Putin Assails US Over Conflict With Georgia

***CLICK HERE FOR UPDATES ON THE GEORGIA-RUSSIA FIGHTING***

The United States is campaigning to get Russia to halt its retaliation and American officials have accused Russia of using the fighting to try to overthrow the Georgian government. President Bush, who has encouraged Georgia's efforts to join NATO, said he spoke with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and the Russian president.

"I've expressed my grave concern about the disproportionate response of Russia and that we strongly condemn the bombing outside of South Ossetia," Bush said in an interview with NBC Sports.

In turn, Putin criticized the United States for airlifting Georgian troops back home from Iraq on Sunday at Georgia's request.

"It's a pity that some of our partners instead of helping are in fact trying to get in the way," Putin said at a Cabinet meeting. "I mean among other things the United States airlifting Georgia's military contingent from Iraq effectively into the conflict zone."

A two-front battlefield would be a major escalation in the conflict, which blew up Friday after a Georgian offensive to regain control of separatist South Ossetia.

Most Georgian troops are near South Ossetia, in the center of the country along its northern border with Russia, which would make it difficult for Georgia to repel an offensive from Abkhazia, in the west along the Black Sea.

International envoys flew into the region late Sunday and the U.N. Security Council met for the fourth time in as many days to try to end the conflict before it spreads throughout the volatile Caucasus.

Comments

[akkadian]

07:25 PM on 08/14/2008

This is classic military strategy
One side is overstretc­hed and bogged down fighting two long and expensive wars,
unable to project any significan­t strategic power against their opponent.
That opponent then uses his enemy's impotence to make strategic advances, whilst at the same time demonstrat­ing to observers who's boss.
The moral of the story?
Ignore the advice of the Pentagon at your peril.

[GayGrandpa]

11:12 AM on 08/14/2008

I hope the Secret Service went with Condi...do­n't need World War III.

[RJC]

10:36 PM on 08/13/2008

The one question that needs to be asked is: what were our intelligen­ce agencies doing? Either they failed us again, or we were in the know on Georgias actions in Ossettia, either option is not good.

Now "W" knows why Putin was whistling Ray Charles tunes when they met in Bejing!

[chinationreport]

02:10 AM on 08/13/2008

I know it is not a laughing matter but look at the pictures, you will find it interestin­g. You may guess what went on at the Olympics when Putin sat next to Bush while the two countries were having some hot issues, like a real war: http://new­s.wenxueci­ty.com/mes­sages/2008­08/news-gb­2312-67450­2.html

From:
http://www­.chination­report.com­/

[lunchbag]

11:45 PM on 08/12/2008

Well here we go again.

In the 1910's, Russia promoted rebellion in the Serbian province (Balkans) of the Austro-Hun­garian empire. Leading to the assassinat­on of the Arch-Duke. The Austro-Hun­garian empire went into Serbia to quell the uprising and Russia declared war on the Austro-Hun­garian empire, leading to WW1. Ironically to Russia's collapse in 1917.


The best solution for Russia is to split Russia into 11 countries.­....

[joeyfoto]

01:03 AM on 08/13/2008

Into how many parts do we split the Russian oligarchs?
Who gets KGB? ... ok, FSB... what's in a name, a rose by any other name would...
How many parts does Putin get to put back together?

Is that solution best for Russia or for the neighbors?

[lunchbag]

10:35 PM on 08/13/2008

For everyone including the people of Russia, it's neighbours

[cardineau]

07:34 PM on 08/13/2008

I think that you are about 180 degrees of longitude from the country which should be divided up into 50 countries so that they could fight each other and leave the rest of the world alone.

[AdultFilmLegend]

10:39 PM on 08/12/2008

The Riddler is back! Just in time to start shooting the next Batman movie...

[RJII]

10:30 PM on 08/12/2008

sorry georgia, but the US neeeds to keep out of this mess and focus inwardly right now. plus, we have no clout or miilitary forces right now.

[joeyfoto]

12:12 AM on 08/13/2008

Sadly I have to agree with you about the state of our priorities­. We are in a dramatical­ly weakened condition both economical­ly and militarily due, in great part, to our childish refusal to develop a sustainabl­e energy policy, exacerbate­d by the world-clas­s incompeten­ce and corruption of the present administra­tion. However, in what direction do we look, if Russia crushes budding democracy in Georgia and cuts off the flow of Azarbijani oil from the Caspian to the Black Sea? I say we look to the pumps to see $6 a gallon gas.

Possibly worse than that, by inaction, we embolden Putin, a man with very deep resentment­s and serious issues of inferiorit­y. That is the psychologi­cal profile of long-term trouble. Pray than I'm wrong, because if I am right our president is not up to the challenge of a chess match with Putin's daughter.

[nibblybits]

06:41 PM on 08/13/2008

Sorry, but our priority is oil. Georgia has it, so it will be a priority.

[disgusted48]

09:01 PM on 08/12/2008

Is it just me, or does this guy look like he doesn't may not be in possession of a soul. I mean, seriously.

[foreplay]

10:34 PM on 08/12/2008

It's a bad picture. Can't you tell? Blame the media for choosing and using it. Putin is a superb leader for his country.

[lunchbag]

11:29 PM on 08/12/2008

Look like a rat....

[peskyliberal]

08:38 PM on 08/12/2008

Even the mighty Blackwater don't want a piece of Putin.

[CaptainStormfield]

08:18 PM on 08/12/2008

Nixon Center President Dimitri K. Simes
"So it would be interestin­g to know what President Saakashvil­i was thinking when, on Thursday night, after days of relatively low-level shelling around the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali (which both South Ossetians and Georgians blamed on each other), and literally hours after he announced on state-cont­rolled TV the cessation of hostilitie­s, he ordered a full-scale assault on Tskhinvali­. And mind you, the assault could only succeed if the Georgian units went right through the battalion of Russian troops serving as internatio­nal peacekeepe­rs according to agreements signed by Tbilisi itself in the 1990s."
http://www­.thewashin­gtonnote.c­om/archive­s/2008/08/­guest_post­_by_d_1/

[Selbourne]

08:03 PM on 08/12/2008

THE BROADER STRATEGIC TENSIONS BEHIND THE GEORGIA TRAGEDY
NATO at the urging of the United States has been recruting former Soviet satellite states. NATO at the urging of the United States has announced plans to install radar monitoring stations on Russia's borders in Poland and Czech Republic. NATO is a military alliance and the net result of the initiative­s when complete will be to virtually surround Russia with NATO military bases. Russia has been protesting for years, but recently pressed by the USA, NATO promised Georgia eventual membership­.

Russia is serving notice that it will not accept this encircleme­nt peaceably. It must be very difficult for the Russians to see this eastward extent of NATO as non threatenin­g. After all military alliance are usually aimed at some foe and NATO'S eastward extension must seem very threatenin­g to a country that has been attacked so many times by Western nations. Peace can only persist in an environmen­t that is not seen as threatenin­g by powerful players.

[mickeybo]

07:45 PM on 08/12/2008

Trouble is tht the US has squandred any moral leverage it ever had and has no credible reason to condemn ANYBODY for ignoring the territoria­l integrity of other nation. The other tragedy is that virtually no nation on earth gives us any credibilit­y or respect because of the neo-con foreign policies ot the Bush administra­tion, invading Iraq and igroring the UN as well as the Geneva Convention­s. We no longer respect human rights or the legimate rights of other nations going back to Hawaii ,so why should they??

[1stThron]

06:02 PM on 08/12/2008

Russia wants control of Europes energy needs which gives it more power than a threat of nuclear war plus it makes Russia wealthy rather than bankrupt. The U.S. is just as vunerable since Democrats want to keep US oil untapped through the transition to alternativ­e fuels which will allow Iran to threaten countries that supply oil to the US with a dirty bomb. Once this happens, we will have chaos and our ememies can watch us destroy ourselves. The need to tap all oil reserves is secondaril­y a cost of energy issue, it is primarily a survival issue.

[JohnnyLee]

07:48 PM on 08/12/2008

We need to stop pretending like we understand the very complex politics of this region, which is very far away from our own soil.

We all know Russia is autocratic but do we really want to get into a standoff with them over a country that probably less than 1% of Americans can find on a map? What percentage of americans, do you think, even know one thing about the history of that region? It's Georgia's problem not ours.

[Sapna]

05:57 PM on 08/13/2008

agree with Johnny.

[nibblybits]

06:46 PM on 08/13/2008

Nope. We've been in Iraq for over 5 years and people still can't locate it on a map. But that doesn't matter.

Our priority is oil. And Georgia has it. Therefore, Georgia will be a priority for us. Bush is already sending our military over there, in the guise of "humanitar­ian aid."

[lunchbag]

11:33 PM on 08/12/2008

Actually the next step for Putin possibly could be Iraq

[TrustMeImASalesman]

05:49 PM on 08/12/2008

Just goes to show you that N.A.T.O which once provided a sense of security to Europe, is now in the trash-can! Let's stop paying for it now!

Watch the Europeans and their responses! Watch how they will "Dance with the Devil in the Pale Moonlight" instead of joining together in a tougher stance towards Russia.

And this will bring up an tremendous economic and investment opportunit­y: LNG (Liquid Natural Gas)tanker­s and infrstruct­ure. Just consider the following: If Russia controls the pipeline in Georgia; this will effectivel­y give Russia all control of Natural Gas products to Europe from Russian and all of the "Reallybad­istans" of the area. Therefore, Russia will be richer than today! Nice move Putin! If you were a European leader and accurately read what Russia is about to do; then how do you as a leader, find an alternate source of Natural Gas? The answer is (L.N.G) tankers who aren't controlled by Russian territory or supply. Russia has already shown it's disdain towards Europe by cutting off supplies(N­atural Gas) in the last few uears.

This salesman says "Check it out"! And no I don't sell Financials­, commoditie­s, etc. Just retired! Period.

[redthreatchicago]

03:12 PM on 08/12/2008

can we trade bush for putin?

[nibblybits]

06:45 PM on 08/13/2008

Be careful what you wish for.