Russia/Georgia Conflict Requires Hard Diplomatic Choices
By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in Barack, Bush, McCain, Russia, WarFor those who, like me, are looking for a more comprehensive but still layman-oriented analysis of the Russian/Georgian military conflict, check out Charles King’s article in the Christian Science Monitor. Basically, we’re witnessing two nations making very poor decisions. I think King hits on the raw truth of this conflict when he writes:
Russia illegally attacked Georgia and imperiled a small and feeble neighbor. But by dispatching his own ill-prepared military to resolve a secessionist dispute by force, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has managed to lead his country down the path of a disastrous and ultimately self-defeating war.
What I believe we’re dealing with is one of those foreign policy challenges where there are no good solutions, just bad solutions with varying consequences. We can’t let Russian aggression go on without condemnation but neither can we afford to get ourselves involved in a war (even a war-by-proxy) with Russia. What we need is a quick end to the conflict. We can hope Russia and Georgia come to a resolution on their own or we can be proactive and make the kind of hard diplomatic choices the situation requires.
George Bush and his administration will have to handle this conflict. But I will be watching closely the comments of Barack Obama and John McCain. So far, Obama has seemed scattered in his response and McCain has seemed bellicose. But they will both have more opportunities to comment on the conflict. It’ll be interesting to see if either are willing to discuss hard, real-world choices or if both are content to speak broadly and avoid details.
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August 11th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
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We can’t let Russian aggression go on without condemnation but neither can we afford to get ourselves involved in a war (even a war-by-proxy) with Russia. What we need is a quick end to the conflict.
http://donklephant.com/2008/08/1…omatic-choices/
What do you mean ‘We’, Kemo Sabe?
The Russians were correct about Afghanistan, so maybe you need to back the fornicate off Donkelphant.
`
August 11th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
NSang,
What do you mean by “The Russians were correct about Afghanistan?” Unless you are claiming their invasion was intended to thwart the power of Islamic extremism (which would be a very historically inaccurate claim), I don’t think the Soviet’s war in Afghanistan really gives us a good basis to evaluate the Russian conflict with Georgia.
You think it;s WRONG to condemn Russian aggression? Should we applaud them?
August 11th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Whether the Russians are right or wrong is not the question here in my opinion. What is important is how America responds. If America sits on it’s collective behind while Russia destroys Georgia, America can kiss any support that they might want or need from other nations in the future goodbye. And Americas credibility in the global community will be lost, maybe forever. Russia’s heavy handed response by invading Georgia is unacceptable, period. Doesn’t it seem odd to anyone that Russia just happened to have 150+ tanks staged across the Georgian border when this broke out? Russia should be considered the treat to the free world that many have tried to convince us they are not. I hope that this will open some eyes that seem to have been shut for too long. It sure has my eyes wide open.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Mark Jones, have you ever spent a day in Russia or republic of the former USSR? I didn’t think so. I, an American, spent 9 years living in one. Lived in Moscow too. There isn’t a citizen from any of the former republics who is going to laud Georgia’s “democractic” experience…Did you ever see High Plains Drifter? Clint pulls into town. Deputizes the midget Mortakai. Leaves him. Cold. Comes back to exact his revenge at the end. Sakashvili is Mortakai, but Duncan/Clint ain’t coming to save his cocky little ass. Georgia got too big for its britches. Georgia bluffed, thinking Team America would back them. “Fuck yeah!” Russia called the bluff. Game over.
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Russia/Georgia Conflict Requires Hard Diplomatic C…
Asserts Alan Stewart Carl, a moderate blogger: “What I believe we?re dealing with is one of those foreign policy challenges where there are no good solutions, just bad solutions with varying consequences. We can?t let Russian aggression go on withou…