What Should the US Do About the Russian Attack on Georgia?
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
August 11, 2008 6:43pm CST
The government of the United States has a problem... Russia decided to launch a full scale attack against the nation of Georgia. Georgia, a close ally of the US, has asked for international intervention against Russian aggression.
By all rights, they should be able to expect the US to help them out here. They have been a close ally since gaining independence from Russia in the 90s. Georgia has been actively involved with the US in Iraq. On the other hand, the US and Russia have been working together at preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power.
The fighting is all about S. Ossetia. S. Ossetia claims to be its own nation (although no nations recognize this claim). Georgia claims it as a province (it was part of Georgia when the nation gained independence from Russia). Russia claims that S. Ossetia rejected Georgia's revolution, making it a province of Russia.
If S. Ossetia is an independent nation, then Georgia has been at war with it for some time now. Georgia has been trying to keep the peace there pretty much since they became a nation. If S. Ossetia is part of Georgia, then its government has the authority to try to keep the peace there. If S. Ossetia is a province of Russia, then Russia is merely involved in a war with Georgia and this is just an escallation of it.
Three attitudes towards S. Ossetia. Prs. Bush (and since it will probably carry over into 2009, whoever takes the White House in November) has to first decide whose side the US will take. It wouldn't make sense to take the side of S. Ossetia, since the US has never acknowledged their claims as a nation in the first place. So the real question at hand is, does the US continue to back a close ally, even if it means Russia will probably quit putting heat on Iran? Losing Russia's influence in the situation brings us 1 step closer to war with Iran.
It's not an easy question. In fact, it's the kind of question that usually has no safe answer... "damned if you do and damned if you don't" comes to mind.
For me, I think Russia doesn't really have a leg to stand on here. S. Ossetia was part of Georgia when it won indepentence, therefore, Russia gave up claim to it back in the 90s. This means that any fighting between Georgia and S. Ossetia is a civil war. Russia is merely taking advantage of the political situation to make their move of aggression, by leaders who want nothing more than to rebuild the Soviet Empire as best they can.
On a more domestic note, this situation gives us a great opportunity to see which candidate is worth voting for. This isn't a rhetorical question, so each candidate should be pressured to come up with real ideas on how to handle it. It is also something that (most likely) neither of them have given much thought to in the past. Being POTUS is mostly an administrative job. The main responsibility of an administrator is to make "damned if you do and damned if you don't" decisions. How each of them react to this sitution will give us great insight into the kind of president they will be.
3 people like this
19 responses
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Aug 08
So we should betray an ally who is asking for our help?
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
12 Aug 08
Ok, I've read all the responses and I think it's pretty sad that most people seem to think there are only two ways to deal with this.
1. NOTHING
2. ATTACK!!!
Those are the two worst options by any stretch of the imagination. It's sad that everyone here thinks you personally want us to attack Russia just because you don't want to sit on your hands and watch them turn Georgia into a smear on the map.
This is a situation where NATO, the UN, and of course, the US need to get involved and make Russia back off. Georgia is our ally and if we can't even make an effort to defend our allies then we lose all credibility throughout the world. I think most Americans fail to realize exactly how close an ally Georgia is. If this were the UK or Canada being attacked then people would be responding much differently.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Aug 08
Sadly you are right. If this was someone THEY considered an ally, then they would be more receptive to helping.
I guess the most interesting outcome so far is the all or nothing mentality. This IS the time for diplomacy and the international organizations to show what they are made of. If NATO and the useless UN do nothing about this, then we need to wonder what good any international organization is.
It's funny, the left is always falsely accusing Prs. Bush of rushing into war whenever he gets the chance. But war was the only thing on their minds in their responses.
2 people like this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
12 Aug 08
Ok, time for a more intelligant response than I gave earlier.
What exactly are our options?
full on military strike.
Ignore it entirely
Talk a lot and hope it quiets down
Obviously none of these are attracitve or viable options. It seems then that there are 2 other possobilities. We call for an emergencie session of the U.N. Security council, get an official position from. Have both georgia and russia sit at the table with theU.N. negotiating it them and then have the U.N. send in their peace keepers to keep whatever peace may be reached if any.
Call in an emergency meeting of nato do perform the same tasks as the U.n may bew called on.
In all honesty though, would any of that really do any good? It all depends on Russia not being helll bent on taking that part of georgia for itself or freeing it from georgia.
I guess this is why I'm not president and someone else is.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Aug 08
Russia has veto power on the UN Security Council, so you really think it will get anywhere with the Useless UN?
Yes, Russia and Georgia need to have talks, but in the meantime, the bullets keep flying, and Russia keeps advancing. What motivation does Russia have to stop if they know that they are only a day or two from having Georgia back in their pocket?
I hope NATO has already called an emergency meeting and are discussing what this means to them.
This situation, more than any other, can give us a lot of insight into our choice in November. As I said, each candidate now has the opportunity to tell us what he will do if the situation hasn't been resolved by the time they take office. We should all be watching all the candidates very closely on this one.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Aug 08
Absolutely! The US and NATO countries aren't the only ones asking themselves what to do about this situation.
2 people like this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
12 Aug 08
And no one has even begun to mention the other complications that could occur. Such as Venezuala getting involved. They have been getting pretty cozy with Russia and as much as Chavez hates us, it's a chance to thumb his nose at us some more. He may not be in a position to do so, but I doubt that would stop him.
1 person likes this
@shoffman2000 (560)
• Alexandria, Virginia
12 Aug 08
Sadly, the only thing Russia understand is a massive air attack Bush will not do it. Next Russia will get bolder we will have to something Basically Russian troops are attacking an independent nation just as Hitler marched in France and Poland.
@niranjans87 (1077)
• India
12 Aug 08
Are yo kidding me? A proper air strike by US on Russia will lead to a full fledged World War.Another thing dont assume that the American defense is the best.Russia has one of the biggest defense with technology equivalent to that of US. And if such a situation arose nobody will support the US cos this will only lead to unnecessary damage to everyone and a minor thing will be escalated beyond measures.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Aug 08
Not exactly true. Russia and the Soviet Union were both open to talks and diplomacy. Of course, there was almost always muscle behind those talks before they would respond positively, but muscle isn't always military.
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
12 Aug 08
"a minor thing will be escalated beyond measures"
You're right. Attacking a soveriegn nation without warning and plowing through homes and civilians is a very minor thing. I'm sure the people in Georgia watching Russian tanks destroy their homes and kill their friends and families agree that this is a minor thing that we don't want to escalate.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Aug 08
So Russia should be left free to attack any former Soviet nation they want to?
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Aug 08
So it's not butting in that bothers you, it's responsiblity that bothers you?
2 people like this
@joanie74 (12)
• United States
12 Aug 08
to be honest with u i think its about time the U.S. should mind our own buisness. we are already at war for 7 years and we are actually getting our butts kicked. look at the gas prices, job losses, reality is bad, no one can afford to live and on top of that how many more of our men and woman in our troops do we have to lose in this war. i dont think we need to put our noses in any other countries business.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Aug 08
So if a friend was getting attacked, you would mind your own business?
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Aug 08
It's ironic, I never once suggested going to war, but all the responses have been as if I did.
1 person likes this
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
13 Aug 08
Truly a perplexing question you ask, ParTed. Georgia is an ally an deserves are help, but what help can we really give Georgia. We are currently tied up in Iraq and cannot spare any military force to help them. I wish we could Georgia has helped us and we should return the favor. Russia must be put in its place. Russia is running around like they are the new big man on campus. Russia has taken side with Iran so they are already an enemy to the USA. My problem is we do not have the force to win in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now protect Georgia.
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
13 Aug 08
... Which is precisely why Russia jumped at the chance to annex them now. No other country in the world has the guts to stand up to them and we're preoccupied. The other European nations will simply look to pacify Russia the same way they pacified Hitler in the early years of WWII.
2 people like this
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
13 Aug 08
They have a right to maintain their freedom and their rights. I think everything should be done as a combined universal effort to allow these people their democracy.There are enough peace keeping nations to stand up together to help these people.
@healwell (1268)
• Ahmedabad, India
12 Aug 08
You have raised the question regarding the Russia... But what about America? What USA did to the rest of world since last 4 decades? I don't mean here the people of USA, but I mean here the USA Government! After worldwar 2 USA made claims of super power and slowlly currupted the russian government personalities, and divided Russia... It was also united with revolution era! Why USA promoted to break it?
Well, what USA Government has done to Bolivians? Or even to Afghanistan and Iraq? What USA Government done to Vietnam is really a tearful history written by USA Government! So right now what ever Prs. Bush will decide on behalf of USA people will not be people's want but his and his party and connected corporate houses conntribution... If this word 'COntribution" could be use here!
It would be a case like this:
Mr. A after killing the XC, telling Mr. B not to do CRIME by killing YC!
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Aug 08
Apparently you resent freedom for anyone but your own pathetic self. You deserve to have lived under Stalin, with the full impact of all that means. Fortunately for you, we don't always get what we deserve.
2 people like this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
13 Aug 08
Wow, two hypocritical nations in one comment. What about the Indian brutality in Kashmire? How many inocents have you slaughtered there? And the one from the U.K? The past blood shed and opression in india? Or your occupation of Iraq before it became it's own nation?
Did all of that sound ignorant? Of course it did. But no more ignorant than what you both said. Sorry, well, not really sorry, but I am puking sick and tired of the world critisizing us for what we do in the world. Some things that need to be done are not all that pleasant and war is always terrible, but sometimes unavoidable and I have had it up to my eye balls with a world full of soft bellied pansy assses who sit on their hands while the world goes to hell and do NOTHING because they decide it's just nicer to act like scared little girls while people in darfure, or somolia or iraq or afganistan or anywhere are slaughtered and tortured by their own governments or a neighboring country that decides it wants that one for it's own. Why is the u.s. "sticking it's nose in everyone's busniness"? Because the rest of the world does nothing. NOTHING.
We have never even HINTED that we would bring military action in Georgia, all we have done is verbaly condemn the action and plead for peace and the entire world is jumping down our throats as is we have already gone to war. With this mentality in the world, there is NEVER any good the u.s. is going to do in the world' eyes
@evanslf (484)
•
12 Aug 08
Yes, it is difficult for the US to lecture others particularly after the IRAQ and Abu Graib fiasco. The US has lost much authority in the world but that said, two wrongs don't make a right. Russia moving beyond S. Ossetia and Abkazia borders and taking over the Georgia entirely would be clearly wrong. That said, for the US to take an agressive preachy stance, as Bush is often keen to do, is likely to be less productive at this stage than quiet diplomacy.
@shoffman2000 (560)
• Alexandria, Virginia
13 Aug 08
The falsely claim there is a ceasefire this is a rerun of Hitler and no one has the spine or backbone to do anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 person likes this
@cbreeze (1205)
• United States
12 Aug 08
I want to thank you for this post. Even though I heard about it in the news, I really don't understand it much. The contributions given here is helping me to understand.
Based on my limited understanding, I think that the US should take this up with the UN and the international community. Obviously the US cannot and should not police the world. I think unless we are attacked, we should make a habit of including the rest of the international community on possible resolutions of foreign issues.
@blackmantra_x (2732)
• Philippines
13 Aug 08
Good day...The US should sit this one out and wait what will happen, acting too soon can be detrimental to their plans since the conflicting entities are both helping them one way or the other.
@doomstay982 (239)
• United States
12 Aug 08
I think US should have a spy to see if Georgia is picking the fight or if Russia is trying to do something that the world will not like, that's my opinion.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Aug 08
There's been tension and smaller skirmishes so much that I would hope we have spies there.
2 people like this
@mscott (1923)
• United States
12 Aug 08
There is nothing America can do other than to say Russia is bad please stop. Russia is a lot more powerful than many people think. They control most of the oil that flows to Europe which has given them a strangle hold there. The government took over the oil fields from businesses and now profits from them. Georgia is an American friend and they have oil there as well. Do you think it by accident that Russia is bombing the oil fields in Georgia? Until America becomes independent of these other countries for oil they will continue to see China and Russia grow in Power and be even less afraid of what America has to say. Russia knows the Americans can't do anything about them and they are pushing the limits just to prove it. Especially daring to the rest of the world starting this war during the Olympics.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
12 Aug 08
True, Russia has oil, but their technology for getting it out of the ground comes mostly from the west. They also depend on the US for most of their grain, medicines, farming equipment and other necessities.
Furthermore, Russia has the same problem they did when the Soviet Union broke up... their economy. For awhile they were doing better because they learned ways to incorperate free enterprise into their communist system. However, they have lost a lot of that since the communists in their government have regained a lot of power.
There is also the political ramifications of this. If they take Georgia back, they will lose a lot of support from countries they depend on heavily (not just the US), they will also give the EU more reason to include more nations into NATO. Strengthening NATO in Eastern Europe is something they can ill afford to do.
Lastly, there are reasons the US and Russia have been working together to keep Iran from getting nuclear weapons. Russia and its allies are in a lot more danger from a nuclear Iran than the US.
There are ways to pressure Russia to stop, but I fear that Georgia only has a few days before they fall, and when they do, there will be no "do overs" to prevent the consequences.
2 people like this
@academic2 (7000)
• Uganda
12 Aug 08
What is the Intrinsic value of Georgia to America-remember Georgia is going to create the kind of crisis that Cuba created in 1961 under JFK-We hear America wants to errect a missile defence system in Georgia, that is a blue eyed aggression-if I were Putin, I would not allow that-and a wise American leader should never get sucked into this-Georgia is a renegate state who does not know who her real allies are-they simply want to complicate the USA and create a world war-the best to do is lead the two into negotiations! No American leader should get tempted to arm Georgia, we shall see things seriously changing for the worst in Iran and Iraq for Americans-we dont need to go there!
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
12 Aug 08
Legally, or technically, however you may put it, the US is obliged to step in and help her allies, especially if a treaty says so.
Its unlikely to happen due to the present situation in Irag and the additional costs.
So, in all fairness to reality, it looks like goodbye to S. Ossetia.
@Ganesh44 (5547)
• India
12 Aug 08
I am from India first of all.....I think US needs a role to help her ally and world peace also but by trying ways to stop Russia somehow with world pressure and not military or defense power .
Even why US its responsibility of each and every country to stop killing of innocent people ......
Thanku
Ganesh
@evanslf (484)
•
12 Aug 08
The US is in a difficult situation here. The whole situation is not black and white. No doubt Russia has been stirring the South Ossetians up but the Georgian president has been very foolish, trying to regain control of South Ossetia by force and hoping that the Russian bear to the north would not notice. Also, the south ossetians do have affinity with their north ossetians brethren and hence this is why a good many of them identify themselves with Russia (S. Ossetia was split up from N. Ossetia and placed by Stalin in the Georgian republic and they were not happy with this at the time. This did not matter so much whilst the Soviet Union existed, but once Georgia split off in the early 1990s and became a separate state, the ossetians were split between two countries and hence the problems began.) Also the Georgian president has had an agenda to regain control of Abkhazia and S. Ossetia, but doing this by force has clearly backfired.
So though it can be argued that Russia has a legitimate right to intervene in S. Ossetia to stop the Georgian attack, it clearly has no right to go beyond the S. Ossetia and Abkazian borders into the rest of Georgia. One suspects Putin wants to make an example of Georgia, either by disabling its army, getting the Georgian president removed or, at the worst, taking over Georgia entirely.
What America should do? Military intervention is out of the question, this is Russia's back yard and opening a third front is not a very good idea. That said, the US could make clear to Russia that bringing its troops beyond S. Ossetia and Abkazia is totally unacceptable and will have consequences. The US should urge Russia to sign the ceasefire and arrangements should be put into place so that the peoples of S. Ossetia and Abkazia can have a referendum to decide whether they want to stay within the Georgian state, be independent or join Russia. The referedum to have international monitors and the result to be accepted by all.
If Russia continues to pound Georgia and invades the rest of the country, then security council / sanctions, etc would be the place to start. The Russia should be denied all partner status with the US / EU and stiff economic sanctions applied.
