Georgia-Russia Conflict: Moscow Challenges America's Global and Regional Authority

Not the Taliban in Afghanistan, insurgents in Iraq or even Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestine; but Russia is challenging America's authority worldwide, mocking its supposed leadership in international organizations like the United Nations and revealing an unpleasant double standard image of the United States.

In a Security Council meeting on August 10th, Zelmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, questioned Russia's objectives in expanding aggression beyond the South Ossetia region. He referred to a confidential call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in which Lavrov had said that the elected president of Georgia "must go." "It's completely unacceptable and crossed the line," Khalilzad said. "Was Russia's objective [a] regime change in Georgia, the overthrow of the democratically elected Government of that country?"

Russia's Ambassador Churkin's response was short, clear and brutally naked: "'Regime change' was an American expression that Russia did not use."

When Khalilzad repeated his question, Churkin mocked him, saying "I have given a complete response and perhaps the United States' representative had not been listening when he had given his response, perhaps he had not had his earpiece on."

Two days after that, the U.N. Inner Press Service said that "Russian media reported that foreign fighters, including Americans, were found among the dead in Tskhinvali. Americans, who were probably either mercenaries or instructors in the Georgian armed forces."
Khalilzad responded to the Russian media reports with

"We hear a lot of propaganda. We've heard the U.S. gave the green light to this operation... I have nothing specific with regards to these reports, but I would not conclude that they are true. We did not have any prior knowledge or were not consulted by Georgia."

In the meantime, reports confirmed arms sales by Israel, America's closest ally in the region, to Georgia:

With the eruption of fighting between Russia and Georgia, Israel has found itself in an awkward position as a result of its arms sales to Georgia, caught between its friendly relations with Georgia and its fear that the continued sale of weaponry will spark Russian retribution in the form of increased arms sales to Iran and Syria.

(IPS News Agency)

Russia is a major provider of nuclear and missile technology to Iran and Syria. Just a few month ago Russia vetoed a U.S. backed resolution against Zimbabwe, regarding its latest presidential elections.

Yet the United States accused Russia of something that it does on a regular basis. "Regime change" is a very well-known part of the U.S. foreign policy; people in Washington pursue it in different ways, from Latin America, to Iraq and Afghanistan, and --- if they could -- Iran. Some regime changes are successful; some are not and have disastrous consequences. Seymour Hersh's recent article on the United States' support of armed groups fighting against the Iranian government is the latest example of this kind of foreign policy.

Russians politics, on the other hand, has a tough, rough and pre-internet style.

The fact is that the United States ignores the role of international organizations and pursues a systematic double standard set of policies in areas like human rights and democracy. Therefore, it cannot preach to other powers like Russia and China for committing the same offenses.

The more the United States ignores its own advice, the more it undermines America's global authority, which has been growing since the end of World War II.

During the last 8 years, the moral authority of the U.S. particularly has been undermined by the Bush administration. Continuation of this foreign policy has brought humiliation, failure, mistrust and hatred for America and undermined its efficacy in international organizations.
Consequently, the U.S. alliance with Russia over Iran's nuclear and missile program seems rather fragile. Russia's tone towards the U.S. ambassador is a reflection of a bigger reality that explains why Moscow has never been willing to abide by U.S. demands when it comes to issues like the management of Iran.

Considering all of America's difficulties in the Middle East region , Washington's alienation of Moscow will heighten tensions between the two countries in the Middle East and Central Asia.

France's role in this short conflict also illustrates the emergence of E.U. as an organization enjoying a higher level of moral authority among a larger number of countries. The U.S. is arguably no longer the most effective nation when it comes to interfering, influencing and finally resolving conflicts among nations. This is just one of the lessons the U.S. could learn from the Georgia-Russia conflict. That is, of course, if the "earpieces" are on.

(Video Below: Georgian President Mikheil Saakasvhili tells CNN's John Roberts that how the United States is losing the Central Asia, and what they expect the world and the U.S. to do...)

Comments

[cafemocha]

This result is the outcome of the Bush/Cheney gang for ignoring our fizzling relations with Russia.
Yet another reason to vote against McBush who promises nothing but the same.

[DFutureIsNow]

Thank you McNeocons. The US has become the laughing stock of the world and no longer has any influence whatsoever. Our children will inherit a more dangerous world because of your idiotic decisions like preemptively invading a sovereign country.

[HallStyle]

Two days after that, the U.N. Inner Press Service said that "Russian media reported that foreign fighters, including Americans, were found among the dead in Tskhinvali. Americans, who were probably either mercenaries or instructors in the Georgian armed forces."

I HOPE EVERYBODY DIDN'T MISS THIS PART OF THE STORY! This basically what we have been doing around the world for years. I hate our foreign policy.

[DFutureIsNow]

The Bush administration will never admit to this, specially during an election year. Expect those bodies to probably re-appear somewhere in Baghdad and Alqaeda or Al Sadr to be blamed. McBush is a creepy individual, all we get from our government are LIES and more LIES.

[simplyirresistible]

Thank you for quoting a legitimate news source. The US media have been lying to Americans about what's happening there. Go here for a list of alternative media outlets. This is too serious for us to be misinformed. The Pentagon had US forces in Georgia (training purposes) prior to Georgia's provocative moves.

http://healinganation.wordpress.com/

[tomhuggan]

Sounds like Georgia needs about 20 warthogs, based out of Turkey. Let those Tanks burn like they did on the way back to Iraq from Kuwait.

[arvay]

I don't think you understand the situation. Russia has an air force and missile forces quite capable of vaporizing 20 warthogs.

And our next move would be?

[elmysterio]

You seriously want to start a war with Russia? That's a really bad idea, unless of course you like the idea of nuclear holocaust.

[Harod]

At this point if the Russians are backing out im willing to shake hands and say no hard feelings, thank you for not getting drunk, going nuts and frying the world..

[edelmira]

President Bush is handling this crisis magnificently. After a photo op with Gates and Condi at the White House he is heading off to Crawford, to cut brush, on vacation! He will let McCain and R. Schuenemann handle it...after all, they got paid for it!.

[andhakari]

I have no doubt that Georgia behaved stupidly leading up to this mess, and America has NO moral authority any longer, but it's impossible to ignore the simularities between Russia's justifications for invasion and nazi Germany's justifications for invading Chechoslovakia at the onset of WWII.
NATO doesn't have any commitment now to Georgia, but it damn well better make sure it's ready step up if Russia starts playing this game elsewhere.
Otherwise, NATO is toast and it's every country on its own.

[joanndarc]

And what US can do about Georgia? Do you suppose many NATO countries would like to get involved?

[BayAreaResident]

Unlike Georgia Chechoslavakia did not blast the Sudeten Germans with barrage of rockets and bombs creating a perfect legal and moral justification for Germans to invade. So why don't you check the facts first before making such comparison, instead of mindlessly parroting what Mr.Saakashvili is trying to make everyone believe in order to avoid responsibility for his disastrous military adventure in S.Osetia.

[Veri]

You could see this coming for more than a few years. I wonder about Bush 43.

[GPRogueCowboy]

Didn't Georgia INVADE it's neighbor NATION South Ossetia before Russia entered the fray in South Ossetia and they drove the Georgian Troops out of South Ossetia?
What Nation is McCain and his lobbyist for Georgia supporting?? Seems to me George started this mess by invading SOUTH OSSETIA a sovereign nation.

[Veri]

South Ossetia and Abkhazia are territories of Georgia occupied by "Russian Peacekeepers". Much like Transnistria in Moldova in disregard of OSCE resolutions. In addition, Russian ratified The CFE agreement which set limits on conventional forces in Europe. Nevermind that Russia was the only country to ratify the treaty. And the last to break a one-sided treaty.

One must also consider the political leadership of America. Pretty much the same screw-ups have been in charge for the last thirty or so years. With this leadership came the desire to finish Russian off once and for all as a major player in The Great Game. They failed. Miserably. And due to their own incompetence. Ideologues do not make for strategists. The unintended consequences of the misadventures in The Middle East caused oil to skyrocket in value, empowering Russia with new money. Money used to modernize their infrastructure and military.

America needs a complete change in political leadership. We are Old Rome with dreams of empire, not for the common man, but for the few who would govern us as masters. We must root out and banish the corrupt from within our midst.

[MagisterLudi]

You ever heard the concept of self determination?
Lie this is the reason U.S exists at all. Because you decided, unlawfully to split from rightful ruler, the British Empire. And does U.S. exists primarily because of French help you?
Well, Abkhazians appreciate Russian help in defeating their oppressor REGARDLESS OF THE MAP. Think about it.

[MagisterLudi]

occupied by "Russian Peacekeepers".
Russian peacekeeprs are there by invitation from U.N AND Georgians themselves. Perhaps in a hindsight Georgians miscalculated.

[flydoghead]

thank you for your post

[joanndarc]

South Osetia is also occupied by Osetiians and Abkhazia is occupied by Abkhazians.
Would you suppose that they don't have a right to reside on their own land and define their own destiny?

[JPHR]

Ideology versus strategy indeed: Neocon ideology was intent on extending Nato long after the collapse of the USSR and continued even after the financial collapse Russia end 90' up to August 2008. Of course a lot of former Warsaw Pact nations felt insecure, so extension was Nato was easy, but the question is whether that was wise. This continual extension of Nato without any expansive communist ideology was only based on lingering distrust. Instead of having a more neutral zone in between, the USA has been pushing Nato expansion aggresively. The collapse of the communist ideology from within the USSR effectively ended the Warsaw Pact. Reagan outspending the USSR military by a big margin only hastened that process. That success seems to have resulted in the Neocon embracing military might and ever tighter containment of Russia as mainstay of their strategy. One might wonder if Russia never felt insecure? Russia also has interests of it own. It should not have been a surprise that evermore closely surrounding Russia with client states of the USA at some point would force Russia to react. Unbelievably the Bush administration is still claiming the moral high ground. I will not even try to list all the issues with the Bush administration with respect to democracy and (lack of moral) standards. No wonder that the Russian ambassador intentionally with an appropriate rudeness rejected the USA's attempt to apply double standards to its own advantage.
Yes August 2008 may prove to be a turning point.

[Henry]

When Russia sells gas and oil to Europe, are they (Russia) paid in US dollar?
It would be better for them, and Europe to be paid in Euro.

[flydoghead]

the dollar tie to OPEC oil is hanging on by a thread.

The day the switch is made to the Euro is the day the USA becomes a 3rd world country.

The Iran president said, "We give you our oil and you give us worthless paper."

The Saudis are our protectors in this arena, therefore they are untouchable in all affairs.

[elmysterio]

You are indeed correct. It's the dollar peg for oil that's keeping the US economically alive, even though it's on life support. The US has proven many times that it's fully willing to use military force to protect the US dollar reserve currency status. Iraq, in 2000 started selling oil in Euros... shortly there after the campaign of lies against Iraq started.

Iran also wants to start an Oil bourse in Kish, selling oil in Euros... This was supposed to have already happened, but there's been delays. But coincidently, the lies against Iran started shortly after this bourse was announced.

[RJC]

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!

[syllepsis]

They, like every other aspect of our Government, are apparently victims of Bush's execrable Iraq fixation, and quagmires in Afghanistan and Pakistan (whose President is about to be impeached- Bush's friends do not prosper).
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jVtipUYAI4s5su0l3iKTnR_VYi9AD92HTTK80
At least that is the excuse. It would be inconvenient for the Administration to be complicit in some scheme whose stupidity rivals that of its other exploits. But blame should not rest solely with Bush. The Democrats have been his faithful rubber-stampers in Congress, and, in a just world, would be sent home in droves on Election Day.
But don't worry,
the Russians are investigating American links to this debacle, and unlike our own Government, they do not mess around.

[gorideabike]

They were privatized - staffed with for profit contractor employees in blind obediance to the government is the problem dogma of St. Ron the Actor. In fairness, Bill Clinton was a willing participant too. They learned in 2003 to tell the Vice CIC what he wanted to hear. That is what happens when for profit is more important than for country. Internal rot is all we got.

And now we know what that "are you going to name her Georgia?" brain f''rt moment was all about.

[PADDYWHACK]

We don't have too many allies left,this crew followed the Neocon playbook and soon we may have none.The EU may become more influential now which would offer choice in settling some of these disputes,they may also decide to beef up their military power,which would be a problem for some.

[leftLibertarian]

For a change, America should mind its own business.

[gregk991]

My reading of the situation is that Georgia's president, Mikheil Saakasvhili , let his mouth write a check that his behind can't cash. Georgia has been getting into the good graces of the West, particularly the Bush administration, by joining the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" and sending troops into Iraq. Their government has been portrayed as democratically elected and the Bush administration has lobbied for Georgia's inclusion into NATO. I have read that Mikheil Saakasvhili stated in 2004 that Georgia would reassert control over South Occetia if he was elected. Saakasvhili sought to exert this control now before his ally, George W. Bush, leaves office. There's no guarantee that an Obama or McCain administration would be as supportive. However Mikheil Saakasvhili has miscalculated. The U.S. is not in position to offer military support and even the silly neocons are not going to bang the war drums on this one, even though McCain is in war monger mode (hot air though). Diplomacy is all of a sudden very attractive to Bush & Co. Mixing it up with Russia right now has to handled delicately with all a sharp team with a sharp leader. McCain is definitely not up to the task. He knows only one way to solve international problems-he even sings it Bomb, Bomb, Bomb...

[biwee]

The UNAMERICAN NeoCons should be careful. For the US to introduce anything other than humanitarian aid into Georgia would invite the Russians to do the same in Cuba. Then, what will the evil NeoCons do???

[viper234]

According to recent reports Georgia's president claims the US military will be "taking control" of Georgia's seaports and airport. Hearing this, Bush jumped up from his desk and ran as fast as he could to issue a "clarification." He said: No, the US military is not taking control of Georgia's seaports and airports. The US is only on a "humanitarian mission," but yes the US military will be involved in the mission because of the equipment and modes of transportation needed to carry out the mission. He also said that Russia will be "fully informed" regarding all US military activity.

Sounds to me like Georgia's president is telling the truth -- you know, the real story behind the US humanitarian mission: It"s a way to create a US military presence in Georgia. Of course once the Russians know the US military is carrying out humanitarian work, they'll be so frightened that they'll just turn their tanks around and retreat with great speed. In the real world, all this will do is throw gas on a raging fire. The UN is fully equipped to carry out humanitarian missions; they do it all the time. I"m sure a number of countries would"ve worked with the UN in this effort.




q

[lisakaz2]

Or is it wishful thinking? Russia would be able to tell if Booo$h or Saakavhili were telling the truth, no? If the Georgian prez had it right, that'd be seen as inciting conflict. I doubt Booo$hie really wants to take that risk.