As we track this and try to see where this is going we need post both the likes of Washington Post/NYT and likes of Moscow Times/Novosti.
Moscow Times Latest and then New York Times Latest(per Googling newest first)
<<Georgia's Big Democracy Lie
14 August 2008
Email the Opinion Page Editor
themoscowtimes.com
The missile attacks on South Ossetian towns that Tbilisi started on Aug. 7 have had catastrophic consequences. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili showed the entire world his ruthless aggression and violence against the Ossetians. The Georgian government committed acts of genocide against civilians in South Ossetia, and it violated fundamental principles of human rights and international law.
This conflict is truly a tragedy -- not only for Ossetians but also for Georgia itself, which is desperately trying to find its place in the world. It has become clear from this war that Georgia is prepared to undertake any -- even illegitimate and illegal -- actions, as long as it has the moral and political support of those Western powers that see Georgia as one of their key outposts in the 21st-century Great Game for energy resources and geopolitical influence.
In addition, it is a tragedy for global cooperation on important issues, such as nuclear nonproliferation, the struggle against global terrorism, the environment, energy, industrial security and the fight against AIDS and infectious diseases. To effectively address these pressing issues, there must be an atmosphere of trust and cooperation. Tbilisi's unprovoked aggression last week is not conducive to this.
This war is also a tragedy for the international legal system. While Georgia declares its adherence to democratic values in words, it violates international law by its destructive and aggressive conduct. And this is contributing to the increasingly negative reaction in global capitals against Georgia, although Tbilisi blinds itself to this reality. It strives to be a member of the Western bloc by parroting U.S. catchwords, such as "democratic solidarity" or "a club of democracies," that have no relevance whatsoever to Georgia.
The West has spent a lot of time, energy and money to teach Georgia the tricks of the trade in global public relations and to make the country look like a democracy. But we and many other nations see through this deceit. We understand that the seditious tactics of the so-called color revolutions are a real threat to international law and the source of global legal nihilism. Russia will always speak out against these destabilizing trends because it defends international law, as demonstrated by the country's peacekeeping operations in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We also support bringing the United Nations into the region to make the peacekeeping effort truly global.
President Dmitry Medvedev's proposal to introduce a legally binding European security treaty, which he first introduced in a speech he gave in Berlin in early June, and to convene a pan-European summit make more sense now than ever before. To turn Medvedev's ideas into reality, Russia must work with politicians, lawmakers, diplomats, the general public and the media. We can reach mutual understanding only if the whole truth about events in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone becomes clear and if the global community censures Georgia's acts of aggression and genocide.
Russia must be able to work constructively with other nations, even those that have Russophobic tendencies. The Federation Council must contribute to this process. Among other things, we must clearly articulate our position on Georgia, regional security in the Caucasus and peacekeeping in the region. We need to turn to our partners -- the United States, France, Germany and other European Union members, as well as NATO -- with an appeal to act impartially, rationally and for the welfare of the common interests of building peace.
Vasily Likhachev, formerly Russia's ambassador and permanent representative to the European Union in Brussels, is the deputy chairman of the International Affairs Committee in the Federation Council. >>
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nytimes.com
Georgian President’s Accusations Grow
By MITCHELL L. BLUMENTHAL
Published: August 13, 2008
President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, who has appeared repeatedly on Western television during the days of conflict with Russia, made frantic and apparently overstated warnings on Wednesday that Russian troops were poised to enter the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.
Bush Sends Aid to Georgia as Russians Occupy a City (August 14, 2008) In an interview on CNN, the Georgian president said the Russians “are closing on the capital, circling,” with the intention of establishing their own government.
“We will protect our capital with our last drop of our blood,” he said. “We will never surrender.”
But he also blamed the West for not intervening more forcefully, nearly a week after hostilities broke out between Georgia and its much larger neighbor.
“Frankly, my people feel let down by the West,” he said.
Mr. Saakashvili spoke amid much confusion on the ground. Early on Wednesday, Georgia and Russia agreed to a cease-fire that apparently called for the troops of both sides to pull back to positions occupied before fighting broke out last week.
But the exact details of the pact remained unclear, and Russian troops appeared to be controlling access to the central city of Gori, which is outside of the disputed South Ossetia and only 40 miles from Tbilisi. Moreover, a column of Russian troops had been reported to be heading toward the capital on Wednesday before pulling off the road.
Asked about the cease-fire, Mr. Saakashvili said the Russians “never meant a cease-fire.”
“This is the kind of cease-fire they had in Afghanistan,” he added.
“They even steal toilet seats, I’ve been hearing,” he said.
He made repeated references not only to the Soviet Union’s war in Afghanistan in the 1970s, but also to the invasion Prague in 1968 and even repeated references to the German invasion of Poland before the start of World War II.
As for how he planned to halt the formidable Russian forces if they indeed headed toward Tbilisi, he said, “This will not be only Georgian troops” but an “all-out defense.”
“Freedom is worth fighting for,” he said, adding that his country was doing this “not only for us but for the rest of Europe.”
Asked if the White House was doing enough, he said: “I just spoke to President Bush. Frankly, some of the first statements were seen as a green light for Russia. They were kind of soft.”
He said, “Georgia is the first test case.”
He said the United State should be doing more. “We should realize what is at stake for America; America is losing the whole region,” he said.
“Who else can stand up for liberty in the world?”
As for reports that he was warned not to instigate a conflict by sending troops to South Ossetia, Mr. Saakashvili said angrily: “I’m sickened of this cynical and unfounded allegation. Our troops were always there. It’s our territory. They’re killing our people.”
He dismissed allegations that Georgia started the fighting. “How can we attack Russia?” he asked. “That’s the ludicrous thing.” |
