We Are All Georgians
August 14th, 2008 at 12:32pm KMorrison
We Are All Georgians reposted from the Wall Street Journal
By JOHN MCCAIN
August 14, 2008; Page A13
For anyone who thought that stark international aggression was a thing of the past, the last week must have come as a startling wake-up call. After clashes in the Georgian region of South Ossetia, Russia invaded its neighbor, launching attacks that threaten its very existence. Some Americans may wonder why events in this part of the world are any concern of ours. After all, Georgia is a small, remote and obscure place. But history is often made in remote, obscure places.
As Russian tanks and troops moved through the Roki Tunnel and across the internationally recognized border into Georgia, the Russian government stated that it was acting only to protect Ossetians. Yet regime change in Georgia appears to be the true Russian objective.
Two years ago, I traveled to South Ossetia. As soon as we arrived at its self-proclaimed capital — now occupied by Russian troops — I saw an enormous billboard that read, “Vladimir Putin, Our President.” This was on sovereign Georgian territory.
Russian claims of humanitarian motives were further belied by a bombing campaign that encompassed the whole of Georgia, destroying military bases, apartment buildings and other infrastructure, and leaving innocent civilians wounded and killed. As the Russian Black Sea Fleet began concentrating off of the Georgian coast and Russian troops advanced on one city after another, there could be no doubt about the nature of their aggression.
Despite a French-brokered cease-fire — which worryingly does not refer to Georgia’s territorial integrity — Russian attacks have continued. There are credible reports of civilian killings and even ethnic cleansing as Russian troops move deeper into Georgian territory.
Moscow’s foreign minister revealed at least part of his government’s aim when he stated that “Mr. Saakashvili” — the democratically elected president of Georgia — “can no longer be our partner. It would be better if he went.” Russia thereby demonstrated why its neighbors so ardently seek NATO membership.
In the wake of this crisis, there are the stirrings of a new trans-Atlantic consensus about the way we should approach Russia and its neighbors. The leaders of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Latvia flew to Tbilisi to demonstrate their support for Georgia, and to condemn Russian aggression. The French president traveled to Moscow in an attempt to end the fighting. The British foreign minister hinted of a G-8 without Russia, and the British opposition leader explicitly called for Russia to be suspended from the grouping.
The world has learned at great cost the price of allowing aggression against free nations to go unchecked. A cease-fire that holds is a vital first step, but only one. With our allies, we now must stand in united purpose to persuade the Russian government to end violence permanently and withdraw its troops from Georgia. International monitors must gain immediate access to war-torn areas in order to avert an even greater humanitarian disaster, and we should ensure that emergency aid lifted by air and sea is delivered.
We should work toward the establishment of an independent, international peacekeeping force in the separatist regions, and stand ready to help our Georgian partners put their country back together. This will entail reviewing anew our relations with both Georgia and Russia. As the NATO secretary general has said, Georgia remains in line for alliance membership, and I hope NATO will move ahead with a membership track for both Georgia and Ukraine.
At the same time, we must make clear to Russia’s leaders that the benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world require their respect for the values, stability and peace of that world. The U.S. has cancelled a planned joint military exercise with Russia, an important step in this direction.
The Georgian people have suffered before, and they suffer today. We must help them through this tragedy, and they should know that the thoughts, prayers and support of the American people are with them. This small democracy, far away from our shores, is an inspiration to all those who cherish our deepest ideals. As I told President Saakashvili on the day the cease-fire was declared, today we are all Georgians. We mustn’t forget it.
Entry Filed under: John McCain
8 Comments Add your own
1. Joe | August 14th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
The press regarding Obama simply making a speech in Germany (how dare he have a speech in a foreign country!!). I think they called it “presumptuous”
Even McCain regarding Obama’s Germany speech:
So… apparently Obama was acting “too Presidential” in having a speech in a foreign country. Ya know… campaigning should end at the US border.
Today:
Wh-wh-what???? McCain is basically sending advisors over to the conflict area??? Isn’t that the job of THE PRESIDENT?????
What is that word I’m looking for?? It is right on the tip of my tongue… oh I got it……… PRESUMPTUOUS.
2. KMorrison | August 14th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
They’re members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. It’s part of their job to visit these areas, McCain has no power to ’send them’. Will his campaign take advantage of this vistit? Probably, that’s what campaigns do. It would be a stretch to say that the Obama campaign wasn’t trying to positively market his visit to the Middle East or Europe as well.
3. Joe | August 14th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Then perhaps Sen Graham and Sen Lieberman should have had their own press conference saying they were going there.
Instead it was McCain saying they were going as if he “sent them”.
I understand he is the ranking member of that committee. However… since they both are “advising” on his campaign, it sure looks as though he is “sending his advisors”.
Perhaps he should let the current incompetent Administration take first shot at diplomacy.
4. congressive | August 14th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Again, here is what the Weekly Standard, a VERY conservative publication headed by neocon Kristol, has to say about “we are all Georgians”:
Saakashvili, upon taking office, replaced the Georgian national flag with the flag of his own National Movement party. As a result of Saakashvili’s electioneering and his dominance of the Georgian media, particularly the powerful Soros-funded TV station Rustavi 2, which acts as Saakashvili’s own bichon frisé, his party swept the recent legislative elections by a wide margin. This has left Georgia–and George Soros–with a one-leader, one-party government, a far cry from a noble experiment in democracy.
READ IT YOURSELF. You are being played like a fiddle by George Soros and his BUDDIES John McCain and Mikhail Saakashvili.
I AM NOT GEORGIAN, deleted McCain. I AM AMERICAN, you billionaire-hugging fraud. You and deleted can go back to Sturgis so they can drown you out with their bikes again.
5. KMorrison | August 15th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Joe - I’d just say, it is what it is. Maybe it doesn’t look okay to some, but they’re more than entitled to go, and don’t really see how their presence is a bad thing. I’m definitely not thrilled with Bush’s inaction, but hopefully Rice is able to help in this situation.
C - Think you have a lot of convincing to do if you’re going to try to make it look like McCain is connected to Soros. As noted before, Soros is spending huge money trying to help Dems, which would make a McCain Soros connection one of the most masochistic political relationships in US history.
BTW - I’m going to delete the name calling or either candidate or their family members. It doesn’t foster debate, and it’s pointless.
6. congressive | August 15th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I have to agree with the editing of my post. John McCain’s offering up his wife for this award was truly offensive, and I apologize for sinking to his level.
7. circle | August 18th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Like your work. I hope I’m not beating on McCain too much.
He does have cancer and it could come back on a month. He could really be dead in a year. There is no check up that can fix this risk. McCain is putting the country at risk.
I do not know why anyone could say everything a check up could reduce the reisk to zero.
8. AdrianS | August 22nd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Philip J. Berg, Esq. Files Federal Lawsuit Requesting Obama Be Removed as a Candidate as he does not meet the Qualifications for President.
http://www.nextgenerationcorp.com/NextGenBlog/?p=43
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