by Damozel | That was a paraphrase. Here's what he actually said:
“Yesterday, I heard Sen. McCain say, ‘We are all Georgians now,’” Saakashvili said on CNN’s American Morning. “Well, very nice, you know, very cheering for us to hear that, but OK, it’s time to pass from this. From words to deeds.” (CNN)
My dad would say to Saakashvili: "Don't start fights you can't finish." But clearly, someone has to help the victims, i.e., the Georgian people.
He's right about one thing: mere expressions of support aren't going to "end the barbarism," to quote French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. Even so, terrible as this is for the civilians of Georgia and Ossetia, he did his share in bringing this about. This man poked the bear with the sharpest stick he could find. Now he's complaining that the US (and John McCain) aren't moving fast enough to get between him and it.
And you can see here what Georgia did to South Ossetia's capital city. You can read about it here.
One man showed the Guardian the metal casing of a Grad rocket lodged in the ruins of his home: "We managed to escape to the shelter just in time," he said, pointing at the mouth of a cellar protected by huge chunks of concrete.
Colonel [Igor] Konashenko of the Russian Army said: "The Georgians could not get tanks through these narrow streets. So first they turned it to ruins with a Grad attack and tried to punch through here to the centre of the city. There was heavy fighting in the streets. I think more than 500 bodies were pulled out of this part of town."
Asked if there had been atrocities against civilians the Colonel replied: "I personally saw one man beheaded lying in the street and others say they witnessed civilians who had been finished off with a shot to the back of the head."
Back at the hospital there were sounds of gunfire and then the crump of mortars landing somewhere in the city. First one explosion, then a second. When a third hit, sounding louder, the Colonel said: "It's time to move. Let's go." (The Guardian)
And there's this:
Despite Western governments' public statements of support for Saakashvili, some Western diplomats now privately say that the Georgian leadership or military made a serious and possibly criminal mistake last week by launching a massive barrage against the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali, which inevitably led to major civilian deaths and casualties.
Russian officials have said 2,000 people were killed in the Georgian offensive, a figure that has not been confirmed independently. But it is indisputable that large numbers of civilians were killed in and around Tskhinvali.(Reuters)
So I'm not sure what Saakshavalki is expecting.
Here is what's in train:
Condoleezza Rice said:
"I can assure you that Russia's international reputation and what role Russia can play in the international community is very much at stake here," Rice said earlier. (AFP)
At a press conference, Bush expressed carefully framed disapproval and outlined his intended response:
Russia has stated that changing the government of Georgia is not its goal. The United States and the world expect Russia to honor that commitment. Russia has also stated that it has halted military operations and agreed to a provisional cease-fire. Unfortunately, we're receiving reports of Russian actions that are inconsistent with these statements. We're concerned about reports that Russian units have taken up positions on the east side of the city of Gori, which allows them to block the East-West Highway, divide the country, and threaten the capital of Tbilisi....
With these concerns in mind, I have directed a series of steps to demonstrate our solidarity with the Georgian people and bring about a peaceful resolution to this conflict. I'm sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to France, where she will confer with President Sarkozy. She will then travel to Tbilisi, where she will personally convey America's unwavering support for Georgia's democratic government. On this trip she will continue our efforts to rally the free world in the defense of a free Georgia.
I've also directed Secretary of Defense Bob Gates to begin a humanitarian mission to the people of Georgia, headed by the United States military. This mission will be vigorous and ongoing. A U.S. C-17 aircraft with humanitarian supplies is on its way. And in the days ahead we will use U.S. aircraft, as well as naval forces, to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies.
We expect Russia to honor its commitment to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance...
As I have made clear, Russia's ongoing action raise serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region. In recent years, Russia has sought to integrate into the diplomatic, political, economic, and security structures of the 21st century. The United States has supported those efforts. Now Russia is putting its aspirations at risk by taking actions in Georgia that are inconsistent with the principles of those institutions. (White House)
Here are additional responses currently being discussed.
The United States, Georgia's main Western ally, cancelled joint military exercises with Russia due to start Friday in the Sea of Japan and is considering other protest measures, US officials said. France and Britain were also to take part in the war games....
The United States called for a special meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels next week to discuss the crisis and a NATO spokeswoman said later this would be held next Tuesday.(AFP)
The EU is talking of an "international peacekeeping force." In addition:
EU foreign ministers, meanwhile, reviewed the crisis at a Brussels meeting. Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the European Union should reassess relations with Russia.
"The sight of Russian tanks in Gori, Russian tanks in Senaki, the Russian blockade of Poti, the Georgian port, are a chilling reminder of times that I think we had hoped had gone by."....
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree imposing new restrictions on Russia's Black Sea fleet , based in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol.
The restrictions included a requirement that Russia seek the permission of Ukraine's armed forces "at least 72 hours prior to ships or aircraft crossing the Ukrainian border," Yushchenko's office said in a statement. (AFP)
As the article points out, the Ukrainian response is likely to "ratchet up" existing tensions with Russia.
Though the EU wants to send in monitors, it wants a UN resolution first. (BBC News) And there are divisions among the members.
The BBC's Dominic Hughes, in Brussels, says sharp divisions over future relations with Russia have emerged among EU members.
Some EU ministers doubt the Russians would actually let anyone else into the areas they now control, he reports.
Russia's future relationship with Europe - with the Baltic states and Poland pushing for a freeze in relations - is now unclear, our correspondent says.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband argued the international community must act to show that the use of force is not acceptable.
Others like Germany and Italy are more cautious, saying communication channels must remain open. (BBC News)
Meanwhile, the neocons who pushed for war with Iraq are writhing in impotent fury that we can't jump right into it with Russia as well.
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