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

[Rjmartinelli]

I think a lot of people fail to remember that as old as McCain is, he grew up during the period where the Communist parinoia and propaganda tactics of Sen Joseph McCarthy were at their height.

It doesn't surprise me that he's still very adversarial towards Russia.

I do, however, think that in today's world and this current situation that is a VERY DANGEROUS THING.
The last thing the world needs is for him to restart the Cold War or escalate it higher.

[Pupadup4oBama]

So he's adversarial towards Russia because of the time he grew up, he's adversarial towards Vietnamese because of what they did to him during the war, he's adversarial towards Iranians - apparently they should all die by lung cancer.
So if he's so against everyone, who's he WITH?
oh, that's right - the OIL companies. That's who HE loves.

He's a scary man

[jupitor]

Do any of you jokers really realize that if Mccain does become president that Russia will be gunning for The United States now! Mccains big mouth and interference in this bussiness has now caused Russia to have it out for us. Obama calm, Diplomatic way , is the only thing we have to build on in the future. Mccain would have had us in Georgia with our guns blazeing, and damned the concequence's of his action on the rest of us here at home! Him and his lobbyist just want to protect their vested interest in Georgia, and I'm sure all those contracts they helped secure there! Lord help us if Mccain is the next President.

[wdw101]

so let us appease Russia and the whole world while we are at it

[ms.understood]

It's not about appeasement. Instead, it's about calming things down and creating an atmosphere of peace, or at least one without fighting. We have enough on our hands with the Iraq and Afghanistan situation, and we need to concentrate of that before starting something new or interferring in the affairs of others. It's people like you that creates enemies, and like it or not, the U.S. and no other country can survive on it's own. This is not a fight on a 5th grade playground. People's lives are at stake. And if you want to be a hero, pack up a gun and go over there yourself and see how long you last.

[soapington]

Ah, that word again. And misused again. Are you misusing it willfully, or through sheer ignorance?

[MeanGreenMachine]

Or lets go to war with them and annihilate ALL LIFE ON EARTH!!!!

[Americano]

I agree 100% with your comment. Georgia is in Russia's sphere of influence! We should mind our business and not takes sides. Our leadership dislikes the fact thar Russia is re-emerging. With this Bush Cheney Cowboy presidency, Venezuela is rattling sabers and flexiing their muscles, Iran doesn't flinch! And I am sure Cuba will want's to get into the action....­..........­..Importan­t! I think a McCain presidency will make Dubya look like Solomon. Now try and chew on that!!!!!!!!

[AnnieinOR]

Macncheese the "presumptuous" wannabe

[ThinkLiberal]

Man...I tell you, that Susan Rice is one smart cookie (and extremely beautiful to boot!). She gave 110% effort to the Kerry campaign in '04 too, as she is now doing for Obama. I hope she gets a visible cabinet position because I could live with seeing and hearing from her on a daily basis.

[dillydawg]

"I hope she gets a visible cabinet position because I could live with seeing and hearing from her on a daily basis".
Your words and mine to God's ears.

[DrToketee]

McCain stated that he personally called the Georgian leader, a leader whose name McCain cannot yet pronounce correctly, about the situation.

O.K., you low-info voters, think about it. Here's a mere candidate for the Presidency butting his way into the current administration's state department negotiations with a foreign country that is at war. Now who in hell is the PRESUMPTIOUS and ARROGANT candidate now?

[Cassie129]

And Obama has been talking to him daily, too, correct?

I bet he can pronounce his name!

ITA about PRESUMPTUOUS.

I hate W and I count the days until he's gone, but McBush is NOT the CiC. He needs to get over himself.

[Coinyer101]

he is not a man for world peace,ther­efore,he's has no place in leadership.

[soapington]

I am a little sick of hearing about how we must support "our ally," "plucky little Georgia," after its outrageous and unprovoked attacks on South Ossetia.

[highlyamused]

Is this McCain's 'bring em on' moment? gawd save us

[Cassie129]

I do find it interesting that during the week that the MSM flouts the half-truths that Poor Georgia was attacked by Russia, completely unprovoked (RME) and McSame is blustering all over television while Obama jogs on a beach in that feerrrn place, Hawaii, Obama has been inching up in the daily tracking polls, esp. Gallup.

Methinx less of Obama is maybe more? Or more of McBush is well, worse?

[pqn]

We have one president at a time! McCain is just sounding like a grumpy old man again. Presidential contender or not, he's still just a Senator. Unless he has the power to call on a NATO strike or vote for UN sanctions against Russia, then he needs to just sit back down and stop feeding the fire.

[jazzman]

The situation in Georgia appears to be that Georgia attacked to of it's provinces much like Saddam attacked Kuwait. Russia responded quickly and punished Georgia severly just as we punished Saddam.

Was Russia justified? Maybe. Maybe not. However, such a situation demands a response not a knee jerk public reacton. McCain has a hot temper. He shoots from the hip. He's a no nothing reactonary warrior. Great for a pilot. Bad for a President. When is the public going to get it through their thick skulls that this man does not have the temperament or judgment to be the President of the U.S.?

[ThankGodforAtheists]

Sounds like the maverick is just another cowboy.

[ThankGodforAtheists]

Sounds like the maverick is another cowboy.

[rosal]

Now the the president of Georgia is basically telling him to put up, or shot up, what is he going to do? May this be a lesson not to take the macho posturing too quickly. Can he spell diplomacy?

[afgail]

It is not surprising that the Russians chose to move militarily now at the end of the Bush reign and at the nadir of American power. For McCain to threaten millitary retaliation is at best stupid and at worst inexcusable.