Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Russia impacts U.S. fall elections
by George Porter
Russia’s invasion of neighboring Georgia has a broader background often ignored by main-stream U.S. media. Modern Georgia came into being in 2003 with the “Rose Revolution”, a bloodless revolution that displaced Russian backed Eduard Shevardnadze. In January of 2004 Mikheil Saakashvili was elected president of Georgia by a large majority. Residents in two regions of the new Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, preferred to stay independent of the new Georgia and maintain closer ties with Russia.

When attempts by President Saakashvikli to get the leaders in South Ossetia and Abkhazia to accept the “broadest possible autonomy within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia” failed in recent weeks, he sent Georgian troops to put down an “internal rebellion” by force. Superior Russian troops quickly entered battle in support of the break-away provinces.

Nicolas Sarkozy, French President and currently head of the European Union, worked out a cease-fire that calls for the immediate withdrawal of Russian combat troops from Georgia but allows Russian peacekeeping forces to remain and to conduct patrols within six miles of the separatist regions until international mediators can be put in place.

August 13, Russian leaders received in Moscow the leaders of the two break-away provinces and pledged “to guarantee on the ground and internationally whatever status the two pro-Russian provinces of Georgia choose.” Abkhazia has previously voted for independence, South Ossetia has voted to join Russia.

Mr. Saakashvili said he would never accept the loss on any Georgian territory and President Bush reiterated that he wouldn’t allow Georgia to be broken up.

The leaders of pro-western governments in Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine flew to Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, to demonstrate their support for the territorial integrity of Georgia, and to condemn Russian aggression -- fearing Russian meddling with dissident groups within their own borders.

President Bush said his administration is “working closely with our partners in Europe and other members of the G-7 to bring a resolution to this crisis.” Seeking to exclude Russia from what is now the Group of Eight leading nations is one option being considered. Another option is to block Russia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization. The U.S. cancelled a planned joint military exercise with Russia.

Pennsylvania Democrat Rep. John Murtha, chairman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, commenting on the Russian situation: “We’ve spent so many resources and so much attention on Iraq that we’ve lost sight of future threats down the road. The current conflict between Russia and Georgia is a perfect example.” Just before Congress recessed, Mr. Murtha’s subcommittee said it would fund an additional $523 million for 20 more F-22 fighters beyond what the White House asked for.

Now the Russian situation makes the debate over funding for the military a front burner issue. Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ approach was stated in a recently released Defense Department strategy document emphasizing a balance between developing capabilities to carry out unconventional warfare missions while fielding forces capable of handily defeating adversaries like Russia’s or China’s militaries.

Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback, the nation’s largest evangelical church with over 200,000 members, located in Orange County, Calif., recently had John McCain and Barack Obama in a forum where each candidate had one hour, and Rev. Warren asked the same questions of each candidate. One question was: “Does evil exist? If so, should we ignore it, negotiate with it, contain it, or defeat it?

Sen. Obama took the question apart and spent time explaining that evil does exist – in Darfur, in U.S. cities and in parents who abuse their children. He then said “It has to be confronted.”

John McCain answered “Defeat it,” and went on to again promise he would follow Osama bin Laden “to the gates of hell” to stop terrorism. McCain in a separate response condemned Russia’s attack on Georgia.

In an Aug. 14 Wall Street Journal article by Sen. McCain titled “We are all Georgians” he wrote: “Two years ago I traveled to South Ossetia. As soon as we arrived in its self proclaimed capital – now occupied by Russian troops – I saw an enormous billboard that read ‘Vladimir Putin, Our President.’ This was on sovereign Georgian territory…Russian claims of humanitarian motives were further belied by a bombing campaign that encompassed the whole of Georgia, destroying military bases, apartment buildings, and other infrastructure, and leaving innocent civilians wounded and killed.”

McCain wrote that we must make clear to Russian leaders that the benefits they enjoy from being a part of the civilized world require their respect for the values, stability and peace of that world.

Barack Obama has been silent. McCain should ask Obama to join him in a town meeting on lessons from Russia’s aggression. Does Obama still oppose U.S. missile defense efforts? Does Obama still favor Russia being a member of the G-8? Should China be admitted? Should Russia be admitted to the World Trade Organization? Does Obama consider Putin helpful regarding Iran?

George Porter is a retired insurance company executive and a Duncan Banner columnist. He may be reached at geo.porter@att.net

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