominated by an increasingly obvious instinct to negotiate. The consequences in the Caucasus could be far reaching, and be yet another repeat of cowboy diplomacy spinning out of American control.
[…]
Did I mention that both Armenia and Azerbaijan border Iran? And oh yeah, the main pipeline moving Azeri oil to market goes through Georgia.
Dominoes could fall in the Caucasus rapidly, and with a lot of blood, and inflationary effects on the price of oil, if the US plays the cards it is dealt the way John McCain seeks to play them. Even the Bush administration, in weary lame-duck status, sees this differently than John McCain, their statement being similar to Obama’s.
Bottom line, this situation requires clear-eyed and urgent diplomacy to make it stop. If it doesn’t stop soon, no one can predict where the end game lies. John McCain may need to shore up his base by pandering to the Instapundit democracy-as-tonic wannabes, but it will not save anyone’s democracy, and may imperil democracy in places other than Georgia.
And Republican spawned, unpredictable end games sure have gotten us far, haven’t they?
The Elephant Bar disagrees and says that conflict between Russia and Georgia exposes Obama's weakness at times of international crisis.
Seize the moment. Expose to the American people the incredible shrinking stature of the man who would be POTUS in times of war. He has nothing to say and knows nothing of how we find ourselves in this situation. […]
Do not get me wrong. McCain is no novice to the region and has not always been right in his decisions. […] Now, I find myself in the awkward position presented by the binary world of American politics in having to choose between a man that does not have a clue and one who has made decisions where I disagreed.
We have committed the United States to supporting freedom and democracy in parts of the world where there has been little of either. Georgia is where that decision has led us. We have trained them, armed them and encouraged their movement into Nato. Russia is now striking back. Georgia is the new Kosovo. What happens in Georgia will have unknown consequences to Europe and the United States for a generation. […]
Prairie Pundit simply says that South Ossetia exposes Obama's “wimpy side.”
I know Obama is following he same posture as the Bush administration. But isn't he the guy that says we need change?
Meanwhile, The Russia Blog simply says that “McCain's Wrong on Russia… And So Is Obama.”
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Kelvin Klein, Gori 3 lives are fakes? They are civilian. I feel this is verbal reprisal is nothing helpful. BTW, I agree #8 that Russian has a long history of bombing civilian and still claim this is act of ememy.
Maconald – OK, what’s about THOUSAND of osetian killed by georgians (properly trained by US instructor)? Not count? Why is no one western country offer a simple help (medical, food, etc) to the thousand and thousand osetian civilians flee from battlefield? They are not a human kind for you? All that wounded, childrens, ladies? Such a lot of help for Albanian half-criminal state, and not for any nation supporting Russia…Bombing civilin – is the most famous game for US AF – starting from Dresden and Tokyo, and in row: Vietnam, Lebanon, Lybia, Serbia, Afganistan, Iraq…will be continued for sure!
anonymous We remember…Collin Powel who found in Iraq chemical weapon, never existed in real life. Brilliant example indead!!!!
All that “hyper super isteria” in US really powerfull level of guys (and closed to them servants) has very simple reason. During all 90th they were very sure that the world is belongs to them, and friendly speaking, were too close to the truth. Times changed… They just start to handle somehow with the fact that China ALREADY on the nearly same level of power like US, and shows the further growth. And now they faced the “nightmare form the past” – Russia…Hey, guys, world become too difficult for your mind, isn’t it?
Macdonald, these photos are clearly fake. I seen 2 pictures – on both “corpse” in same pose, but in 3-5 meters different places. On another photos body moving from place to place too. But in addition, clothes absolutely clean – no dust, no blood, no visible damages. On over hand, I just seen the photo of killed ossetian – top half of the head is gone. So, who are liars?
And about “Russian has a long history of bombing civilian” – country with a longest history of bombing civilian is a United States. Vietnam, Iraq, Yugoslavia, Iraq again – it is far not complete list. Remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki – only US bombing civilians with nuclear bombs! Even more victims was in Dresden and Tokio bombing with fire-bombs. Russia never done something even close to that brutalities.
Everyone who think and judjes objectively understands that first the war began the Georgia.
To be more correct we should note that Sahakashvili began the war by the command of usa. And we can say that USA began the war against Russia to make Russia troubles, not let him to grow, and of course decrease Russia’s energetic strength.
Also as at the moment in US the elections go on, republicans need to have something to say to make their candidates votes to increase.
Every thinking man can say that the bigining of the war was not surprise as Georgia by the help of USa and Nato was preparing to this war very long time.
Before the bigining the war the Georgia was really developing and growing, and indeed it does not need the war, and of course the war was much more needed for USA, and we should say that sahakashvili acted arising not from Georgia’s benefits but for US benefits.
Unfortunately in this game which usa started many peaceful peopole diying and suffering.
I was shocked when noticed that western democtaric organisations, countries , objective and reputable tvs while concerning this matter they did not say at first any word about that the first day Georgians military attacked the South Osetia, that many peacful people were killed by georgians, that almost the Tskinvali was destroyed.
Hey world what is going on, be objective, not let some countries politicians to make the world stupid.
Why when the same americans did in yugoslavia, kosovo, Belgrad and in other countries they have rigth to do it.
Why world blame Karadjich but not Sahakashvili.
Why USa should do everything it want, and when it is better for them it is allowed and when it is not good for them then it is bad.
Why they can use democracy as they like but not as it should be.
Why kosovo can be independent but South Osetia , Abkazia and others can not.
It is obvious that both USa and Russia , and European Union play thier game for their own benefits and they does not care about others.
I want that every human in this world in everyithing being done in this world may give objective comments, say the truth because it is the truth but not to say anything becasuse it wants usa, russia, france, great britain, germany or others.
I don’ t like when usa or other big country uses small countries and nations in thier games.
If world countinue in this manner, further everthing in the world would be as it like a big country.
Stop liying world be objective.
May I remind you all that threre are deaths of 1200-2000 RUSSIAN CITIZENS!!!! Some of them might not be Russian but most surely are. Imagine what US would have done in the same situation.
Let’s put things in context: the Russians – the sort of criminals that would send thousands of young men (their “future”) to die over some rocks in the Kuril Islands, or as they did over some uninhabited swampland in Khabarovsk in 1960s – are trying to recapture Georgia. They bombed the oil and gas pipelines of a sovereign state on the absurd pretext that the S. Ossetians are Russian citizens (they issued passports to the Ossetians – Georgian citizens – to undermine the Republic of Georgia). They strafed a civilian marketplace in Gori, like the Serbs enjoyed doing. And the US and European governments are sitting on their hands, rather than trying to send aircraft carriers through the Dardanelles, or deploying SAM systems. The Russians mean to pulverize Georgia until it can be retaken by force, just as they invaded Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and the whole of Eastern Europe. They will blockade Georgia’s ports with the Black Sea Fleet, in the hopes of starving the Georgian nation, just as Stalin starved millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s. And Russia is arming any faction that will destabilize Georgia, just as the Soviet Union flooded the Arab countries with weapons in the Cold War to massacre the Israelis by proxy.
The point is this – the Russians live to observe and cause the suffering of others. The Russian Empire aimed at genocide in the Northern Caucasus throughout the 19th century, and deported entire nations in the 1940s. NATO needs to act immediately, and send its troops, SAMs, and AWACs to Georgia. The Russians cannot be reasoned with – they must be defeated.
Haykk, Your objective is something like: “To be more correct we should note that Sahakashvili began the war by the command of usa”. If other people do not understand in this way this is not objective, huh?
Having objectivity redefined. Cool.
I am not saying US and Georgia is not playing card. But you can’t missing the point that Ossetia and Russia and also playing identical cards, and in more brutal way.