Obama Adviser: McCain May Have Made Georgia Situation Worse

Barack Obama adviser Susan Rice said on Hardball last night that John McCain's belligerent response to the Russian actions in Georgia "may or may not have complicated the situation."

WATCH:

At the Belgravia Dispatch, Gregory Djerejian explains why McCain's position would compound the mistakes President Bush has made in the region.

Ben Smith explains that McCain has long history of aggressive anti-Russian rhetoric:

While virtually every other world leader called for calm in Georgia last Thursday morning, John McCain did something he's done many times over his career in public life: He condemned Russia.

Indeed, McCain, who publicly confronted Putin in Munich last year, may be the most visible -- and now potentially influential -- American antagonist of Russia. What remains to be seen is whether the endgame to the Georgia crisis makes McCain seem prophetic or headstrong and whether his muscular rhetoric plays a role in defining for voters the kind of commander in chief he would be.

Comments

[obiter]

Please visit:
http://www.amazon.com/review/product/1416598065/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_1?_encoding=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar

"Recommend" the 1 star ratings for the book "Obama Nation" by Jerome R Corsi. Add your own review too. Let customers really know what this book is really about.

[Ramirez]

And don't be afraid to lie. You're a liberal. Everyone will know that you didn't read the book and they won't care.

[DaveC19]

Oh yeah, conservatives don't lie. The Bush admin have been completely honest with us for the last 7 years. There really WAS WMD in Iraq etc.

[Gusto2]

Us liberals read books of substance and truth, not innuendos, lies and opinions. That is the reason why we can be more objective about things and can have an intelligent discussion and even disagree with each other some time. In contrast, you "conservative" are like Hitler's brown shirt, you just go along with anything the Party or it so called "leaders" say. Just like dumb robots. Ooops, I'm sorry robots, you are more intelligent than these folks.

[seriously29]

not a liberal, but not an idiot either. isn't that the swift boat person. sorry i need hard core factual information not fact based on opinion. no offense, i am a conservative thinker and there is no way i would read or suggest such well, crap.

i stopped playing follow the leader in elementary school. take care.

[jhoughton1]

Muscular. What a poor choice of words. How about "belligerent," instead.

[Ramirez]

From "Moonbattery" blog:
******

The Obamessiah's First Miracle

Barack Obama has performed his first miracle, stopping Russian tanks from crushing Georgia with the power of mere words. The miracle was heralded by Virginia Governor and Obama toady Tim Kaine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0njdTjo0b4A&eurl=http://www.moonbattery.com/

To back up his demands, Obama threatened to bring in the United Nations, cleverly surmising that Russia wouldn't realize it has veto power over anything the UN does, and that Security Council resolutions are meaningless anyway unless backed up by the US military, as Saddam Hussein so thoroughly proved.

http://www.moonbattery.com/

[3dtrix]

Your consistently obnoxious and offensive comments are intended serve precisely what purpose? I have never seen a comment of yours which seeks to advance a position or argue in support of another's point of view, however strident or extreme, but you seem to relish only expressing the typed equivalent of sticking out your tongue, raising a middle finger, or depositing your personal fertilizer in the punchbowl of commentary. I have no trouble with passionately-held opinions which differ from my own, and in fact relish the opportunity to debate those who hold differing positions, but the vacuity of your efforts perplexes me.

Are you attempting to draw others to your point of view by repeatedly antagonizing them? Do you seek to cow the easily intimidated with your ever-flowing hostility and sarcasm? Are you attempting an obscure form of humor? What am I missing?

Clearly, there are other forums which would welcome and huzzah your inanities, but among the clever and well-spoken you merely humiliate yourself, however unknowingly, again and again and again...

I'm sure this reply to your latest will only serve as fuel to whatever fire compels you to post your serial twaddle, but I couldn't help myself.

I just gotta know - whazzup?

[Ramirez]

3dtrix:

Thank you for the thoughtful reply.

Much of my posting style is due to the structure of Huffposting. You're new here so I will tell you we have been through several different posting formats. My favorite had the posts lined up from first to last, and you could find your post by remembering the page where it first appeared. This was enjoyable and led naturally to robust debate.

This format destroys that because it encourages quick chatty snark. Long thoughful posts (I do them on occasion) get lost in the clutter or trigger moderation and never appear at all, or if they do appear they show up hours later and cannot be found in an active thread running 10-20 pages. You learn quickly that it is not worth wasting your time on the "news" threads. The blogs are different; longer posts have a better chance of survival and debate is actually possible. (Unfortunately for me, as a Republican I run a much higher chance of banning by posting on the blogs.)

If this is posted I can post another more thoughtful comment about the topic of this thread. Be advised that it may or may not make the situation worse.

[DaveC19]

In case you haven't figured it out yet, 084ma ISN'T PRES YET!! He isn't in a position to do anything yet. The current admin is though, what have they done except make idle threats?

[Ramirez]

You're right!
And that's what makes this Gov. Kaine video statement so funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0njdTjo0b4A&eurl=http

[seriously29]

i am constantly amazed at how many ways are found to call obama uppitty.

[JiminNC]

McNam is still fixated on the russian "advisers" he encountered while he was a guest of the gooks. Still in Saigon ... fighting a war that has been over for 35 years.

[whitegoldwielder]

and, oddly, seems like the russians [being led by a KGB man, you know] would like to go back to the good old days.

[3dtrix]

Why is it always with you guys that if you - or we (as in USA) - do it - whatever "it" is, it's always great, and if "they" do it - the same goddamn thing - whoever "they" are, it's always bad?

Putin truly is a KGB man, and all that applies to that observation may be fairly imputed to him. However, George Bush the elder was a CIA man - surely Director counts for something - and once a CIA man, always a CIA man, (or so I've heard) and I've never once heard any of your stripe indicate having any problem whatsoever with that.

Clearly, their secret police/intelligence apparatus is all BAD, and ours is all GOOD.

You and yours compulsively denounce those who have a more nuanced perception as anything from stupid, obviously ignorant, through naive, deep into unpatriotic, and onto the shores of treasonous.

You have no idea how predictable and tedious your mewlings are.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

[CrzyRussell]

It seems that Russia is going back to the old days!

It's time to put Pukein on trial for war crimes.

[Twentylaws]

Bush/Chene­y/Rumsfeld­/Powell/Ri­ce/Ashcrof­t/Rove first...he­ll, let the HAGUE have crack at them FIRST!

[pupbayer]

"may or may not have"...ve­ry insightful.

[Ramirez]

That is ObamaSpeak. Some are calling it the language of diplomacy.

[pupbayer]

Ahhhhhhh..­.so THAT'S what it is. I just thought it was stupidity.

[foxfan]

Obama "may ro may not have" had an affair.
Obama "may or may not have" been a drug dealer.

It's a great ploy. Every statement is true AND meaningless.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Riiiight it's much better to have people running the country who are always sure they are right like McBush and Boosh and proven to be wrong in the end.

[aofh]

It's possible that Saakashvili will go the way of Saddam Hussain. USA 1, Russia 1. Time to start seriously talking about the draft.

[Hare]

what an awful sense of humor. There are over 4000 Americans dead over nothing and you want to force more young people to go die for no importan reason. yeah that's right NOTHING IMPORTANT, I guess you don't have children or don't care about them.

[AzRealProgressive]

I do. Their freedom, and ability for their children to have the same opportunities as the preceding generation is paramount. And there is always a price to be paid. If you had children you would know yourself. Hundreds of thousands of other peoples children have died so you can have your children in freedom and peace. All you can do is issue meaningless political rhetoric.

[Liberoservative]

Strong diplomacy is what is required right now......

Neither Russia or the USA wants to escalate this infraction into a full scale global war.....

Russia is exerting its new found influence in global economics and strength..­....

We are the puny nation who was once the world's leader... we have lost all credence on world politics by our occupation in Iraq and our "Global War on Terrorism" that was not embraced by the Global World.

The two nations have the largest nuclear arsenal in the world and the fact that our Military has been reduced by every administration since Clinton... and attempted to be civilianized by this administration (read Rumsfeld, PBD 712, contracts, Blackwater, KBR) We have been reduced to a nuclear option in the worst case scenario..­. and a nuclear option in an only case scenario. Unless massive military draft is instituted in the USA.

Who is China going to side with in this debacle? The USA or Russia? Who has more money? USA, China or Russia?

Think beyond the local picture and look at the global picture...­..
DIPLOMACY!!!

[SensibleAmerican]

Chamberlain walked away from Munich in 1939 convinced that Hitler would stick to his "promises". Hitler not only marched through the erstwhile Czhekoslovakia but also Poland! Good old "Dubya" looked into Putin's eyes and "saw his soul"! McCain has been the only one who has been right about Russia and Putin's intentions all along. The same Putin who called the fall of the USSR as the "greatest catastrophe of the 20th Century" is the same Putin who has brought back the censorship and government 'control' like the days of yore

Instead of swooning and dancing to the usual far left and Obama platitudes, read up on the BTC and BTE oil pipe-lines which need to be controlled to prevent Russia's economy from imploding! Read up on the real reasons why Soviet Russia went into Afghanistan in the 70s. This is not the time for fancy speeches or eloquent generalizations but for a better insight into Foreign Policy and International History which McCain has. As for Obama, straddling the fence on all issues is not a policy but political machination ...

[whitegoldwielder]

You can bet that Putin is holding his breath in this election. McCain is an old cold warrior who won't be swapping spit with the russians. Obama is an empty suit that will never be up to a military threat.

[Gusto2]

Sound like the same reasons we (USA) went into Iraq to me.

[jrterrier]

really. then why did obama start out with a completely "diplomatic" statement saying both sides needed to take a deep breath and now in his 3rd statement has finally come around to where mccain started out -- condemning russia. and O's comment about goint to the UN security council is prescious. even a grade school student knows that russia has veto power in the security council.

susan rice does not impress me. there is a direct correlation between her decibel level and the weakness of her position. the angrier she gets, the more wrong she is.

[whitegoldwielder]

"susan rice does not impress me. there is a direct correlation between her decibel level and the weakness of her position. the angrier she gets, the more wrong she is."

It's a democratic technique. Shout down your opposition. Deny others freedom of speech. Attack right wing speakers [sometimes physically] to try to intimidate them.

Come to think of it, sounds alot like russia's Putin.

[harriscrl3]

I'm waiting for the media to call McCain on the fact that he is being arrogant and Presumptious you know like what they were accusing Obama of when he was meeting with world leaders.

You what McCain prove to me these last few days two people can be on the same side yet be VASTLY DIFFERENT in their statement.

Tone is important for a leader how you speak to people is a big part of your ability to govern. McCain spoke like a BULLY with a BIG MOUTH. You dont have to speak like a THUG to convince people that you mean business. McCain basically said hey Russia you better fly right or the entire force of America will come down on you we are ALL Georgians. Woo hoo like America is scary right now we are fighting two wars our military is stretched. Obama on the other hand condemn Russia emphasized diplomacy and let Russia Knows that its violating international laws invading a Soverign state. He wisely kept America out of it as much as possible because he knows considering we have done the same thing as Russia if we had been unilaterally threatening Russia we would look like the hyocrites that we are. Obama has confidence strength and humility emphasizing multilateraism. McCain exhibited arrogance and bullying unilateral behavior without the means to back it up.

Carol

[AzRealProgressive]

Oh yes. Manners must apply when dealing with a cold war era KGB officer who believes in Russian domination. Perhaps JM should attend an anger management class ? Or attend some sensitivity training?

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

I think McBush's comments really have ticked off a great deal of the electorate. This moment reminds me of Hill's Bosnia lie. McBush left to his own devices shows that he is the arrogant and presumptions candidate in this election.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

Russia = Good
USA/Georgia = Bad

[11907281]

Simple slogans for simple people.

[AzRealProgressive]

Actually in this case you could substitute stupid, moronic, idiotic ,or any combination to replace the word simple.

[Patrick McCabe]

Putin the Russian Czar knows how to take advantage of a weakened player in World Affairs. He was waiting in the weeds for Georgia to pounce on South Ossetia. Putin has had Georgia on "his"mind.

After the 2008 Olympics started on the World's Center Stage --- the drama of another conflict with innocents being killed was contrasted against the harmony of Nations competing through games --not fatal conflict.

In a time where America is suffering from military fatigue after 8 years in Afganistan and Iraq --Putin played his gambit knowing our hands are tied. He knows diplomacy will be our strongest hand. Any bellicose rhetoric will only worsen a situation where there already has been enough human deaths and collateral damage.

Only strong diplomacy will work to any advantage. We must regroup and change the plans of Russia. Georgia needs to join NATO and our European allies must comply with diplomacy by numbers.

[AzRealProgressive]

Strong diplomacy will do well. In fact it will appear to be brilliant right up to the point where the Russians do what they were going to do anyway.

[MeanGreenMachine]

Even if we were not in the middle east, we would NEVER directly challenge Russia.

It would be global suicide.

[goofy2]

McCain is simply posturing - and recklessly so. There should be one voice in an international crisis, and that is the President. If a Democrat charged out in front of the President like that, Condi Rice would publicly call him out of line.

[knixphan]

indeed. indeed.

[Ramirez]

"The United States of America stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia. We insist that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected. "

-- President George Bush, Aug 13, 2008

read his entire remarks here:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/08/021236.php

[jrterrier]

really you should let obama know because his latest statement essentially mimics what mccain said. so i guess obama just takes a couple of days longer to posture "and recklessly so." maybe it's because he's in hawaii. if he'd not been on vacation, he could have postured and recklessly so as quickly as mccain did, right?

[AzRealProgressive]

Maybe you missed it but a Democrat did exactly that. O gave three different what we should do opinions. Condi said nothing.

[Desdemondo]

What could Mc Same-Bush have tolf President Mikheil Saakashvili to have prompted the response " it is time to turn actions into deeds"?

Is this an inkling of Mc Same-Bush foreign policy.

[BethinIllinois]

Susan Rice sounded like an idiot with this remark. He "may or may not have complicated the situation?" Obama's first remark was ridiculous and showed his complete lack of his grasp of the situation. Interestingly, later remarks kind of echoed McCain's now, didn't they? Face it, Obama was on vacation and his response showed he was far from ready to handle this. (Quite frankly, he WAS on vacation and he is NOT the president, nor is McCain. So I would actually cut him (Obama, that is) some slack here because it's not his job to play mediator. But his lack of preparedness showed.

And I think people see some of the "after" statements for the spin that they are. I especially like Kaine's giving Obama the credit for the cease-fire, which apparently is not a cease-fire after all.

Rice is wrong.

[justwaitandsee]

Rice, Condi that is has accomplished nothing but frequent flyer mileage.

[jrterrier]

you've got that right. may or may not have complicated the situation. great either or statement. it may or may be raining. edwards may or may not be a putz. she may or may not know what she's talking about.

[Redrover666]

It's hard to be surprised at the comments here.
A friend and ally is being being aggressively attacked, for five days now. A democratically elected government is being crushed. This ally is begging for help and all you can say is that you are upset that McCain might speak out harshly against it. You sound like the folks who close their windows when they hear someone screaming outside.

[MeanGreenMachine]

Russia is our ally TOO!

[Redrover666]

Like I said... close the window, it's less scary than doing or saying the right thing.

[Mikecoatl]

You DO know that Georgia attacked first, right? And during the Olympics, no less.

[nibblybits]

Your facts are dead wrong.

Why don't you people read newspapers? There is a whole history of aggression there. Russia baited Georgia to "attack" as a pretext to invade the country. They've been arming and aiding the separatists for months, if not years, launching skirmishes to draw the Georgians in. Russia has been gathering troops, arms, tanks, and bombers on the border for months. Russia launched a cyber-attack a couple months ago to debilitate Georgia in preparation.

Do you think this is Condi's first trip in recent months to Georgia? She's been dealing with the situation for months, though obviously not well.

[Redrover666]

Georgia did nothing our own government would not do if a part of this country decided to "break-away". In fact, just such a thing happened once.

[SEQUOIABISON]

When two people are in the midst of a fight you try to stop them both the way France did, and try to find out the facts behind the violence.

You do not automatically support one side and condemn the other before thoroughly investigating the facts or this will lead to certain escalation of the conflict, which is what McCain and his Cold War neocon warriors did.

The man is unfit to bring about world peace, he is too ingrained with the old enemies list and surrounds himself with antiquated Kissinger type advisers who rather shoot first and to hell with diplomacy if we have the might.

Obama/Clark

[Redrover666]

That did Czechoslovakia a lot of good.

[tigs]

i am personally very sympathetic to georgia as im sure most people are, but given the nature of putin you measure your response if you want a resolution, shutting off dialogue by saying you dont trust putin is like red rag to a bull, talk is cheap , mc cain cant do anything ,bush is in the hot seat, what will he do? start the cold war again,! it dosnt really matter who trusts who, it dosnt help georgia .

[Redrover666]

If someone is kicking your friends ass, the least you can do is express a little indignation. Otherwise, I mostly agree with you.

[jrterrier]

are you kidding? bush already tried looking into putin's eyes and seeing good. that tactic didn't work.

this is an ominous move by russia. particularly because they get to control the oil pipeline running through georgia. so now we'll be beholden to russia and the middle eastern emirates. we are in trouble.

[chosenson]

He was too busy playing "Mr. President" to care.

And the sad thing is -- he did NOT look PRESIDENTIAL doing his little saber rattling gig. With his ripped-off speech from Wikipedia so he wouldn't mix up Georgia the State with Georgia the Country.