Opinion Talk

By zeke

August 12, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

We should tell them once, once, to get their butts back into their territory or we will kick their asses! If we keep messing around with these commies including China, Cuba, Venezuela and N. Korea we are in for big trouble in the future as their oil and natural gas reserves make them enormously wealthy while we sit here with all these liberal socialist demagogs in the democrat party, the aclu, the sierra club, soputhern poverty law center, greenpeace, world wildlife fund, the socialist land conservation funds and others! We WILL HAVE NO CLOUT, NO MORAL SUPERIORITY, NO WILL and NO GONADS TO DEFEND OURSELVES OR OUR DEMOCRATIC ALLIES!!

Anyone stupid enough to vote for obama and any of these socialist marxist in the democrat, democrap, party deserve what you get! BUT DO NOT PLACE THAT BLIGHT ON THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ENOUGH INTELLIGENCE TO HONOR AND SUPPORT OUR CONSTITUION AND THE CONSTANT WAR ON IT BY THEM!

By AH

August 12, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

The only thing we can do at this time is offer air support based out of either the gulf or from one of our European bases. This would go a long way to showing the Russians that we are serious and it would reassure our ally. This may push us into war with the Russians but you cannot let a bully get away with picking on a smaller weaker country. Then we should work to re-establish the boundaries in Georgia.

By CJ

August 12, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

We need to take the diplomatic high road with Russia. Since our fearless leader has over-committed our military resources to all corners of the globe, we do not have any other choice.

By Jason

August 12, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately Zeke, your anger is a little misguided. We don’t have the ability to threaten Russia because they know we cannot back it up. The reason we cannot back it up is because the neo-cons you support DONT support the constitution and invaded a sovereign nation. We “will” have no moral superiority??? How about we already dont have any moral superiority.

We need to mind our own business, bring our soldiers home and work on fixing THIS country.

By T

August 12, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

I have to agree with Jason and CJ. Sure we could offer air support, then who is going to offer ground support?
Unless, you are proposing support of the draft, it’s a no win situation. Our ground forces are stretched beyond its limits.

By Mike

August 12, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

Direct conflict with Russia over Georgia is not something the Bush Administration, or any other administration, is willing to engage in. The Russians have made it clear they will use tactical nukes if the U.S. uses conventional military power against them.

By Ed

August 12, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

I ask myself ” What would Obama do..? ” First, you’d have to explain to his this is not where Atlanta is, its the other Georgia. Then he’d have a plan. He’d change the plan the next day.

By Common Sense

August 12, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

To Ed and Zeke,

You are real losers! You speak as if you would go fight the Russians. I think not you stand behind your computer and send lame messages. Their is nothing The U.S. Government can do except as the other nations to diplomatically ask Russia to stand down.

Weak minded individual are what has our Military stretched thin already.

We must always be strategic in using our resources so we can be prepared to protect our way of life!

By Dutch

August 12, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

Yeah, come on all you tough @$$ flag wavers, step up and fight Russia! In fact send your sons and daughters. You love war. Step up and defend this “fledgling democracy” that has had its sovereignty violated.

Step up and thump your chest to a another world power the we owe debt to, are over a barrell (oil) literally for. Step up to fight another real superpower when we have not the money or the military power to fight at this point.

Russia knows exactly what its doing. They are putting U.S. on “front street” to stand before the world “The Pager Tiger”. You fools ready for nuclear annihilation??? Then put your b@llz where your mouths are!!!

Come on John McCain.. “bomb,bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran”!

Can you say, “incoming!!!”???

I remember going to a family member’s house and shaking in my boots to see a pit bull walking freely around the house. But because of his age, HE HAD NO TEETH! So guess what?? I wasn’t so scared anymore.

Chumps!

By Mike

August 12, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

Georgia has been a satellite in the Russian sphere of influence for centuries, no matter how unwilling. Georgia initiated this latest conflict by a major miscalculation by its President, who has made other blunders. Georgia is trapped wanting control over the two separate geographical areas of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, whose majority populations consider themselves to be separate in every way from Georgia. In a perfect world, Georgia should cut these two areas off, reorganize its new territory, and continue to align itself with the West politically and look for ways to improve its economy. This will not happen because Georgians are emotionally tied to these two provinces, despite any logical sense that they hold little value for them and are only a festering sore holding their nation back. If Georgia were able to disenfranchise South Ossetia and Abkhazia, then they would become more of a problem for Russia to deal with directly, and Russia already has its hands full with other troublesome provinces in this region.

As far as dealing with Russia over this dispute, our only options involve diplomacy. We need Russia to work with us as a lever against Iran. This dispute clearly does not warrant any type of military response by the United States. No one in the world, even the Chinese, would be served by a military confrontation between the United States and Russia. It is unthinkable, and no American administration whether Republican or Democrats would support such an idea, as would our military leaders.

But Russia will bear some costs for their actions against Georgia. Medvedev and his master Putin have let the curtain slip to reveal the Russian bully and aggressor that we knew was always there. To Russia, there is pride in their nationalism, their renewed military prowess and a chance to improve their morale and demonstrate their power in a limited controlled setting. But Russia will pay a diplomatic price for this action. Russia deliberately intended to intimidate other countries such as Ukraine, and they may succeed in the short term, but longer term their heavy-handedness will provide continued opportunities for the European countries and the United States to promote democracy and closer economic ties.

By Logical Dude

August 12, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

NUKE EM!

Wait, then we would be over-escalating the situation the same way Russia over-escalated the situation.

Questions that I have, but have not seen the answers:
Why is South Ossetia more in line with Russia than Georgia? (same with Abkazania (SP?))

Why didn’t Georgia try to talk to South Ossetia? (or rather, why did those talks fail?) (or rather, why didn’t we hear about these talks?)

Is there a leader of South Ossetia who can give a clear picture of why they want to break away from Georgia?

Otherwise, it seems diplomatic measures have already been taken, and failed, and the “last resort” was military action by Georgia. Which Russia was ready for, and ready to crush. (Intelligence, you know).

But they swatted a fly with a cannon, so what do we do? React with our own cannon (or Nuke, to escalate things further), or with a better measured response?

I’d go with “better measured response” on this one.

By Roustabout

August 12, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

Now I know many of you right wingers have been brainwashed by the likes of Bill O’Reilly about Keith Olberman, but I heard him express an opinion about something that made a lot of sense to me. He basically stated that sadly too many of us in the U.S. have come to believe that there is no military threat than we cannot conquer…that all we have to do is chant “U.S.A.,U.S.A.” really loudly and wave the flag and all will simply bow down to us.

How hilarious.

By Hey Roustabout!!

August 12, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

Hey Roustabout… Are your French? You sound French…

By Roustabout

August 12, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

I can be whatever you want me to be, as the truth DOES hurt at times..

I know the very familiar script you speak from can be rather shallow, it’s always the same attempt and presumed “insult”.

Yeah.. “French”, that’s something to be ashamed of.

By Roustabout

August 12, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

Hey Roustabout!!

Maybe my 15 yrs service in a 3353 NEC has caused a change in my accent or something??

But you probably wouldn’t know anything about that now would you?

I can clearly see beyond SYMBOLISM. Which is the problem I have with all you big chest thumpers and “flag wavers”; those who have deferred, never served but because they listen to these “cellophane warriors” like Hannity, O’Reilly, Limbaugh they suddenly believe they’re great political and military strategists or tacticians.

By newkid

August 12, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

Don’t you wonder if Russians were asking themselves similar questions in 2003 when our ‘Medvedev’ was taking the decision to invade and obliterate Iraq under a corresponding set of unthinkably false pretenses?

AJC, sometimes you can be such a mindless wind up doll.

By Mike

August 12, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

“Even as the former Soviet republic begs its Western allies for assistance, the United States has talked tough — with President Bush demanding that the Russians withdraw forthwith — but has done little.”

The AJC never misses an opportunity for a cheap partisan attack. Bush has talked no “tougher” than any other country and their efforts have also proved useless.

Far be it from the partisans who run the AJC to point out that the vaunted “soft power” of the EU is useless as is the “international law” provided by the UN. It’s so much easier to lay it on Bush and Cheney. Further evidence of the intellectual bankruptcy of the AJC board.

By stevenr

August 12, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Roustabout -

Anyone who thinks that Hannity OR Olbermann is “right” is a complete idiot. They are both intellectually dishonest puppet masters who make their money stirring up hatred in stupid people.

By deborah

August 12, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

Threatening Russia is exactly what the rulers there want — they need fear and anger to control and unite their populace.

Even the threat of military force would be a mistake. It is one of the few realms on which Russia can meet any nation with superiority or at least a rough parity.

A new Cold War would also make the already wealthy nomenklatura there wealthier, and seal the marriage between Russia’s military elite and its economic mobster elite. We must engage Russia to ensure these groups’ interests never coincide.

By Roustabout

August 12, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

stevenrUanIdiot??

I’m afraid the only idiot is you. You just could not seem to see that I stated that Olberman expressed an OPINION that I felt made sense. And it is true about many as I stated, and it is proven on these blogs evvvvery single day!

..And has nothing to do with anyone being “intellectually dishonset”. My, my let’s think about who made that term famous.. Hannity.

And by the way , what exactly in the hell is “intellectually” dishonest anyway??? Intellect has nothing whatsoever to do with whether a person is dishonest or not. Either you are or you aren’t.

By Drew

August 12, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

This is a tough question, and I sure don’t have the answer. But it sure is easy to see the AJC goading the Bush administration. The same folks that will tell you that invading Iraq was wrong, but bombing Serbia was right, that we can’t be police the entire world, but we should do something about Darfur, will now tell us that protecting the Georgians is our obligation… unless it proves costly and time-consuming.

Or a Democrat makes the decision… then it will be heroic.

By OhREALLY

August 12, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this

To those of you, who have not noticed; if Russia was concerned about anything the USA could do, they wouldn’t have engaged with Georgia at ALL.

It’s obvious, they AINT SCARED!

By Fred

August 12, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

This obviously announces to the world that Russia is no longer a western democracy. They’ve also made threats to put nukes in Cuba again. Kick ‘em out of the G8 now, realize they are not our friends, and start taking steps to make ourselves more energy-independent in the face of cutting off their oil supplies to us, and possible alliances with Iran and Venezuela to boot.

Worst case scenario? Sure, but you have to be prepared. And then, what will we do if China takes Taiwan back?

By ron

August 12, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

This Russian problem will be brought before the U.N. and Russia will veto any action recommended, then we and the rest of the world can sit there and look stupid like we do in the face of other Russian/Chinese vetos.

By Greg

August 12, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

Ed, you’re hilarious.

Roustabout, anybody that takes as gospel the partisan drivel coming from Olberman is a mindless robot. Olberman is a whiny complainer who may occasionally have a point but who drowns the poor thing in a sea of banality.

Keep drinking the Kool-aid, kid.

By Lee

August 12, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

Put the Ukraine on a fast track to join NATO, and while the Russian Black Sea fleet is away from port and standing off the coast of Georgia, send the US fleet into the sea port Sevastopol in the Crimea. By the way, how deep is your bomb shelter?

By Dahmer

August 12, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this

This little country isn’t worth a single American life or starting WWIII over. Let’em have it.

By hrw

August 12, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

The United States Military and its Congressional Leaders should do nothing physically. They can asked but don’t touch or send military troops to intervene in nothing…we are already at two wars with a degrading economy cause by each. NOTHING!

By Roustabout

August 12, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this

Ed. You’re very statement proves you are stupid because you just made my exact point, and that is he said something that made sense. Why so defensive about it???

But since you obviously are thoroughly convinced that my beliefs can be shaped by anyone other than my own, you’re even sillier than you sound. I am the most “don’t give a damn” as they come.

“Kool Aid” drinker… another original. Boy you fools kill me.. and you talk about “partisan drivel” as if that isn’t a classic example of it.

Have some originality. What a moron.

By Pat

August 13, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this

Other than trying to isolate Russia diplomatically, there’s little we can do. And they know it - that’s why they didn’t hesitate to act. We’re indeed a “toothless pit bull.” No one takes us seriously anymore. Having a big stick is useless once everybody knows you’d never use it. And since our “friends” know we’d never risk helping them without a big payoff (ex: Kuwait & Iraq, whose rescue was critical due to their oil) - why would any small, weak country expect our help against tyranny? We’re no longer a superpower - we’re a debtor nation in hock to China, addicts hooked on Middle East petro-junk with a poorly educated public that’s losing the race for global competitiveness. Both parties have shamefully contributed to this debacle - Bush just represents the pinnacle of our ineptitude. He’s the symptom of what’s wrong with us. We not only like politicians who lie to us, we demand it. Ultimately, you get the leaders and government you deserve. This is a tough time, but even worse for our children. At least we can remember when America was a power respected in the world. Tragic.

By Chaz

August 13, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

And yet again, big kudos go out to the U.N. for seeing this heinous violation of international borders and… failing to respond at all.

Remind me again what those billions of dollars, euros and whatever go to?

By Frederick Douglass

August 14, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this

I say we teach Russia a lesson by attacking Luxemburg.

By Copyleft

August 15, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Or Lichtenstein! Who else has been naughty and yet doesn’t have the firepower to stand against us?

We wouldn’t want to make the mistake of going after the ACTUAL attackers. 9/11 taught us that.

By Copyleft

August 15, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

Ah yes. Another day, another ignorant spewing from Chaz.

Doing nothing, are they?

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27685&Cr=Georgia&Cr1=

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27658&Cr=Georgia&Cr1=

Settin’ em up and knockin’ em down with basic facts: all too easy when you’re dealing with delusional conservatives….