Gorbachev slams US's 'serious blunder'

[cal04]

Source: AFP and Arjun Ramachandran

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, commenting on the Russia-Georgia conflict, has accused the United States of making a "serious blunder" in pursuing its interest in the Caucasus region.

He also said the US charge that Russia was committing aggression in Georgia was "not just hypocritical but shows a lack of humanity".

"By declaring the Caucasus, a region that is thousands of miles from the American continent, a sphere of its 'national interest,' the United States made a serious blunder," Gorbachev said in an opinion piece to be published in the Washington Post on Tuesday.

Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, said Russia was not seeking territorial expansion, but it has "legitimate interests" in this region.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/gorbachev-slams-uss-serious-blunder/2008/08/12/1218306832712.html

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A Path to Peace in the Caucasus
By Mikhail Gorbachev
Tuesday, August 12, 2008; Page A13
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081101372.html

[David Dunham]

1. Gorbachev does not mention that the Russians want to install a puppet leader

(This is from an earlier post I made) From talking with knowledgable Georgians in Tbilisi today and in the US, I believe I have a pretty good understanding of what has really happened. The Russians got the separatists in South Ossetia to fire missiles at Georgian villages bordering South Ossetia. Saakashvili responded by ordering his troops into South Ossetia. This gave the Russians the excuse they wanted to invade Georgia. The Russians lied to the world in saying that they were only going to secure the two breakaway provinces. They really intended from the first to depose the pro-Western Georgian democratic government.

In response to the Russian invasion, Bush and Western European leaders made a decision that they were not willing to station any troops in southern Georgia to try to deter the Russians from going to the capital, Tbilisi, to change the government. Bush's statement today condemning the Russian invasion of Georgian proper is really only a bunch of words. Bush will do nothing about the situation -- no threat of sanctions on Russia or anything else.

The Russians are now going to send their troops into the capital and install a pro-Russian puppet as head of the country, who is a former Georgian KGB chief and was a big time Communist. He already has been moved by the Russians into Abkazia, the other breakaway province. He will be brought to Tbilisi once the Russian army takes control of the city.

The Russians are now telling the Georgians in Tbilisi that the Russians do not intend to attack civilians as they enter the city. They are going their to put their new puppet in charge and to depose the democratic government.

The democratic government has called for a massive public anti-Russian demonstration in the biggest open square in Tbilisi on Tuesday. However, it appears certain that the Russian army will take over the city. The supporters of the current government will hopefully not engage in street to street fighting with the Russians, which could lead to a fight that would cause severe damage to the city of 1 million people.

In short, Putin will successfully pull off his regime change. However, because Georgians 40 and younger are pro-Western (hundreds have gone to US universities on Muskie Fellowships) and are likely not to be happy with the new government, that government will only be able to be maintained by the continuous presence of Russian troops in Georgia. I suspect that the next time there is political instability in Russia the younger Georgians will overthrow the puppet leader now being installed by the Russians.

[Hulk]

3. Why not?....we have one.

[High Plains]

4. Have you talked to any Russians? n/t

[dipsydoodle]

5. Georgians 40 and younger are pro-Western

blah, blah, blah. So that's how they produce right wingers is it - Muskie Fellowships.

[DeltaLitProf]

6. This is quite a one-sided analysis

First, Saakashvilli did not just order his troops into South Ossetia for a visit. They killed 1,000 civilians there, most of whom were Russian citizens. What would happen if the Mexican president were to massacre 1,000 Americans living south of the Texas border? Could any American president ignore that? Would any American president fail to retaliate AND uproot the leader who ordered the attacks?

[dipsydoodle]

8. Your knowledgable Georgians

seem to know SFA. Who did they have in mind as a "puppet" - Sooty or Sweep ?



See todays news : Russia 'ends Georgia operation'

[The Croquist]

9. Interesting analysis but you are wasting your time

Judging from the posts facts don't really matter here. All that matters is a blind hatred for Bush. Last year when Putin was Bush's friend he was bad. Now that he makes Bush look like the idiot he is Putin is a hero. The fact that he killed thousands and destroyed a country is unimportant as long as the important goal of hurting Bush is achieved. The fact that Bush is mentioned at all is evidence. Bush and the US had nothing to do with this.

CNN is running a headline saying that Russia is claiming that it is done. Not that it matters because nothing Russia says can be trusted. The Russian terms suck for Georgia.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/12/georgia.russia.war/index.html

A demilitarized zone in Georgian territory.
Russian troops in the breakaway provinces should remain.
Saakashvili should step down as Georgia's leader but Russia is not demanding his resignation.

I suspect that if Russia had invaded Alaska some of the responses would be the same. Alaska used to be part of Russia after all and they are a neighbor.

[alcibiades_mystery]

12. The great democratic Saakashvili

Who set his police thugs on 100,000 protesters in the "great square" of Tbilisi not 10 months ago.

Do you get paid by the word for this bullshit?

The great democratic Saakashvili, bringing shock doctrine "liberal economic reforms" to the Georgian middle class.

Gimme a break.

[nebenaube]

13. hmmm

This is from an earlier post I made) From talking with knowledgable Georgians in Tbilisi today and in the US, I believe I have a pretty good understanding of what has really happened. The Russians got the separatists in South Ossetia to fire missiles at Georgian villages bordering South Ossetia. Saakashvili responded by ordering his troops into South Ossetia. This gave the Russians the excuse they wanted to invade Georgia. The Russians lied to the world in saying that they were only going to secure the two breakaway provinces. They really intended from the first to depose the pro-Western Georgian democratic government.


Really, where's the link to the earlier post and the link to the original source? Oh that's right, this is bullshit propaganda. I was online as this unfolded and "Georgia" has been spewing shit... but they never said anything remotely close to what you are spewing.

[fascisthunter]

2. What Can our Government say? "Don't do as we Have DONE to Iraq!!!!????"

Fucking whack job neo-cons need lobotomies and a soft cell so they can play general in imaginary land.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

7. Idiot son gets called on his complete and utter stupidity and hypocrisy.

Bet that bottle gets a workout -- really hope there is someone babysitting this moron other than Cheney.

[tinymontgomery]

10. Don't we have something called the Monroe

Don't we have something called the Monroe Doctrine that tells other countries to stay out of our hemisphere? So the Russia's have a point about staying out of their area.

[Algorem]

11. Bush reply-"Quack.Quack quack quack.Quack."

[Anarcho-Socialist]

14. Georgia did a pretty stupid thing

By violating the ceasefire and going into South Ossetia with Russian forces stationed there, they miscalculated big time.

I think Georgia hoped it would help its case in its failed lobbying to become a member of NATO if it was perceived as a weaker country against a larger "aggressor state."

[WriteDown]

15. Georgia may have been setup...

It sure is starting to look like its a possibility.

[WriteDown]

16. So what kind of pizza...

is he selling this time :evilgrin:. The Big Georgian?