The Myth of Georgian Aggression
By Larry Johnson on August 12, 2008 at 3:14 PM in Current Affairs
Many pundits and media types are adopting the perspective that the Georgians caused the war with Russia because they (the Georgians) sent troops to southern Ossetia. My dear progressive friend, Wayne, sent me the following:
Here is a video from The Real News providing one mans (Pep Escobar) perspective on the battling in Georgia… very interesting perspective and not one you will find coming from the Corporate Media outlets.
Georgian troops launched an aerial bombardment and ground attack on its separatist province of South Ossetia on Thursday. South Ossetians want to join up with their ethnic brethren in North Ossetia, an autonomous republic within the Russian Federation. Seeing this as an act of aggression Russia launched bombing raids against Georgia, vowing to defend its citizens. More than half of South Ossetia’s citizens are said to have taken up Moscow’s offer of a Russian passport. Pepe Escobar believes that “the hypocrisy of the international community knows no bounds for if the West forced the issue of Kosovar independence then the independence of South Ossetia should also be on the cards.”
Or check out Justin Raimundo who gives the Russians a big, old sloppy kiss (with plenty of tongue):
The anti-Russian bias of the Western media is really something to behold: “Russia Invades Georgia,” “Russia Attacks Georgia,” and variations thereof have been some of the choice headlines reporting events in the Caucasus, but the reality is not only quite different, but the exact opposite. Sometimes this comes out in the third or fourth paragraph of the reportage, in which it is admitted that the Georgians tried to “retake” the “breakaway province” of South Ossetia. The Georgian bombing campaign and the civilian casualties – if they are mentioned at all – are downplayed and presented as subject to dispute.
A nice story but it is wrong. Russia’s invasion of Georgia has little to do with Georgia’s actions in Ossetia and more to do with Russia sending the United States a clear and defiant signal. Consider these facts:
1. Russian planning for this operation started at least two months before Georgia moved its troops into south Ossetia. The rapid movement of Russian forces into the disputed region and subsequent deployment into other disputed regions in Georgia required significant advance planning, movement of troops, equipment, fuel, and supplies (ammunition and food). Russia used the Georgian action as a convenient excuse to send the U.S. a clear and defiant message–fuck you!
2. Russian intelligence services penetrated the Georgian government and almost certainly had advance warning about Georgian plans and intentions.
3. The United States cannot do a damn thing to stop the Russians. Russia controls the UN Security Council’s ability to take action by virtue of its veto. The United States is not about to put its military forces on the line to fight the Russians in Georgia.
4. U.S. efforts to isolate Russia by expanding NATO to include members of the former Soviet empire and deploy an anti-missile shield in countries on Russia’s western border played a greater role in inspiring the Russian move than Georgia’s efforts to control south Ossetia. Let’s face it. The Bush Administration’s policy toward Russia is in tatters and we look like fools. It really does not matter what John McCain or Barack Obama say about the crisis per say. Why? Because when they enter office the Russians will be in control of the situation in Georgia.
5. U.S. credibility with our so-called allies is shredded. We enticed the Georgians to send troops to Iraq. Now that Georgia is fighting for its survival the best we can do is play taxi cab for Georgian soldiers in Iraq and ferry them home. We can give them some weapons. But that’s it. Like the Hungarians who stood up to the Soviets in 1956 and were crushed the regime of Putin is putting down a marker that Russia will not cede any territory it believes lies in its sphere of influence. The Georgians who harbor the fantasy that the West will help rescue them are in for a rude awakening. We are not going to lift a finger. They are on their own.
The United States is not the only loser in this debacle. Pat Lang offers the following cogent insight:
“A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
The Israelis should be careful or they will acquire a reputation for dumping their allies under pressure.
Until now the US has held the record for consistency in that field of political action.
Is it coincidence that the US and Israel both acted over the last few years to encourage Georgia in defiance of its giant neighbor?
Israel has 80,000 immigrant Georgian Jews in its population. The defense minister of Georgia is reported to be a “former” Israeli citizen.
Bravado is the Israeli style in international relations and in managing occupations. Rashness bordering on adolescent conceit is another way to describe the style.
I guess Russia doesn’t frighten as easily as some of the entities that the Israelis usually deal with.
What did the US think it was doing encouraging little Georgia to provoke the bear?
Ask the Jacobins. pl
One of the biggest challenges facing the next President will be coping with a resurgent Russia rather than facing down international terrorists. This is why I continue to believe that the best hope for us is to elect Hillary Clinton. Neither McCain nor Obama are up to the task of meeting this challenge.
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