Thursday, August 28, 2008

Putin says U.S. orchestrating Georgian war for McCain's benefit

I really don't want to get into a discussion of whether this accusation is true. What I find more interesting is the question why Putin would make it. Putin does not strike me as the loose cannon type (like Ahmadinejad of Iran) who would spout off something like this in a heated moment. So, if we assume that Putin is a rational actor, we have to question what Putin hopes to accomplish by pushing the idea that U.S. agents instigated the Georgia conflict in order to help John McCain.

Perhaps what he is hoping for is angry denunciations from U.S. officials so that he can help portray Russia as the victim in this conflict:

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino blasted Putin's statements, saying they were "patently false."

"To suggest that the United States orchestrated this on behalf of a political candidate just sounds not rational," she said.

U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood concurred, and labeled Putin's statements as "ludicrous."

"Russia is responsible for the crisis," Wood said in an off-camera meeting with reporters in Washington on Thursday. "For the Russians to say they are not responsible for what happened in Georgia is ludicrous. ... Russia is to blame for this crisis and the world is responding to what Russia has done."

If so, Mission Accomplished.

22 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

I'm holding off speculation as well. But to add to this discussion it must be noted that Cindy McCain visited Georgia to hug some "refugee children" who were affected by the conflict. So, even "if" the U.S. is not involved, the GOP "is" taking an active role with this crisis in a very visibly staged and calculated manner. Much more so than Darfur (which has experienced much more death and destruction).

11:43 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

It just amazes me the amount of BS the main stream media and the government shovel into the American people's mouth. What amazes me even more is we buy into it. Based on facts and history it was clearly Georgia who was the aggressor and Russia responded. Something we would would have done in a heartbeat. Hell we attack countries for no reason at all other than oil (Iraq). Do what I say not what I do? Every time our president makes a statement about peace versus war, the rest of the world laughs at us. We were considered great, and now were fools.

11:47 AM  
Blogger gary said...

In reality. I think the conflict here is about oil and oil pipelines. Ossetia just happens to be caught in the middle.

I have asked myself a few questions.. I suspect both sides have their cloak&dagger going on

Why would Russia kill Ossetians? They are in all practical purposes Russian citizens (they hold Russian passports). Why did ~2000 Ossetian citizens die in the conflict? Who killed them? Who else was there at the same time besides the Russians? What about the reports by witnesses on the ground of soldiers tossing grenades into basements where Ossetians were hiding?

Are reports by local news and citizenry true regarding seeing two black males wearing US insignia. One was reportedly killed, another reportedly captured. Is it true? Who knows.

Interesting indeed.

Next, look at photographs associated with the events in Georgia/Ossetia. You will clearly see US military equipment and uniforms in use by the Georgian military. It is also well and widely known that the US has been training Georgians. Heck, my coworker flew supply missions into Georgia, sending both troops and equipment there. What would be interesting to know is 'what equipment'.

12:13 PM  
Blogger Shane said...

Mr. Putin is using talking points from a liberal blog that said the same thing before he did.

I wonder sometimes if a few of the liberal bloggers out there aren't in Russia and not here at all. From their retoric it seems as if they hate our country and everything about it.

Georgia is an allie of the United States. We have supplied them with equipment, just as Russia has supplied its allies with equipment. They bought and paid for it. This isn't Iran Contra. This was a deliberate, timed (during the Olympics) attack by Russia. Their claim that Georgia initiated it is deceptive. It was initiated by Ossetian seperatists with multiple attacks, organization of the civilian men into brigades and sending the women and children into Russia (to safety) - before the Georgian army advanced into South Ossetia.

We need to realize who we are dealing with. These are the people who poisoned their former agent/KGB officer with radiation when he spoke out against the government. They also poisoned the former President of Georgia because they didn't like him either. They are no good.

12:46 PM  
Blogger marusha said...

I just read the full transcript from this talk, CNN used maybe 1/100 of the Putin's words. He never said that McCain is behind it or US orchestrated it, he said that "according to Russian millitary there were over 100 US advisers in Georgia, and it means that they excecuted someones order there, but this facts will need conformation, and if it confurmed we will have lots to talk about"

12:47 PM  
Blogger marusha said...

mostly they talked about about history of the region and chicken meat that Russia forbided to import from 29 US companies because of high antibiotics and arsenic

12:50 PM  
Blogger marusha said...

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino blasted Putin's statements, saying they were "patently false."

"To suggest that the United States orchestrated this on behalf of a political candidate just sounds not rational," she said.

Ones again, they put the words in his moutn

12:51 PM  
Blogger marusha said...

if someone can read Russian here is 4 pages of this talk http://news.mail.ru/politics/1979350?page=1

12:53 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I have no reason to doubt that this is true. Why would Putin make this up? What would he stand to gain? The Republicans are desperate to hold on to power and will do whatever they have to to achieve that - including starting a war.

Why does the media never state the obvious - that Georgia attacked the two territories and absolutely provoked Russia into a response. Yet the West is all outraged at Russia. It's too funny really. We used to think that we in the west were the good guys, but now it's clear that we're all playing the same nasty game.

12:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Whatever happened to all our "spy satellites (Sp? Sorry!) Seems to me that both the Russians and the U.S. have a plethora of those. They should show irrefutible evidence of the original invaders. It has become hard to trust the Bush Administration and equally as hard to trust the Russians (with all our history) So how about some proof! I really do not trust the leader of Georgia. He was too angry with the Bush Administration for not backing Georgia. He obviously thought he had plenty of help/backing in the wings. Sure would like to see some pictures! Helen McElroy, Dallas, Texas

1:10 PM  
Blogger Lily said...

Putin is merely returning to his sorry KGB roots. He has delusions of grandeur and dreams of the old, powerful Russia. In short, he is a dangerous and extremely untrustworthy man.

1:32 PM  
Blogger The Progressive said...

All I have to say is: Remember that Bin Laden tape that showed up THEE day before the Nov '04 Election? Remember Scott McClellen's talk of the 'Permanent Campaign'? We went into Iraq just like this but a little more elaborately. I wouldn't put it past our government

1:43 PM  
Blogger Venik said...

The US already admitted that it knew about Georgia's attack plans, but chose not to warn Russia. The US Ambassador to Russia Beyrly and the US Ambassador to NATO Volkner both confirmed US knowledge of the planned attack against South Ossetia. Whether or not the US actually encouraged Saakashvili is a different matter. Although it is difficult to believe that the president of tiny Georgia would start killing Russian troops in South Ossetia without some guarantees from the US. Regardless of Putin's accusations, McCain did greatly benefit from this war.

1:45 PM  
Blogger Jerad said...

Why would Putin make such statements, you ask? Perhaps, it's because he knows that millions of left-wing morons in the US will eat it up. I'm sure Putin doesn't want McCain to win the election. Why endure the hard stance of McCain, when you can have the soft scolding and finger shake that Obama will provide.

2:04 PM  
Blogger Chris said...

Why would Putin make the accusation?

It seems obvious, to influence the US elections.

The question is, is he telling the truth?

My answer, I doubt it.

Could Georgia have known that Russia would respond the way it did? Would the Georgian action have been attempted if they had known what would happen?

I doubt it. What leader, anywhere ANYWHERE, would risk their country and their citizens for the whim of another country. Further, if that did happen it would be the Georgian government talking about how when their infrastructure was destroyed we abandoned them.

Seriously, who would risk that? The response was well planned and done so in advance. The response time was way to short.

If it was done to influence the elections it would have had to have been co-ordinated with the Russians not the Georgians.

I find even that unlikely.

2:21 PM  
Blogger Vasanth said...

http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/29/stories/2008082956281400.htm

http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/29/stories/2008082955981100.htm

Check this link from one of the most reputed English language newspaper from India.

I am not sure US media will stop the double standard reporting and start reporting the truth.

2:27 PM  
Blogger Strengths said...

Yes, John McCain orchestrated the Georgian conflict and George Bush is the Magic Sky Fairy.

3:08 PM  
Blogger Mike Weber said...

The biggest blunder the new Democratic leadership has made is not impeaching the Bush/Cheney regime, leaving them unfettered to wreak more havoc.

Even though they have only months to go they are still capable of doing irreparable harm to this country and the world with their bellicose foreign policy.

While everyone is watching the "so called news" real events are taking place in the mid-east that have Bush & Cheney's fingerprints all over it, namely the conflict happening in Georgia.

It started with Bush's insane idea to re-implement Star Wars in Russia's backyard. (Remember how America reacted when Russia tried to put missiles in Cuba? Can you blame them for being angry?)

He exacerbated the situation by inviting Georgia to join NATO on the condition that Georgia, "clean up its borders" with South Ossetia and then arming and training them, which culminated in Georgia invading Ossetia and killing Russian citizens and Russian peace keepers, which was enough provocation for Russia to retaliate and to threaten to aim nuclear missiles at Europe. Certainly more provocation than we had for invading Iraq.

Of course Americans are once again been suckered by the Bush/Cheney regime into believing that America must now defend poor Georgia.

What horse shit. Its about controlling the oil in the mid-east. Just like the ulterior motive for Iraq. Its always been about the oil.

What truly scares me is that John McCain has already voiced his hawkish inclinations regarding the situation.

This country had better wake up! We have seen the enemy and he's one of us.
http://apoliticalcommentary.blogspot.com/

4:16 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Putin,
Your actions were justified... but you simply overstayed your welcome. Believe me, Americans want to change, we want to vote for Obama, and alter the course of the universe for all humankind... but we cannot do it without your help. Please, respect your neighbors so we can remain forever in a world withour war.
If Mccain gets elected, then you can push the red button.

5:36 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

It is amazing how was this interview tailored. It takes almost 5 pages on Russian website and only one paragraph in cnn.com
Inetersting fredoom of speach I would say.

6:00 PM  
Blogger gary said...

>>Yes, John McCain orchestrated the Georgian conflict and George Bush is the Magic Sky Fairy.

No.. I think you are confusing them with Jesus. I know sometimes they confuse themselves with the Magic Sky Fairy. I mean... Jesus.

Another interesting blog to check out: And a video of Georgians shooting at civilian Ossetian homes.
http://kylekeeton.com/

8:42 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I believe Saakashvili wanted it long time but then suddenly they permitted him to go ahead. (Or said something like "well, it's really up to you") Poor bastard probably was happy. And they figured between the Olympics and conventions there will be no prime time coverage and there's really no downside - if Russians respond, then there you go - they are the aggressor. Probably burning documents now to excude any connection ...

11:33 PM  

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