QuoteAKHMAJI, Georgia (AP) — At a military checkpoint between Georgia and its breakaway region of South Ossetia, the word "Russia" is hand-painted in pink on a concrete security barrier.
"It will be Russia," said a Russian army lieutenant as the Ossetian soldiers under his command nodded.
"And Georgia used to be Russian, too," said the young freckle-faced lieutenant, who would give only his first name, Sergei. Three armored personnel carriers and a tank were dug in around the checkpoint.
Russia has troops just 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the Georgian capital, in violation of the European Union-brokered cease-fire that ended last year's brief war. And in recent weeks, it has put even more soldiers and armored vehicles within striking distance of the city ahead of street protests against Georgia's president.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jfCx1N9TFck0QbhRQt7fnFP_Da1gD97N2Q6O2
Why wouldn't they? The EU can't sanction them, and Obama doesn't have the courage to say no to them.
After all the furor over the first little escapade, the Western Consensus was that mewling "Oh, we CAN'T possibly do ANYTHING!" so why wouldn't Russia finish the job?
Quote from: Berkut on April 24, 2009, 08:13:36 AM
After all the furor over the first little escapade, the Western Consensus was that mewling "Oh, we CAN'T possibly do ANYTHING!" so why wouldn't Russia finish the job?
I can think of several reasons.
QuoteAnd in recent weeks, it has put even more soldiers and armored vehicles within striking distance of the city ahead of street protests against Georgia's president.
This might be fun. A few Russian plants foment violence, Georgia cracks down on protesters to restore peace, and Russian forces roll in to liberate. :ph34r:
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on April 24, 2009, 08:45:52 AM
QuoteAnd in recent weeks, it has put even more soldiers and armored vehicles within striking distance of the city ahead of street protests against Georgia's president.
This might be fun. A few Russian plants foment violence, Georgia cracks down on protesters to restore peace, and Russian forces roll in to liberate. :ph34r:
It is all georgias fault. Russia is just there to protect her own citizens!
There is clear precedent for this, btw.
See: Austria, 1936. Poland, 1939.
Sometimes you just don't have any choice but to invade and conquer neighboring sovereign nations.
You forgot Grenada!
Quote from: Neil on April 23, 2009, 07:45:53 PM
Why wouldn't they? The EU can't sanction them, and Obama doesn't have the courage to say no to them.
Yep. Putvedev has to know that the time is pretty ripe to go ahead & do what they want in the region. The US is pretty much guaranteed not to even make any symbolic efforts to oppose it.
Would we need a new reset if something happens?
Quote from: Berkut on April 24, 2009, 11:35:47 AM
Would we need a new reset if something happens?
Yeah, that's what the button is for. Any time anything bad happens, push the button & we're back to good relations. No harm, no foul.
Quote from: Berkut on April 24, 2009, 11:35:47 AM
Would we need a new reset if something happens?
Perhaps the reset button, resets things to right before the last Georgia crisis. :(
Quote from: derspiess on April 24, 2009, 11:39:34 AM
Quote from: Berkut on April 24, 2009, 11:35:47 AM
Would we need a new reset if something happens?
Yeah, that's what the button is for. Any time anything bad happens, push the button & we're back to good relations. No harm, no foul.
I just hope he doesn't hit the escalate button by mistake. I think it looks a lot like the reset button.
IN hindsight, labeling all the buttons in Russian might have been a mistake.
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 11:41:18 AM
Perhaps the reset button, resets things to right before the last Georgia crisis. :(
Groundhog Day 2 : Foreign Policy Adventures?
Quote from: Habbaku on April 24, 2009, 11:53:16 AM
Groundhog Day 2 : Foreign Policy Adventures?
Perhaps in one the iterations, Pelosi will become President! :w00t: :swiss:
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 11:57:20 AM
Perhaps in one the iterations, Pelosi will become President! :w00t: :swiss:
What could possibly go wrong?
Quote from: grumbler on April 24, 2009, 12:03:05 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 11:57:20 AM
Perhaps in one the iterations, Pelosi will become President! :w00t: :swiss:
What could possibly go wrong?
Grumbler go post whether you are going to toss a card for the reset....errrh, peace roll.
Well, I guess the Reset Button gambit worked after all, at least to the Russians who may have taken it a bit wrongly! Russians just apparently reset things to the way they were before.
Quote from: grumbler on April 24, 2009, 12:03:05 PM
What could possibly go wrong?
I didn't want my suggestion to be too obvious or else I would have suggested Hil as Pres as 4th in line.
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 12:20:08 PM
Quote from: grumbler on April 24, 2009, 12:03:05 PM
What could possibly go wrong?
I didn't want my suggestion to be too obvious or else I would have suggested Hil as Pres as 4th in line.
Given Hillary's disastrous handling of the Russian situation, I would say she's been disqualified.
Quote from: Neil on April 24, 2009, 12:41:38 PM
Given Hillary's disastrous handling of the Russian situation, I would say she's been disqualified.
I think you've missed my point.
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 12:56:44 PM
Quote from: Neil on April 24, 2009, 12:41:38 PM
Given Hillary's disastrous handling of the Russian situation, I would say she's been disqualified.
I think you've missed my point.
Not really; just that his is better. She can't phone the Slavic Department at Georgetown or Harvard for a proper translation. That's she's unqualified even for her current position, let alone that of President.
Quote from: Queequeg on April 24, 2009, 01:01:21 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 12:56:44 PM
Quote from: Neil on April 24, 2009, 12:41:38 PM
Given Hillary's disastrous handling of the Russian situation, I would say she's been disqualified.
I think you've missed my point.
Not really; just that his is better. She can't phone the Slavic Department at Georgetown or Harvard for a proper translation. That's she's unqualified even for her current position, let alone that of President.
Actually, I would say that she is MORE qualified to be President than SecState.
Quote from: Queequeg on April 24, 2009, 01:01:21 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 12:56:44 PM
Quote from: Neil on April 24, 2009, 12:41:38 PM
Given Hillary's disastrous handling of the Russian situation, I would say she's been disqualified.
I think you've missed my point.
Not really; just that his is better. She can't phone the Slavic Department at Georgetown or Harvard for a proper translation. That's she's unqualified even for her current position, let alone that of President.
It's a little funny to hear an Obamaniac talk about lack of qualification for the presidency.
Quote from: Queequeg on April 24, 2009, 01:01:21 PM
Not really; just that his is better. She can't phone the Slavic Department at Georgetown or Harvard for a proper translation. That's she's unqualified even for her current position, let alone that of President.
Okay, I'll make it clear and won't be vague.
I was suggesting, although not really as we don't talk about deaths of political figures, that in one of these groundhog day like cycles, perhaps we'd have a scenario where both the POTUS and VP end up dying. The Obama presidency would thus be over.
Quote from: Berkut on April 24, 2009, 08:13:36 AM
After all the furor over the first little escapade, the Western Consensus was that mewling "Oh, we CAN'T possibly do ANYTHING!" so why wouldn't Russia finish the job?
More like 'why should we do anything?'
Interesting stuff in Russia at the minute.
Quote from: Berkut on April 24, 2009, 01:02:26 PM
Actually, I would say that she is MORE qualified to be President than SecState.
I agree. The only reason I can think of for having her as SecState is a political one for Obama to get rid of a threat in the Senate. It's why I don't think it's a terribly good pick.
Though, so far, I think she's actually been hugely impressive.
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 24, 2009, 03:55:40 PM
I agree. The only reason I can think of for having her as SecState is a political one for Obama to get rid of a threat in the Senate. It's why I don't think it's a terribly good pick.
Though, so far, I think she's actually been hugely impressive.
Honestly, let's not really start up the experience bit again. After all, we can't say that Obam has actually been hugely impressive. :(
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 04:08:40 PM
Honestly, let's not really start up the experience bit again. After all, we can't say that Obam has actually been hugely impressive. :(
I disagree. Given the situation I think he has been very impressive. I genuinely can't think of a world leader who seems to be handling the crisis as well :mellow:
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 24, 2009, 04:20:11 PM
I disagree. Given the situation I think he has been very impressive.
:lmfao:
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 04:25:44 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 24, 2009, 04:20:11 PM
I disagree. Given the situation I think he has been very impressive.
:lmfao:
When you lower expectations enough (or eliminate them altogether), anything is impressive.
Quote from: derspiess on April 24, 2009, 04:31:33 PM
When you lower expectations enough (or eliminate them altogether), anything is impressive.
I think I've posted my concerns. But yeah I think your stands and expectations change when you're in the middle of a crisis. I was impressed with Paulson and Bush, I think Bernanke's doing a good job and, given the situation, I think Obama is. On the other hand I think Jean-Claude Trichet (ECB?) hasn't, that Brown, generally hasn't (though Mandelson and King have), that Merkel hasn't.
Sarko knows no boundaries of quality, but he's played his part very well.
Edit: Thinking it through the only world leader who I think has dealt with the situation better is Hu Jintao and he doesn't have to deal with the mess that is democracy.
Quote from: derspiess on April 24, 2009, 04:31:33 PM
When you lower expectations enough (or eliminate them altogether), anything is impressive.
True. I suppose if my expectation was simply that our nation and the world won't cease to exist under his presidency, things are looking okay. :cool:
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 05:18:18 PM
Quote from: derspiess on April 24, 2009, 04:31:33 PM
When you lower expectations enough (or eliminate them altogether), anything is impressive.
True. I suppose if my expectation was simply that our nation and the world won't cease to exist under his presidency, things are looking okay. :cool:
Congratulations, you are now Alan Keys.
Quote from: Queequeg on April 24, 2009, 05:32:42 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 05:18:18 PM
Quote from: derspiess on April 24, 2009, 04:31:33 PM
When you lower expectations enough (or eliminate them altogether), anything is impressive.
True. I suppose if my expectation was simply that our nation and the world won't cease to exist under his presidency, things are looking okay. :cool:
Congratulations, you are now Alan Keys.
You're a racist.
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 24, 2009, 04:20:11 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 04:08:40 PM
Honestly, let's not really start up the experience bit again. After all, we can't say that Obam has actually been hugely impressive. :(
I disagree. Given the situation I think he has been very impressive. I genuinely can't think of a world leader who seems to be handling the crisis as well :mellow:
Steven Harper.
Quote from: Neil on April 24, 2009, 05:55:13 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 24, 2009, 04:20:11 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 24, 2009, 04:08:40 PM
Honestly, let's not really start up the experience bit again. After all, we can't say that Obam has actually been hugely impressive. :(
I disagree. Given the situation I think he has been very impressive. I genuinely can't think of a world leader who seems to be handling the crisis as well :mellow:
Steven Harper.
Canada's banks haven't been collapsing, have they?
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 24, 2009, 05:56:36 PM
Quote from: Neil on April 24, 2009, 05:55:13 PM
Steven Harper.
Canada's banks haven't been collapsing, have they?
Thanks to Harper's top-flight leadership, we've managed to avoid a banking collapse.
You would kill for a prime minister of Harper's quality, as opposed to poor, dismal Gordon Brown.
Quote from: Berkut on April 24, 2009, 08:52:26 AM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on April 24, 2009, 08:45:52 AM
QuoteAnd in recent weeks, it has put even more soldiers and armored vehicles within striking distance of the city ahead of street protests against Georgia's president.
This might be fun. A few Russian plants foment violence, Georgia cracks down on protesters to restore peace, and Russian forces roll in to liberate. :ph34r:
It is all georgias fault. Russia is just there to protect her own citizens!
There is clear precedent for this, btw.
See: Austria, 1936. Poland, 1939.
Sometimes you just don't have any choice but to invade and conquer neighboring sovereign nations.
What happened in Austria in 1936?