Russia's Chokehold

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright September 13, 2008
All Rights Reserved.                    

              Since sending troops Aug. 8 to defend independent Russian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the Russian army has not heeded calls to withdraw troops to pre-invasion levels.  Russian President Dimitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin want Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to apologize publicly for sending his army to annex Russuan provinces.  Saakashvili played victim, initiating propaganda that Russia provoked the military confrontation, leaving the Georgian military de-fanged, splitting the country in two.  White House officials, including President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mirrored Saakashvili’s propaganda, blaming Russia for “disproportionate” aggression.  GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin rubber stamped White House talking points.

            Russia has no intention of pulling out its forces from South Ossetia and Abkhazia, despite withdrawing from the Black Sea port of Poti.  Russia’s Duma or parliament voted Aug. 25 to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, rejecting U.S. and U.N. demands to withdraw Russian forces.  “They have fulfilled their commitment” in a signed agreement brokered by French President Nicholas Sarkozy said Georgian Security Council Chief Alexander Lomaia.  Lomaia admitted that Russian has some 1,200 troops stationed in 19 regions inside Georgia.  Despite threats by the U.S. and U.N., Russia sees no reason to withdraw its forces.  Staying in Georgia weakens Saakashvili and neutralizes U.S. influence that led to the original attack on South Ossetia and Abkhazia.  Russia has no intention of withdrawing more than 7,000 peacekeeper stationed in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

            White House sympathy to Saakashvili has antagonized Russia, hardening the position to permanently occupy Georgia.  Medvedev and Putin won’t consider withdrawal until Saakashvili steps down.  Saakashvili’s inappropriate public displays at an Aug. 16 press conference with Secretary Rice left Russia no other choice but to push for his ouster.  Apart from the Caspian Sea oil pipeline running through Georgia, the U.S. has no national security interest.  For Palin to allow Saakashvili to win a U.S. military commitment crosses a dangerous line.  Sixty-three years of hostile post-WW II relations has taken a turn for the worse.  Rice likes to talk about the end of the Cold War but U.S.-Russian relations have deteriorated under Bush’s foreign policy since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.  Palin suggested to ABCs’ Charlie Gibson that the U.S. could go to war to protect Georgia.

            White House plans to charge ahead with missile defense systems in Poland and Czech Republic sets the most dangerous collision course since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.  There’s a clear linkage between Russia’s response in Georgia and Bush’s plans to ignore Russia’s warning about installing missiles.  Secretary of State Condoleezaa Rice blasted Russia for returning to the Cold War, despite U.S. plans to place missiles on Russia’s borders.  U.S. claims that missile defense is needed to combat rogue nations like Iran from threatening Europe is laughable.  No U.S. ally or foe believes that Iran, any rogue regime or terrorist group poses a missile threat to Europe.  Russia used Saakashvili’s blunder attacking South Ossetia and Abkhazia to assert its power in its own backyard.  Russia rejects the idea that European Union monitors need to keep the peace in the region.

            GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) talks about a dangerous loss of prestige should the U.S. pull out of Iraq.  In reality, Russia and Iran know that U.S. involvement in Iraq has paralyzed the U.S. from effectively projecting its power in Georgia or elsewhere.  McCain and his running mate Palin talk tough about the Russians knowing full-well that the U.S. military is stretched so thin that opening another front would be unthinkable.  When the Kremlin announced it recognizes the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, it served notice that Russia would ignore calls for its complete withdrawal.  Economic sanctions against Russia would drive Russia to form more global alliances with renegade regimes like Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela.  More harsh words from the White House remind the Kremlin about U.S. hypocrisy, especially the Iraq War.

            Looking at the big picture, Russia refuses to allow the U.S. to lecture it about respecting the integrity of sovereign nations.  Miscalculations in Iraq have robbed the U.S. of moral authority and weakened national security by spreading the military too thin to intervene elsewhere.  As long as the White House blames Russia for the problems in Georgia, the U.S. can expect more deteriorated relations.  “Mutual interests outweigh some disagreements,” said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, kicking the ball back into the U.S. court.  “They spoiled them, let them improve them,” blaming the U.S. for spreading propaganda and taking Georgia’s side.  Before letting U.S.-Russian relations get beyond repair, the White House should soften its rhetoric and reconsider the decision to install missile defense in Eastern Europe.  Allowing Saakashvili to sabotage U.S.-Russian relations makes no sense.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

©1999-2005 Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.
(310) 204-8300
All Rights Reserved.