Not One Dime for Georgia
The president of the Republic of Georgia eats his tie on national television. BBC
$1.1 Billion Giveaway for the Republic of Georgia Announced: "The United States Supports The Recovery, Stability, And
Continued Growth Of Georgia's Economy"
"Scoop" Independent News
(Wash. DC) We're not talking about the great state of Georgia, which deserves everything it has coming to it and more.
We're talking about the Republic of Georgia, a nation of 4.5 million people wedged between Russia and Turkey.
On Wednesday, September 3, the White House announced a comprehensive aid package valued at $1.1 billion dollars to help
the Republic of Georgia recover from the whipping it took after it attacked Russian peace keeping forces in South
Ossetia, a breakaway province of Georgia near the Russian border. That region experienced a major war in 1991 and
varying tensions since.
Russian personnel were in Georgia as part of a multi-national peace keeping regime created by the United Nations and
endorsed by the European Union in 2006.
When the Soviet Union dissolved, Georgia was one the few Soviet republics to successfully declare its independence. This
resulted in tensions with the Russian government and also generated real concern among those living in South Osettia.
They're not ethnic Georgians and have experienced periodic conflict with the government. As a result of war related
violence in 1991, for example, 100,000 fled South Ossetia for refuge and safety in Russia.
South Ossetia held two national elections which endorsed independence form Georgia. The Georgians refuse to recognize
this claim and, unlike Kosovo, which had no elections, there was little international support for the aspiring nation.
As a result, there have been ongoing skirmishes and political conflicts between the South Ossetia and Georgia from 1991
on.
Georgia is wedged between Russia and Turkey. South Ossetia is near the middle of the Georgia-Russia border.
Tensions between Russia and Georgia had been building in recent months. On Aug. 7, 2008, the Georgian president issued
orders to his negotiators to meet with the chief Russian negotiator.
"We should find all the means to stop incidents and to stop the violence, to stop threats and creating of problems to
the peaceful population. Of course, we will show maximum restraint, but we do not recommend anyone to continue
provocations." Mikeil Saakashvili, Aug, 7, 2008, 12:45
A few hours later, the government of Georgia said it had "decided to restore constitutional order in the entire region” of South Ossetia" through military efforts.
By the afternoon of Aug, 8, officials in South Ossetia confirmed that, "Numerous Georgian military units are moving towards the border [with the breakaway region]" and that
Georgia was carrying out "large scale military attacks" against their country.
The TimesOnline (London) reported that this was the start of military conflict. They're clear that the conflict was
initiated by the military actions announced by the Georgian government on August 8, 2008.
"Russia and Georgia edged dangerously close to direct conflict today after Tbilisi (Georgia) launched an overnight
offensive to regain control over the breakaway province of South Ossetia.
"Fighting raged around the city of Tskhinvali, the South Ossetians capital, as Georgian troops backed by tanks and
warplanes pounded separatist forces. At least 15 people were reported to have been killed." TimesOnline, Aug. 8, 2008
Those who insist that Russia started the military phase of this conflict need only check in with the government of
Georgia. On Aug. 8, 2008, at 12:35, a Georgia news agency reported that "A senior official from the Georgian Ministry of Defense said Georgia
had 'decided to restore constitutional order in the entire region' of South Ossetia." The release went on to say that
Georgia took the military action after the South Ossetia refused to accept a cease fire.
Russian military actions came after the attacks on South Ossetia by the Republic of Georgia. The only people who fail to
acknowledge this are found in the U.S. political and media establishment.
"Today, we're all Georgians!" Sen. John McCain, Republican Presidential Candidate, Associated Press, Aug., 12, 2008
McCain's battle cry drew little response form the general public. It did fall in line with Bush administration policies,
however.
The leader of Georgia responsible for initiating the conflict, President Mikheil Saakashvili, is a U.S. trained lawyer
who took power in Georgia in 2004 through the "Rose Revolution." The Bush administration and private groups helped advance the claim that Georgia's government had committed election fraud and lacked
legitimacy.
George Soros, the activist billionaire, provided $42 million to oust the former government with the help of Freedom House, headed at
that time by former CIA Director James Woolsey. Other private foundation "democracy" groups helped as well. Saakashvili
also had the foresight to hire Sen. John McCain's current foreign policy adviser as his DC lobbyist, Randy Scheunemann.
There were well organized public protests in the capitol, a chorus of international pressure for change, and Saakashvili
was swept into power.
With Saakashvili in charge, U.S. and European firms made major investments in the nation and then praised the new
government for rapid economic growth accounted for by those investments. Improvements to ports and infrastructure for a U.S. - European oil pipeline, intended to bypass Russia, were a central focus of the investments.
Once in power, the proponents of democracy followed the path of those they'd replaced by turning the country into a
virtual one party state. Charges of corruption like that under the old regime have become more common. There are also charges that Saakashvili and his party are
engaged in election fraud like that of the previous rulers.
Nevertheless, U.S. support has been unwavering. On July 10, less than a month before Georgia's attack on South Ossetia, Condoleezza Rice was in the Georgian capital lending U.S. support to Georgia's "territorial integrity," by which she meant the disputed
area of South Ossetia.
Shortly after he attacked, President Saakashvili must have been further encouraged by White House orders to promptly fly 2,000 Georgian troops home from Iraq to help fight the Russians.
The Russians responded to the attack by Georgia in about the same way that the United States would be expected to
respond if Cuba, for example, attacked U.S. military personnel conducting official business close to our borders. How
hard was it to anticipate the disastrous outcome?
Hallucinogenic Politics
The volatile Georgian president held a bizarre press conference on Aug. 15 after it was clear that there would be no U.S. or other troops coming to his aid. Speaking at a joint press conference
with Condoleezza Rice, Saakashvili blamed the Russian invasion on a NATO meeting in April 2008 where Georgia failed to
gain admission to that organization. He said that Russia began a military buildup along the border that somehow made it
clear that Russia intended to attack his tiny republic.
He skipped over some important events (like his troops attacking South Ossetia) and lashed out at the United States and
Europe with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice next to him: "So who invited the trouble here? Who invited this
arrogance here? Who invited these innocent deaths here? Who is – not only those people who perpetrate them are
responsible, but also those people who failed to stop it." CNN, Aug. 15, 2008 (3:41) and U.S. Dept. of State, Aug. 15, 2008.
In a clear contradiction to his claimed knowledge of an imminent threat of invasion, the president of Georgia indicated
that he had no idea that a Russian military action was about to take place: "When the thing started, I had to rush back,
cut my holiday short when the tensions started to raise." (4:41).
The very odd gap in Saakashvili's narrative concerns his orders for a Georgian attack on South Ossetia on Aug. 7, 2008.
He knew that Russian troops were present in South Ossetia. How could he forget about his order to restore Georgian
"constitutional authority" by sending his troops on the offensive? What did he think the Russians would do? Did he
actually expect that the United States would attack the Russians in response? And what kind of chief executive goes on
holiday when he's convinced that his country is about to be attacked?
After a joint press conference where he insulted the United States for inviting "these innocent deaths" by inaction, the
Bush administration decided to give him $1.1 billion to repair the damage that resulted from the rash actions by the
Georgian president.
So Why are We Giving Georgia $1.1 Billion Dollars?
Sen. McCain had a point when he said that "Today, we're all Georgians." In fact, the Bush-Cheney regime and the
cooperating "democracy" groups gave birth, so to speak, to the current Georgian state.
Could it be that some of the patrons of those who helped create Georgia will benefit from the $1.1 billion dollar aid
bill?
If so, then a portion of the billion dollars will subsidize those firms that made the initial investments after
Saakashvili s rise to power. These folks were truly Georgians on Aug. 12 when Georgia was put in its place. They'll
surely be in line for the largess handed out by the fathers of Georgian democracy, the president and vice president of
the United States of America.
The Russian response to Georgia's attack on August 8 was predictable. They have a number of vital interests in the
region. The provocation by the tiny Republic of Georgia was a gift. It created an opportunity to extend Russian
influence in response to an attack on their peace keeping personnel. In retrospect, this outcome was probably guaranteed
with the installation of an intemperate, rash leader who received nothing but praise as he replicated the policies and
tactics of the corrupt regime that he helped remove from power.
Giving Georgia a billion dollars may simply recycle those funds to U.S. firms that are doing business there. In
addition, this financial reward will reinforce the tactically challenged president of Georgia for his grandiosity and
lack of restraint. It may even create the opportunity for yet another Russian smack down followed by outraged reaction
from those whose tears are more likely from joy at the ever expanding opportunity to promote the cycle of war and
rebuilding around the world paid for by the hard work and taxes of the citizens of the United States.
END
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