Tag Archives: Georgia

QandO Podcast

McQ, Dale and I discuss the Russian campaign against Georgia over South Ossetia. Generally I feel that our support should belong to Georgia. However, Georgia has severely miscalculated in this matter, and frankly our options are limited. At best, we … Continue reading

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Glimpse of a Better Outcome for Georgia

When it seemed like escalation was the modal reality, outcomes looked bleak for Georgia. Dynamics change. Thus Georgia’s ceasefire in South Ossetia cannot be a bad thing under the circumstances. By putting up an initial fight, they drew the attention … Continue reading

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The “Serbian” Claim to South Ossetia

The point has been made more than once that the Russian incursion into South Ossetia is ideologically motivated as a retaliatory gesture for Kosovo independence. Wu Wei makes a fine point about why this is not plausible if so: The … Continue reading

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The Trouble with American Alliances

Always demanding when they need you, useless and even obstructionist when you actually need them. Our friend Geoff Morrell can serve as something of a personification of that characteristic in fact: Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said the Georgians had requested … Continue reading

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Testy Times in the Bird’s Nest

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd witnessed a heated discussion between Bush and Putin over Georgia.

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Achieving International Opposition

James Traub has written a magnificent survey of the events leading up to the current war in Georgia, and the personal contest between Mikheil Saakashvili and Putin.

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The Edwards Stratagem

Tom Tildrum, commenting on Ilya Somin‘s notice that the press favors the Edwards affair over the Russo-Georgian War: “The Russians may have launched their offensive after learning of the Edwards news, in order to minimize world attention.”

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Policy Recommendations for the Demented

One can always count on the New York Times for publishing pernicious editorial advice on foreign policy. To duty, Helene Cooper is eager for the US to seize the opportunity of the South Ossetia invasion to…throw Georgia under the bus … Continue reading

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Who Owns Tskhinvali?

So who is in control of Tskhinvali right now? Russia says Russia, Georgia says Georgia, and the separatists? Take your pick: Eduard Kokoity, self-styled president of the separatist region, said a “second attempt” by Georgian forces to retake the town … Continue reading

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US Begins to Align with Georgia

Slowly the gears turn, but Washington and Tbilisi’s positions inch further into concord by the minute. The infamous “unnamed senior US official,” behind all important news events of the last century has spoken: A senior U.S. official says Russia has … Continue reading

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Northwestern Front Opens for Georgia

Abkhazia attacks Georgia at the Kodori Gorge, opening a second front. Saakashvili says attack repelled.

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Driving Around Tbilisi

Doug Merrill reports things looked pretty normal, only they weren’t.

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Peacekeeper No More

Alexander Stubb, chairman of the OSCE, states the obvious but necessary: Russia having become a combatant, can no longer serve in a peacekeeping role in South Ossetia. Which of course eliminates their rationale for intervention.

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Russian Strategic Objectives Changing?

Wu Wei believes Russia is now targeting the Nabucco gas pipeline in Georgia…while the Russian NATO envoy argues that strategic objectives are restricted to a South Ossetia protection and warns NATO to stay out. And now Iran gets into the … Continue reading

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Some Anonymous South Ossetia Endgame Analysis

Daniel Nexon gets an email from an anonymous Russia hand speculating on the grim possible outcomes for Georgia: This is not going to end well for Georgia. Russia has expanded its targets beyond the vicinity of South Ossetia, hitting not … Continue reading

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The Conquest of Georgia?

In an unnerving development, the New York Times is reporting that Russia may be preparing for an amphibious assault on Georgia’s Black Sea coastline. Alexander Lomaya, Secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council: “Russia has clearly decided to redraw the borders … Continue reading

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160,000 Deaths

At least 160,000 deaths in the suppression of Chechen independence by Russia. Just a reminder for when someone tries to set Russia up as the great defender of South Ossetia’s right of national self-determination. There’s a diplomatic argument for that, … Continue reading

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Through a Darker Glass

Cernig at Larisa Alexandrovna’s site had me persuaded for two whole paragraphs. Now, having little taste for the fine art of distractions-from-distractions, I tend to roll my eyes at the transparently partisan diversionary tactics one sees all over the web … Continue reading

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Choosing Sides on South Ossetia

After an ambiguous initial reaction, the State Department appears to have realized that despite whatever Russia contends, it is physically impossible for Georgia to invade its own country: “We call on Russia to cease attacks on Georgia by aircraft and … Continue reading

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Appetites of the Empire

(image: Marcelus G. Zalotti)

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Sonny Landham Falls

Looks like the Libertarian Party of Kentucky has dumped Sonny Landham, previously their clinically insane pick for US Senate. Good for them. Even if given the psychopathic nature of Landham’s views, I feel a little like I’m congratulating them for … Continue reading

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Airspace Violations

Cross-posted to Registan.net, which is “All Central Asia, All the Time.” Last year, Georgia was abuzz with accusations against Russia for its military jets supposedly violating its airspace and possibly even attacking radio stations. Now, Georgian officials are hopping mad … Continue reading

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The Ecumenical Reform Coalition Strikes Back

With Romney’s odds of winning the nomination now highly improbable, and the press directly asking Huckabee if he wants to be Vice President, the McCain-Huckabee alliance many of us have longed feared is now quite visible on the horizon. Even … Continue reading

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Somebody’s Gearing Up For A HUGE Party

Someone in Georgia is apparently planning on hosting a kegger for a small division [HT: my wife]. Thieves took tractor-trailers loaded with beer and swiped the suds twice within the past week, authorities said. Dougherty County authorities are investigating a … Continue reading

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