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

[LaColombe]

McCain=McVain

[PaulLee]

The two most articulate, well informed and itelligent individuals to have made their presence felt in this election cycle; Susan Rice and Rachael Maddow. Remember you heard it here first; 2016 Susan Rice will be running for president after 8 years as Secretary of State under a very successful Obama administration.

[jrterrier]

you are correct on one thing. they both tend to get angry when they are challenged. susan rice just gets more angry and nasty more quickly. maddow has a greater depth of knowlege but is blinded by her own politics.

[AzRealProgressive]

That is a very generous description.

[strength]

im glad that mccain doesnt speak for me, im not a georgian...im an American.

[SheriChardonnay]

and yall should have heard him on cnn...who is being uppity now...who does mcbush think he is!

[candyc]

I hope the voters are paying attention. This guy is NUTS. War is his answer to everything. It's chilling that he is so bellicose and that he expects the beleaguered tax payers of the USA to keep paying the price for his dreams of dominance with our money and our troops. See? He has no fear or shame.

We had better make sure this old war goat is badly beaten in November

[MeanGreenMachine]

He'll turn his garden hose on those noisy kids!

[Pupadup4oBama]

and put knives in their halloween candy

[eden4barack08]

McGeorgia will make Cheney sound like Ghandi when it comes to wars.

[Redrover666]

OK? McBush, Booosh , McEvil etc, etc.
I'm just not clear on who McGeorgia is.
Is this something like a McFish Sandwich, or is it a McFry?
These endless examples of liberal intellectual superiority give me a headache. Help me out on this one.

[soapington]

If this is an attempt at wit, you are clearly beyond help.

[chinationreport]

I agree. This sounds like what I said in one of my earlier posts that McCain's tough talk slaps Putin on the face (which he does not like at all) and also sends a signal to Georgia as if USA would do something to defend Georgia. Reality is: Cheap talk is cheap and dangerous!! USA is in no position to play hardball, especially not alone.

This is exactly why this situation defines Obama's wisdom (despite the fact he is on vacation) in which he calls for international community, especially EU (Nato) to deploy diplomacy to solve the crisis together. US can not realistically do anything alone to solve this crisis. What was McCain thinking?

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

[rose london]

chinationreport- I totally agree with you. Mcsame is making matter worse. His using this terribly event in Georgia as a political campaing boost. And the sad thing is Georgian President, European Leaders can see these. It makes America look more weak. MNcsame must know that Tough Talk and bashing Russia without Miliitary means/reserve to back it up can only make us look weak. What if Russia decide to take Mcsame on on his threat?. Mcsame is borderline demetia, illeterate, hateful and very unstable individual. God help us if he wins the Presidency. The Fact is Mcsame is not a thoughtful person and not fit for the job his applying for. DEFINATELY NOT.He caanot even rem a word he said seconds ago. I can't believe no one in his party is bold enough to tell him, that his upsetting the EU and Nato by his BS.

[Patrick McCabe]

Barack Obama initially noted the transgressions of Georgia's indiscretion crossing the border of South Ossetia which was countered by Russia's military might.

It has been noted that McCain's rhetoric did not account for Georgia's incursion. Instead of some balance of diplomacy to calm the conflict -- harsh rhetoric was used by McCain toward Russia's military tactics.

It was noted that Putin made reference to America's excuse to invade Iraq as folly. Putin's gambit into Georgia has a myriad of reasons, but most importantly he knows the United States has its military mired in a desert called Iraq. Russia already knows the stress of Afghanistan. They were there too.

Russia knows we need them for our conflict with the Iranians. They know our hand and they are playing theirs.

McCain's bellicose rhetoric is nothing but bells and whistles to Putin. Diplomacy is the only policy since the failed policies of the last 8 years has brought Russia's venturesome ways into fruition.

It was just a matter of time. Russia and Georgia picked the 2008 Summer Olympics to go kill and destroy. The Olympics was just a distraction for the rest of the world while tanks and planes killed innocents for absolutely nothing.

[donttasemebro]

I don't understand this willingness of neocons to go to war, even apparently with a country that could wipe the US off the face of the Earth several times over. Have they forgotten the principles of MAD? A war with Russia must stay a cold one, otherwise it's game over for everyone, neocons included.

[eden4barack08]

And where do they think they're gonna get more troops?

[Pupadup4oBama]

well, I'd really wish they'd pull them out of their asses, that way we can send the REAL soldiers home.

[DaveC19]

Well the boy scouts and cub scouts haven't been sent in yet!

[Freakpower]

WAR=MONEY

[Redrover666]

Historically, democrats have started most of the last century's wars and far left governments are responsible for more humans exterminated in a hundred years than in all previous human history.

[Mikecoatl]

I don't know - I wouldn't call Nazi Germany far left, though they may be left wing from your point of view...

[tigs]

dems have started more wars ? name them redrover666, the last one was real repub mess and totally unnessesary, responding to wars like the first and second world wars was hardly starting it, truman a democrat dropped the bomb on japan to stop the war,with horrible consequences, jfk was in power when vietnam war started nixon finished it, gulf war ,repubs, iraq repubs, what does it signify who was responsible, both are answerable, this is now, mc cain is for war ,obama is not, obama would use diplomacy, and im quite sure it that failed he would be in front to defend america putting his money where is mouth is ,unlike mcain,who put his money in his pocket and his foot in his mouth

[MeanGreenMachine]

Typical Bully.

Always talking tough until they realize they picked a fight they can't win.

They never do anything, just keep talking tough as they back away.

Which reveals them for what they truly are. Cowards.

[Redrover666]

It would seem the cowards are those frightened and upset that he said something harsh.

[ms.understood]

Personally, I'm sick of all this cowboy rhetoric and John Wayne manner of diplomacy. It has gotten us in a world of trouble and if we don't get someone in the WH with some common sense and dignity instead of bravado and ego, it's going to take us years and even decades to regain our place in the world. While I know that we have always had enemies, and everyone isn't going to like us, we still have to be in a position to where we can create more political allies than military enemies, and at least if it isn't done for our sakes, let it be done for the sake of our future generations.
Please people, don't vote for McCain!!! He has already proven that he will be ten times worse than Bush. I know that this is insane, but I would rather have four more years of Bush than one day of McCain, and it's no secret that I loathe everything Bush stands for.

[theone718]

She is one of the top surrogates Obama has, she could have a very high slot in an Obama administration.

[Freakpower]

Remember why Rove was not able to testify before Congress in July?

Karl Rove Reportedly 'Traveling in the Crimea'

Hummmm, that's sure a little coincidence, isn't it?

[tedbear]

All I could think of while listening to McCain's take on the Russia/Georgia thing was: McCain would have us at war with Russia in less than a minute if he were President. No doubt about it. He is a nut case and I am amazed he is doing so well in the polls. Just goes to show how many Americans are ignorant of reality.

[tigs]

mc cain is not doing well in polls ,thats repub lies, reliable polls show obama is in front thank goodness.

[DaveC19]

He is in front, yes. 2 - 5 points is not a very comfortable "lead". That will evoporate quick when the right-wing really gets going with their smear tactics.

[edwarvir]

I don't care who started this mess we have to pray for them. It is so sad
to see what is going on over there. As for John McCain the president of Georgia
has learned a valuable lesson DON'T TRUST ANYTHING JOHNNY SAIDS. HE CAN'T
REMEMBER WHAT HE SAIDS FROM ONE MINTUTE TO THE NEXT. TRUST ME!

[cattletracks]

McCain's top foreign policy adviser is the former lobbyist to the country of Georgia. He recently signed a $200,000 contract to continue providing strategic advice to the Georgian government. Is this guy loyal to his foreign client (Georgia), or is he loyal to McCain? It's dangerous if you're getting advice from people who are very close to countries on one side or another of a conflict.

Pretty scary when senators take on a presidential role, speaking for our country, making phones calls of support to foreign governments involved in a war without any oversight.

I'd be wary McCain is going to be "trigger happy" if he worms his way into office in November.

[Aesthete]

As far as I'm concerned the only one who is in a position to do anything about the Georgia situation is G.W. Bush, who happens to be the current sitting president. McCain should butt out.

[bpowell1]

I agree with you on that one. McCain does not understand you can show strength without force. I was not an Obama supporter in the beginning, but, one of the things that really impressed me about him is the way he handles things. I started really getting impressed with him during that whole Rev Wright fiascole. I thought the way he handled himself was calm, cool, collective, and thinking. There is nothing greater than a strategic planning man. He shows his strength in the way he handles things.

[RustyGranite]

Hear hear.