Failing to Think Through the Propanganda

I've been pretty busy today but I had to laugh at this. CNN:

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of orchestrating the conflict in Georgia to benefit one of its presidential election candidates.

In an exclusive interview with CNN's Matthew Chance in the Black Sea city of Sochi on Thursday, Putin said the U.S. had encouraged Georgia to attack the autonomous* region of South Ossetia.

So, Vlad, are you going to tell us which candidate you have in mind? Perhaps the one who said that he looked in your eyes and saw the letters 'K,' 'G' and 'B?' Spill it, Komrad!

See, Putin has McCain in mind, of course, but the Tsar is just yapping for the benefit of the home crowd. What he might not have suspected when he decided to float that ridiculous assertion, however, is that, were he to name McCain, it would make it more likely that McCain would become president and not less. And you know that Putin would prefer to deal with Obama.

Keeping talking, Vlad.

*Was the region autonomous when Georgia went in? Or was it still located within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia?

Comments

[PeggyU]

I WANT to see Putin have to deal with McCain. As much as McCain wasn't my favorite pick to run, I do have to say he probably understands the workings of Putin's mind much better than most. And as Martha Stewart would say, "It's a good thing!"

[Helios]

Russia had little to no right to invade Georgia proper (i.e. beyond South Ossetia), and it’s questionable that there was significant cause for them to legitimately invade any part of Sovereign Georgia (including South Ossetia). Any pretext has been set up by Russia over the last year - including granting citizenship to the population of a renegade province in another sovereign country.

Granted I am upset that Mikheil Saakashvili took Russia’s bait, but I have little doubt that if he hadn’t, Russia would have eventually designed another pretext to invade. My greatest fury is at the utter lack of useful response by the Federal Government (i.e. Bush the Coward) and the European Union (i.e. The Useless Gits). We abandoned an ally which is unforgivable. We should have at least made a show of force, such as redirecting a Battle Group toward the Black Sea. What we need to do is push the Russians out of the country and throw down the gauntlet. Diplomacy is useless in dealing with Putin, as can be seen by constant Russian violations of the so called cease fire and its use of Georgian civilians as force laborers (I’d use the term slave labor). Putin means to weaken the Republic of Georgia to the point of utter collapse, and George Bush bears some responsibility by his lack of response to the situation.

Since the US Government and European Union have failed to act, it is incumbent upon the citizenry to do what the government has not. What to do?

1. First, always complain to your Representatives and Senators. Call for any and all means to restore Georgian Sovereignty. This of course will accomplish little to nothing as many politicians are base cowards and sycophants, but you have to try.

2. Domestic Energy - I know we don’t like the topic, but it has to be aired and new sources of fuel, both conventional and alternative must be found and developed.

3. Withdraw any and all investments in Russia and Russian Firms. Call on American companies to not do business in Russia.

4. Protest at Russian consultants and Embassies. Interfere with traffic in and out. Submit bogus requests to waste their time and energy.
5. Take down Russia websites and servers - hackers attack. Cost them as much money as possible.
6. Support Georgian resistance groups when and if the time comes.

7. Actively support separatist groups in Russia proper – give Putin a taste of his own medicine.