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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…
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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…
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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.”
Alex “Bombing civilin – is the most famous game for US AF – starting from Dresden and Tokyo, and in row: Vietnam, Lebanon, Lybia, Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq”
Alex
You forgot that Afghanistan was first bombed to smithereens and destroyed by your army. I do not even want to mention Red Army trying to annex Finland, your army behaviour in Chechenia and so on and so forth , so do not try to pretend to have holier then thou attitude.
You should also look at the reaction of all former so-called socialist countries – majority of them condemned Russia action. To be fair I do agree with your stand regarding Serbia (I think the west made a large mistake there), but that’s not a reason not to call spade a spade i.e. imperialist action against Georgia should be called by a proper name – imperialist action against independent Georgia.
Stop the genocide of the Ossetians!
The nationalistic and fascist government of Georgia from the year 1989 support the policy of the annihilation and the impression of the aboriginal Ossetian population from the territory that they occupy. From 1991 as a consequence of repeated military actions that were undertaken by the criminal authorities of Georgia against the small nations and the national purge murdered thousands of people –Ossetians, Abkhazians, Armenians, Russians. At the same time the scale of the genocide passed over the silence by mass media. The atrocity of the Georgian fascists, the tortures surpassed the one of the German fascists during the World War II.
The Georgian nation is sick, the ideas of the national oneness, justifying the territorial claims are warmed up by the Georgian mass media. The government of Georgia is financed by the USA, having it’s own geopolitical interests in the region. Now the tragedy is developed, the Ossetian people are systematically shot in own houses, perish under blockages of the destroyed houses. The Georgian fascists have destroyed, have wiped about Ossetian villages, the city of Tskhinval is in ruins. It’s impossible to count up the quantity of victims, that were buried under blockages of the houses destroyed by fire of the Georgian aggressors, the account goes on thousand. Groans of people from under blockages are audible. The Republic hospital where had helped to the wounded man was destroyed by the Georgian artillery, under blockages were wounded men and medical workers who could not be released under heavy fire of the opponent. Thus the Georgian party cynically declares the constitutional order prompting, one for another offers insinuations to accuse the Russian or Ossetian parts in the conflict. The people of Abkhazia will be the following victims of the Georgian extremism. We ask for the help, solidarity, and if it is possible with an exit on the international sites. Let the world knows the truth, instead of presented by the Georgian masters of falsifications lie.
People of the world, the information, provided by the international mass media is no true. Russia DID NOT ATTACK Georgia! 07.08.2008 at 22:00 Georgia attacked South Ossetia, the troops rolled in. At 3:30 08.08.2008 tanks of the Georgian armies have entered the city of Tskhinvali, the capital of the South Ossetian Republic. Whole city was shelling by heavy artillery all day long, there were fights with use of tanks and heavy munition, which were used against both ossetic militia and non-combatants. More than 2000 civillians were killed during Georgian attack. Russian peacemakers have arrived to South Ossetia in the evening of 08.08.2008 for settlement of the conflict and peace conduction in republic and protection of Russian citizens, living on territory of South Ossetia (approx. 80% of South Ossetian population). Georgia has attacked South Ossetia on the opening day of 2008 Olympiad, it is top of cruelty and cynicism.
Im so much glad there are people that see the reality. And to be objective doesnt mean to blame Russia in everything and bring the history out! Yeah, Russia’s got some bad moments in history. But let’s remember about the USA fond of attacking civilians (people in above posts mentioned it). What about Germany that brought the second world war? That’s just history. Doesn’t mean anything. Presidents, mentality, evrything changes. We live in 21 century. Russia didn’t attack Georgia. Russia has nothing to do with Georgia. They just tried to protect South Ossetia, to provide wounded people with medical help and stuff. And at the end of the day everybody’s blaming Russia. Saying that Russia’s flexing its muscles in Georgia. For God’s sake, Russia would never do that. I’m very annoyed with western journalists trying to give people wrong impression about what’s really going on. They show on the TV:”…look, russian tank…”. But why don’t they show georgian tanks running over KIDS?! They keep showing Tbilisi being bombed by russians but where are the scines of ossetian villiages being attacked with heavy artillery by georgians?! And how many people died just because Georgia wants more territory?! Everything they say about Russia is bullshit. In fact, now Russia’s insisting on independence of South Ossetia.
I guess I will be the only Armenian supporting Georgia.
Russians will be out of CAUCASUS along with SOUTH CAUCASUS. We as neighbor nations should be allowed to live together in peace. We all are small republics and we do not need a support of any supperpower to live, Get out of CAUCAUS Russia.
This is not your land. Russians are from Kiev. Chechnya, Dagestan, Ossetia, ABkhazia, Ajaria, Georgia, Azerbajan, Armenia these are not the lands for Russian people. These WERE ARE AND WILL BE the lands of the way ancient people. Alans (ancestors of Chechens) used to live there thousands years before Slavic tribes ever created.
Get out from our lands. You play cards Russia, you support terrorists on each separatist country, you make neighbours fight for your interests and after all these people, simple civilians suffer from war, poverty etc.
300 some years ago Russia invaded CAUCASUS and our problems began. Before we used to live in peace. We always had problems but we never fight and destroy each others land. We as small nations always united against big tirans. For example Georgians and Armenians never fought before 1918. Does that tell you something? It is thousands of years. It is not a joke. Thousands of years in peace. And the same about Albanians(ancestors of Azerbajanis). Now we have fight with them and all because of Russians wich provocated Karabakh conflict supporting terrorist bands both in Armenia and Azerbajan.
We want peace. You Russia is a stable proof that we will never have it as long as we are in your control area.
The most beautiful princess in Armenia was Alanian princess. The daughter of Alanian king. This is a fact. And now you mixed everything and Chechens fought against us in Kababakh.
So get out. let Georgians, ABkhazians, Ossetians and all we live in peace and develop.
Our poverty is your political success. As poor as these countries as rich and important are you in the world because you have control all over us.
We want to be with USA and west along with georgians. you know why ?
Because there is a principle of WEST
Live and give others chance to live.
This is the one of the main idea of west
You do not have that decency. Your citizens are living in poverty. So you do not live and you do not allow others live. All Russia does is provocative others, make them suffer and suffer itself. Look at the friends of Russia. You will never find a country which has at least DEVELOPING economy, which respects its citizens, which is not poor. Cuba, Nikaragua, Iraq, Syria, the list is unlimited and the poverty is unlimited.
Let us decide where we want to go. We do not want to be with country which is not respecting it’s allies.
USA is not perfect. It would be perfect if it have supported and protected all countries, even enemies. But USA supports and protects only it’s allies, like Kosovo. And this is enough for us. World is not a heaven. Being it heaven USA and west would have been angels. But we have what we have.
Stay with Russia and forever be in poverty and wars between each other or go to NATO, USA, EUROPE, stop fighting and economically grow.
We want second. Get OUT to your northern lands. South is belong to our proud southern small nations.
For some reason people tend to co-exist peacefully. Well of course… until GOVERNMENTS step in.
Especially the ones with imperialistic twist – be it small yet imperialistic Georgia, Russia or the US. Can’t help but quote a common reference to Georgia – “the only island of democracy in the region”. Never mind the rigged elections, recent opposition arrests and killings, and deployment of special forces to deal with demonstrations. But this was a couple of months ago and as we know the attention span and the memory of an average mainstream news consumer is short. Not to speak about history of the region. That’s out of reach totally. Our brains can not consume THAT much information.
Governments do not act for the best interests of their citizens. Do they? If they would I guess the peaceful demonstrations won’t be suppressed, minorities oppressed, wars waged.
Do me and YOU want war anywhere in the world? Do YOU fight with your minority neighbor next door? Do YOU hate a particular Iraqi, Georgian, Osset, Armenian, Russian so you want to kill them, or worse bomb the neighborhood?
Tell me I am wrong. But give me some arguments.
Armenian, Nobody ever wanted to fight but Georgia! And Russia’s got nothing to do with that. In fact, if Russia didn’t get involved protecting South Osetia Georgia would still be attacking, killing thousands of people. So what peace are you talking about?! What would Russia gain attacking Georgia? Russia doesn’t want anyhting from anybody. It has its own. Your country separated from Russia ages ago, but still Armenia is a poor country. Who doesn’t let you grow economically?! How does Russia affect your country or any of these countries? This is a free world. You are just looking for an excuse, looking for somebody to blame. You are talking about principal of WEST when you live and give others chance to live. And now tell me how many times America itself took (not gave!) that chance from people?! Attacking civilians, trying to get involved in any conflict in the wolrd…I admit Russia might have done some wrongs, but Georgia has more blame to put on.
Dear All,
Several questions from the Russian citizen:
1/ Does US and any other countries support of Georgia means that those countries take responsibility for up to 2000 citizens of South Osetia killed by Georgians during the first 2 days of their agression?
2/ Why the official report re 2000 murdered South Osetians did appear at international broadcast few days later as “from some recourses in Russian authorities”? It is disinformation as it has been an official report announced by Russian President.
3/ Why the international TV channels have been reporting from Tbilisi only, and not from Tsihnvali (South Osetia) in the cause of bombing (maybe because Georgian bombs were more dangerous as their aims were citisens)?
4/ Why US calls Russia actions and disproportional means: 2000 dead South Osetians vs 16 Georgian soldiers.
5/ Why the EU and US are trying to ignore the fact that Georgians initiated the agression?
Regards,
M
For Michael: Let’s put things in context: “so called really democratic US” – the sort of criminals that through all his history prefers send thousands of NOT AMERICAN young men (to kill “future of possible competitor”) to die over some oil rigs, or convinient sea coast, or whatever also interesting for Wall-street. Rusians, good or bad, but more bravery and honestly – fighting personally.