An Ossetia Thread - Stan Goff

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stan-goff/an-ossetia-thread_b_119008.html

The most maddening aspect of this whole episode -- aside from the terrible bloodshed of it -- is the utter dishonesty of the US press, from the tv "news," to the mainstream papers, to so-called public radio. The employment of the term "hostilities breaking out" (like a flue epidemic or something) between Russia and Georgia, the totally one-sided reporting for Georgia's official point-of-view, and the constant mantra of "pro-Western, democratic Georgia" reminds me of a saying my mother -- a very old woman from Arkansas -- used to use: "This makes my ass want to take a dip of snuff." Somewhere way back in Arkansas, that came to mean having a reaction of total disgust and contempt.

In the press version of the story, we are being trained to forget that this was initiated at just before noon, Moscow time, one week ago, when Georgian military forces initiated the massive bombardment by land and air of Tskhinvali, the capital of Ossetia, where 30,000 civilians reside, along with the bombardment of surrounding villages.

What does Saakashvili's electoral status -- "democratically elected" -- have to do with anything? George H. W. Bush started slaughtering Panamanians without the least provocation, after winning his election. Does that somehow make it okay? And pro-Western is code for pro-neoliberal: pro-opening capital markets to the US, pro-privatization, anti-labor, pro-transnational, pro-dollar hegemony. It is not synonymous with moral or legal, though that's what it means in media-code. The Good Guys. Folks just don't know.

It is apparent that the Russians had standing plans on the table to react to this contingency by the rapidity and brutal efficacy of their response; but only telling about Russian brutality, now that Georgian brutality has been stemmed, is plain dishonest and drips with agenda-setting. Once again the US press has demonstrated its craven status as Petnagon/State Department propagandist, and that includes so-called liberals like NPR.

[malaise]

1. Excellent

K & R

CNN may wish to tell us about the psychological trauma of the poor Iraqis. M$M is owned by Bushco.
This is shameless propaganda and even worse hypocrisy.

[FrenchieCat]

2. CNN showing wounded people from Ossetia (which Georgia attacked)

and making them appear to be victims of the Russians now.

Are we supposed to be falling for this shit? Wonders never cease! :eyes:

[The Magistrate]

3. An Excellent Analysis, Ma'am

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

9. Are you familiar w/ Stan Goff's writings?

He wrote a very good account of what happened in Haiti the first time Aristide was overthrown. Gof was there as part of a special forces team. Ithink the book is called "Hideous Dream".

[The Magistrate]

10. Not So Familiar As You, Ma'am

But the name rings a bell or two....

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

11. That would be sir, sir. He has a very interesting biography and

had a big change of heart from the days when he served in Vietnam.

[The Magistrate]

13. My Apologies, Sir: In A Bit Of Fuddle I Mistook You For The O.P., Ms. S.L.A.D.

[seemslikeadream]

12. Oh yes that is when I started to read his stuff

and he wrote some very good stuff about the second time also

:hi:

[Warpy]

4. I hope you've got your flak jacket on

because I've been trying to tell this story for nearly a whole week.

The fact is that, despite the fact that small border skirmishes had gone on for years, Georgia shot first and aimed its attack squarely at civilians, trying to depopulate the area before their troops went in to drive out the Russian peace keeping forces and retake the province (and the pipeline that comes with it).

A combination of a desire to root for the underdog plus some left over Cold War paranoia has taken over a lot of this board, playing right into the hands of the good puppy media.

It remains to be seen whether or not this is a turf grab by the Russians. They seemed disinclined to do it during more peaceful times, so it's highly uncertain they will do it now.

It's a complete mess and as usual it's the civilians on both sides who are bearing the brunt of the utter misery of an unnecessary war.

[malaise]

6. 100% correct n/t

[Terry in Austin]

5. To top it off, they don't even pronounce "Ossetia" right

It's not "Oh-SET-i-ya," any more than the popular Balkan state is "Croh-ATE-i-ya."

It's more like "Ah-SEE-sha."

Newstards, get your in-for-MATE-i-un right! And Georgia, cut out the dom-in-ATE-i-un!

[Xolodno]

7. Whats really disturbing....

The MSM and Washington continue with the rhetoric. Its almost as if they want the Russians to completely take the country, as if, a dare of sort. It almost seems like they are completely upset that they didn't take down Georgia and its government. Makes you wonder why they want the Russians so badly in Tbilisi.

[eridani]

17. The Russian leadership is sane, however brutal they are

They know perfectly well that outside of the two semi-autonomous provinces, the rest of Georgia doesn't want them there.

[al bupp]

8. The last line is the kicker

This is a demonstration of waning US power, and there will be more.

[DemReadingDU]

14. another viewpoint

8/12/08 The Russo-Georgian War and the Balance of Power by George Friedman

The Russian invasion of Georgia has not changed the balance of power in Eurasia. It simply announced that the balance of power had already shifted. The United States has been absorbed in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as potential conflict with Iran and a destabilizing situation in Pakistan. It has no strategic ground forces in reserve and is in no position to intervene on the Russian periphery. This, as we have argued, has opened a window of opportunity for the Russians to reassert their influence in the former Soviet sphere. Moscow did not have to concern itself with the potential response of the United States or Europe; hence, the invasion did not shift the balance of power. The balance of power had already shifted, and it was up to the Russians when to make this public. They did that Aug. 8.

Let’s begin simply by reviewing the last few days.

On the night of Thursday, Aug. 7, forces of the Republic of Georgia drove across the border of South Ossetia, a secessionist region of Georgia that has functioned as an independent entity since the fall of the Soviet Union. The forces drove on to the capital, Tskhinvali, which is close to the border. Georgian forces got bogged down while trying to take the city. In spite of heavy fighting, they never fully secured the city, nor the rest of South Ossetia.

On the morning of Aug. 8, Russian forces entered South Ossetia, using armored and motorized infantry forces along with air power. South Ossetia was informally aligned with Russia, and Russia acted to prevent the region’s absorption by Georgia. Given the speed with which the Russians responded — within hours of the Georgian attack — the Russians were expecting the Georgian attack and were themselves at their jumping-off points. The counterattack was carefully planned and competently executed, and over the next 48 hours, the Russians succeeded in defeating the main Georgian force and forcing a retreat. By Sunday, Aug. 10, the Russians had consolidated their position in South Ossetia.

4-page article...
http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/russo_georgian_war_and_balance_power

edit:
My spouse was talking to me this morning about the reasoning for this invasion similar to this article which I discovered this afternoon.

[seemslikeadream]

15. Thanks DemReadingDU

:hi:

[malaise]

16. A superb read

Thank you - bookmarked.

[DemReadingDU]

18. George Friedman on NPR

8/15/08
Russian troops are still blocking entrance to the city of Gori in war-battered Georgia. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice holds talks Friday in Georgia. George Friedman, the head of Stratfor, a private intelligence company, talks with Renee Montagne about the future of U.S.-Russia relations. 5 minutes

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93619409