Georgia On My Mind

Marx & Lennon

Abkhazian Stamp

A good list of the events is in the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7551576.stm Day-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisis wherein we glimpse: THURSDAY 7 AUGUST Georgian forces and separatists in South Ossetia agree to observe a ceasefire and hold Russian-mediated talks to end their long-simmering conflict. Hours later, Georgian forces launch a surprise attack, sending a large force against the breakaway province and reaching the capital Tskhinvali. South Ossetian rebel leader Eduard Kokoity accuses Georgia of a "perfidious and base step". I recall distinctly hearing on that day that Georgia had been the instigator. Since this was before any political spin had touched the situation with its touch of icy death of reason, I cherish the memory. I was actually familiar, though not expert, on the South Ossetia situation, and familiar with Abkhazia's history, and the history of Georgia. Not an expert. If you had asked me where South Ossetia was, I would have said "South of North Ossetia.", but I had studied some of the peoples in the area. So when I heard of the Georgia fighting, I was a bit up to speed. I did not need a boob-tube talking head to alert me to the situation, nor to explicate the thorny thing in words a second grader would have scorned to employ. I recall thinking what an idiot the president of Georgia was. That was before the advocates of constant war turned him into a hero. McCain says we are all Georgians. I say NONSENSE. I have made it clear that I consider the European Union and its members participation in NATO to be tantamount to the Delian League of Athens. The Delian League of allies was formed to fight Persia. When Persia was defeated, the Delian League was not allowed to pass away, an old and honored soldier, but was transformed into the instrument of Athens hegemony. When the Soviet Union fell apart, the Warsaw Pact disappeared and NATO should have been changed radically, for its reason for existence was gone. However, instead of a radical nuclear disarmament and a radical reduction of conventional forces in Europe, we saw a desultory effort which did not last long. NATO became the instrument for American hegemony. Do not get me wrong. I am not opposed to American hegemony per se. I just do not want to pay for it with my dollar. How about some affordable health care for everyone before you go around establishing bases on Russia's perimeter? AND I do not want any hegemony lead by the poltroons as presently make up the the American government. Georgia's desire to join NATO was seen by Russia as a threat. It was seen as establishing an American base in the Caucasus. What is important to remember is that it was seen the exactly same way by the American government. The next president will be committed to the same insane plan of putting missiles - of dubious efficacy - into countries surrounding Russia, all on the laughable pretext of defense against the missiles of Iran...when and if these missiles come to exist in some future time.

John McCain! We are not Georgians! We are Americans, and America firsters! Once you solve some problems here at home, we may let you go sniffing around the fire hydrants of the world, looking for a spot to relieve yourself! In this matter, take a page out of George W. Bush's playbook. He has said how we are all behind Georgia in their struggle, then took off on a 10 day vacation at his ranch. The Georgians are learning how the residents of New Orleans felt after Katrina. George W. is giving them a dose of Katrina-ization. Very similar to what his father gave the Shi'ites of Iraq after the Gulf War: he led them on with pictures of democratic joy, then abandoned them to slaughter by Saddam Hussein. Summary: It is not in our interest to establish this ill-thought out hegemony whose only effect will be to renew and exacerbate tensions among the nuclear powers. The great leaders who did the most supremely moral act of our lifetime: the refusal to commit suicide by nuclear armageddon, are gone; what is left is the children dressed up as grown-ups, acting out myths.