It's 10 a.m. on Friday, August 29th, 2008
Dayton, Ohio--Who's it going to be for John McCain? We'd better announce who it isn't. It isn't Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty or former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. They have other plans and won't be in Dayton this morning.
McCain's people have done a great job in confusing the media--and at the same time confusing the three most likely candidates. The faces of Mike Huccabee, Romney, and Pawlenty and Joe Lieberman took on a multi-emotion look this morning. It was a combination of surprise, shock, disappointment, and relief. At the right time, each returned to their home states, leaving the press to speculate on who it would really be.
Some are now saying Meg Whitman, E-Bay CEO, would be the business head he needs to round out his candidacy's resume. Another name is that of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, whose plane has already landed at the small airport in Ohio. That plane landed in Scottsdale, Arizona yesterday--presumably with Palin on it--and she has received the call to be a running mate of McCain. Another Leer 35 that originated from Ankorage and left Arizona went to Ohio. So maybe she's on the plane.
Dayton, Ohio is in the national spotlight this morning--at least for conservative Republicans. It certainly would appear to be a "done deal" for Palin. Who? Yeah. That's what all Americans will ask.
How can she help McCain. She is very popular. She is a die-hard conservative, mother of 5, a hunter, fisher, member of the NRA.
Women are a majority in this country. Republicans believe this is a huge opportunity for Republicans since Obama is only a few points ahead of McCain when he should have had a double-digit lead with that big extravaganza in Denver last night. Palin has said, "Drill Alaska." She is a conservative, pro life. Exactly the alterego McCain needs to bring on those swing states. She has been in state and local government. Two U.S. senators, Biden and Obama, is a tough act to sell when you talk about bringing something new and changing Washington. Biden has been in Washington since he was 27, some 40 years. How does that give Democrats credentials to say they are a "breath of fresh air," something new. They are not!
Palin was born in Idaho, went to the University of Idaho, and has lived the remainder of her life in Alaska. Born in 1962 in Sand Point, Idaho. She's young, 44. She's attractive. She's an excellent speaker, she can give McCain everything he needs to win in November. Today is McCain's birthday and is 72.
She is conservative. McCain has been beaten up a lot by Democrats. She has been governor 1 1/2 year and previous she was mayor of a city. Not a lot of experience, but she was known as a fighter when she played basketball. She played on a state championship basketball team in 1982. She was a sports reporter, she has been named as John McCain's running mate........
The truth come out--Americans love fireworks, but that's not convincing to many people.
Will Sharia Law Replace Our Constitution
Blog Archive
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Obama Waffles Over Energy
Is it a Hoax to Believe in the Laws of Supply and Demand? This is the Question that the Democrats failed to answer in Denver
A reporter recently asked Speaker Pelosi if she supported offshore drilling. She responded: "I will not allow Republicans to have a hoax on the American people that if you drill offshore the price at the pump will come down."
Listen to what our former Speaker of the House, Knute Gingrich says about this:
"Pelosi's comment represents the strange predicament that many anti-energy Democrats have gotten themselves into; they have boxed themselves into denying some very basic economic laws of supply and demand. Led by Pelosi, anti-energy Democrats are saying that increases in supply afforded by opening up new areas to drilling won't affect the price of energy, even as gas prices are dropping in response to very clear indications that the American people are increasingly determined to support more drilling offshore.
"It is well established in economics that long-term increases in supply of a commodity will affect current prices of the commodity. Changing U.S. law to permit expanded drilling offshore and in Alaska would immediately increase long-term oil supplies that the market would have to take into account in its pricing and thus have an impact in lowering oil prices today."
What's Next For Mitt and Hillary?
The above title assumes Mitt Romney, the most talented Republican presidential candidate, is not selected by John McCain as his running mate this weekend.
Romney's name has been running far above all others in the rumor mills and it will be a surprise to many if he is not selected. But my sources tell me McCain is a gambler and will place his bets on a woman candidate to play up to the millions of "disenfranchised" women who were left gawking when Hillary was defeated by Obama.
There is still a lot of angst among many of the 18 million women who voted for Clinton and now don't believe they have anywhere to go but down--to Obama country.
A topflight woman would be just the ticket to lift the McCain candidacy and give him the edge in November. Several names have been mentioned, including Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Condi Rice, and a dark horse candidate, Julie M. Beck of Utah.
No, Mrs. Beck is not a politician, she is however a masterful public speaker and is president of the largest women's organization on the face of the globe. Beck is the general president of the 2.4-million member Relief Society, part of the excellent organization and leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Relief Society General President
2007–Present
 |
Julie B. Beck was serving as the first counselor in the LDS Church's Young Women general presidency at the time she received her call to direct the Relief Society. As a child she learned to speak Portuguese when she lived in Brazil with her parents and 10 brothers and sisters while her father served as mission president. In the Church she has served on the Young Women general board, as ward Young Women and Primary president, as counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, and at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. She is a graduate of Dixie College and Brigham Young University. Sister Beck was a full-time homemaker prior to being called to the Young Women general presidency. She lives in Alpine, Utah, with her husband, Ramon, and they are the parents of three children and eight grandchildren. It's about time we had a full-time homemaker as a vice president. She would be terrific. Plus, she wouldn't have any political baggage or record for Democrats to attack.
"The ticket will nominally be Obama-Biden. But, to millions of American women it will be Obama and not Hillary."
Monday, August 25, 2008
So-Called Fairness Doctrine Is Not Fair
Watchout, Rush, Glenn, Shawn, Bill!
Powerful Foes Want to End the Gabfest
by Don White
Orlando--Democrats want two things: The White House and your freedom of speech via radio.
Analysts are going so far as to say that if the Democrats win in November, we can expect an all-out attack on talk radio. Political talk, as we know it today, could end.
But how is that possible. Isn't this supposed to be the land of the free? Aren't our freedom of speech rights protected in the First Amendment? What happened to this language in the Constitution?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Yes, these rights are protected. But left-wingers have promulgated their version of what being free means. They created a name that sounds good, the Freedom Doctrine, but it could rob Americans of their God-given rights. They think that anytime someone says something of a political nature, there should be "free and equal" time for opposing views on that radio or TV station. Even though it cost that station millions each year to stay in business and these Democrats didn't contribute to that successful bottom line.
What about the rights and freedoms of free entrepreneurs in America?
The Freedom Doctrine, if Obama dictates, could deal a deathblow to talk radio. It could be doomed, because conservative radio stations are popular with the people; they have sprung up like Camdon Lilies all over this nation and liberals want to put a stop to it. This is a mean and vicious attack on private enterprise as well as freedom of speech and thought.
It seems to me that if liberals wanted they could set up opposing radio stations with opposite views to those on conservative stations. If that were possible--and it certainly is--it should not be a violation of anyone's right to rebut an issue. It just doesn't have to be on the same radio station.
Conservatives are worried. Talk radio has been an excellent media of exchange of thoughts and views. It is a big reason why the Conservatives and the Republicans have done so well in Congress and in the White House the past 30 years. Without it we would be demogued by the NBCs, CBSes, ABCs and other liberal news networks.
Newsmax magazine said in a recent article, "If they [Democrats] win, Rush, Imus, Savage, Beck, and dozens of other major hosts will be muzzled by using federal regulations to control political talk."
So, what's our plan of attack?
As Newsmax reveals in its special report, "The Battle for Talk Radio," leading liberals in Congress, the Democratic presidential candidates, and even some Republicans speak openly of their plans to end conservative talk radio using federal regulations.
"Their weapon: a revived Fairness Doctrine, which would once again require stations to air divergent points of view — a clever ruse that makes station owners leery of airing controversial talk-radio hosts fearing law suits and federal sanctions."
With a new Fairness Doctrine, you could see many top conservative radio hosts canned.
This Newsmax special report also features an exclusive interview with Fox News host Bill O'Reilly who tells Newsmax there is no question a plan is being hatched. "The far-left kooks will try, but they will fail," O'Reilly says.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Here Are Some of The Replies To Wizard
What People Are Saying About Bombing Iran
Who should drop the bomb on Iran to stop its nuclear bomb production, Israel, America, U.K., or No bomb, please. 
| Israel | |
| | |
|---|---|
| 13 votes 12% | |
| America | |
| | |
| 5 votes 5% | |
| United Kingdom | |
| | |
| 6 votes 6% | |
| No bomb dropping on Iran, please. | |
| | |
| 85 votes 78% | |
| hey what's this question?!!! are u murderer or somthing? don't u c that there are women and children living here? you killed iraqi people once. isn't it enough?!!! you wanna kill people because there might by low probability be nuclear bomb here?!!! are you crazy to ask such things?!!  saeed |
| Obviously some people in this world are crazy enough to consider dropping nuclear bombs, Those people do not differ much in their politics, only their targets are different.  ask001 |
| I have a good friend in Kerman. He got his Ph.D. in molecular biology in the USA in the 1990's and his wife, a physician, was planning to do an OB/GYN residency when they got deported before he could get a job. They have two children that were born here that had to go back to Iran because they were underage. When they turn 18 they will be allowed to decide if they want to be Iranian citizens or come back to the USA and be American citizens, that is if "we"  Chipmonk Edited 2 days ago by Chipmonk |
| This shows us all how stupid the world has become. The vast majority of the people on this earth have never seen the effects of a nuclear detonation. Most have no idea, really, of how monstrous the bomb is. With things as they are today, some of you are simply asking for the world to end, because whoever uses the bomb today better damn well plan for unintended consequences. Good luck with that. BobUS Edited 2 days ago by BobUS |
| When i think of iran, i prefer to think of getting really good shish-ka-bob or a nice rug. anybody who is falling for the whole "iran as an enemy" garbage ought to immediately get a copy of "confessions of an economic hit man," so they can understand who the real culprits are. iamafractal |
| you like Shish-kabab? i live in the right place of it! where it was born! saeed |
| I LOVE IT and that's why i love going to Iranian and Iraqi street vendors all over NYC who serve the BEST halal food... mmmm iamafractal |
| Who dropped the bomb on Russia or China? (NOT saying anyone should have, afterall the USA had it and used it so who are we to talk?) My point is, just pick on little countries simply because they are little? If any countries do think it is appropriate to get forceful with Iran, why drop a bomb? Why not just use words. JFK used words when Russia wanted to install missle silos in Cuba in 1962. JFK's kind of chutzpah is what we need now, but please, no bombs. We and Japan both know how awful they are and they are much worse today than they were sixty-three (63) years ago. Chipmonk |
| How many times has the UN Security Council warned Iran to stop producing nuclear weapons material? The old saying is - "Walk softly and carry a big stick." It is time to use the stick!  Jonmarc |
| Have UN Security Council warned USA about producing nuclear weapons?  Monday |
| It seems we already have them along with Russia, England and a very few others, so we are not under those restrictions. And besides, we don't have to drop a nuclear weapon on Iran, we have very accurate bombs and missiles that could take out their nuclear facilities with surgical precision. Jonmarc |
| So why does the USA need over two thousand nuclear weapons?  Ross |
Saturday, August 23, 2008
There's Convention Time For All
Young Democrats Beware: Demos Forgot To Organize a Caucus For You
At least Steny Hoyer has the spirit. He spoke before Young Democrats in Maryland many months ago. If Young Demos want a caucus, they can join the Young Republicans in St. Paul.
August 23, 2008
Denver, Colorado--Look at the Democratic Convention schedule and you'll see a little bit for most everyone, but not much for anybody.
Desiring not to leave anyone out, here are the people who designed this convention of liberal left-leaning party of Franklin Roosevelt. It is now headed by its chairman Howard Dean, Senate Leader Robert Byrd (Senate president pro tempore), Harry Reid (majority leader) House Leader, Nancy Pelosi (speaker)and Steny Hoyer (majority leader)--left wingers all. . . with not a conservative among them. My, have times changed.
They will provide a united front, despite the fact that Hillary Clinton's name will be on the convention ballot and there will be some loud demonstrating by her supporters, though largely a symbolic maneuver not expected to disrupt Barak Obama's presidential coronation.
The biggest change will be nomination night when all the left-wingers in the nation "go out to the ballpark", Coors field, to provide a more inclusive, larger venue for those Rockie baseball fans wanting to participate in the rukus. If Obama is still speaking about "7th inning time", expect a lot of people to wander off to their homes, wishing it had been Rockies Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and heavy hitting left fielder Matt Holliday there to thrill them.
Obama doesn't play baseball, but he is noted to be a long, dull speaker and it takes a lot of No-Doze to stay awake even when he's at his best. But even the mention of the name "John McCain" and "Republicans" will arouse them out of their lethargy and they may even stand to sing Obama's Chicago University fight song. Watch Obama's lips. He doesn't know it:
Here is a list of the disparate groups who will have their own caucus during the convention. If this is intended to create party unity, it fails. It will create some kind of all inclusiveness, but what about the groups in America who were left out? I don't see the Jews listed, or the Familys For America, Evangelicals, nor the Mormons, Muslims, the Swedes, Dainish, Scottish, Aarabs, English, Russians, Georgians, Ukraines, and on and on. I don't even see Young Democrats. What about the opposite of Lesbians and Gays--Straight Shooters? I don't see The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Humane Society getting much face time. I don't see caucuses for the Law Enforcement Society of America or the Gun Alliance groups. Why do Democrats always give inordinate time and attention to the weirdos and off-beat groups?
The first thing a newly elected Obama will learn, if he gets that far, is that you try to appease everyone at the risk of satisfying no one and becoming a weak president. But if the list of VIP groups is any indication as to which of the above two directions Obama's administration would be going, Obama is doing just the opposite from what he promised (building unity), his presidency will be the most divisive and disruptive of any in past history.
Here are the Democratic Caucuses:
AAPI Caucus (Asian American and Pacific Islanders)
Black Caucus (How about a White Caucus For a Change? Whites now are less than 50% of the American population. They're a large minority.
Ethnic Coordinated Caucus
First American Caucus That's not for the American Indians but it should be.
Hispanic Caucus
LGBT Caucus Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Rural Caucus Do you have to live on a farm to be rural?
Senior Caucus
Disability Caucus
Faith Caucus (Which faith? Watch out, most don't get along well in the same room)
Veterans & Military Families Caucus (How about a caucus for those currently serving in the armed services?)
Women's Caucus (Where's the Men's Caucus?)
Youth Caucus (Youth are teenagers, and doesn't include Young Demos).
So you can see there's virtually a little group for everyone, except men, Indians, specific faith groups, union folk, colleges, and Young Republicans and Democrats .
How do they think they're going to influence everyone if everyone doesn't get to go to their choice of caucus in Denver? Even a Jackass is smarter than that.
The confusing thing is this: Each caucus will create their own political platform and present it to the delegates. Not all platforms will "be created equal" or receive equal attention and action. Isn't that going to dull the intended purpose, to bring people together? "Dull" is a good word for it. Most Democratic conventions are dull.
At least Steny Hoyer has the spirit. He spoke before Young Democrats in Maryland many months ago. If Young Demos want a caucus, they can join the Young Republicans in St. Paul.August 23, 2008
Denver, Colorado--Look at the Democratic Convention schedule and you'll see a little bit for most everyone, but not much for anybody.
Desiring not to leave anyone out, here are the people who designed this convention of liberal left-leaning party of Franklin Roosevelt. It is now headed by its chairman Howard Dean, Senate Leader Robert Byrd (Senate president pro tempore), Harry Reid (majority leader) House Leader, Nancy Pelosi (speaker)and Steny Hoyer (majority leader)--left wingers all. . . with not a conservative among them. My, have times changed.
They will provide a united front, despite the fact that Hillary Clinton's name will be on the convention ballot and there will be some loud demonstrating by her supporters, though largely a symbolic maneuver not expected to disrupt Barak Obama's presidential coronation.
The biggest change will be nomination night when all the left-wingers in the nation "go out to the ballpark", Coors field, to provide a more inclusive, larger venue for those Rockie baseball fans wanting to participate in the rukus. If Obama is still speaking about "7th inning time", expect a lot of people to wander off to their homes, wishing it had been Rockies Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and heavy hitting left fielder Matt Holliday there to thrill them.
Obama doesn't play baseball, but he is noted to be a long, dull speaker and it takes a lot of No-Doze to stay awake even when he's at his best. But even the mention of the name "John McCain" and "Republicans" will arouse them out of their lethargy and they may even stand to sing Obama's Chicago University fight song. Watch Obama's lips. He doesn't know it:
WAVE THE FLAG
Wave the flag of old Chicago,
Maroon the color grand.
Ever shall her team be victors
Known throughout the land.
With the grand old man to lead them,
Without a peer they'll stand.
Wave again the dear old banner,
For they're heroes ev'ry man.
Here is a list of the disparate groups who will have their own caucus during the convention. If this is intended to create party unity, it fails. It will create some kind of all inclusiveness, but what about the groups in America who were left out? I don't see the Jews listed, or the Familys For America, Evangelicals, nor the Mormons, Muslims, the Swedes, Dainish, Scottish, Aarabs, English, Russians, Georgians, Ukraines, and on and on. I don't even see Young Democrats. What about the opposite of Lesbians and Gays--Straight Shooters? I don't see The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Humane Society getting much face time. I don't see caucuses for the Law Enforcement Society of America or the Gun Alliance groups. Why do Democrats always give inordinate time and attention to the weirdos and off-beat groups?
The first thing a newly elected Obama will learn, if he gets that far, is that you try to appease everyone at the risk of satisfying no one and becoming a weak president. But if the list of VIP groups is any indication as to which of the above two directions Obama's administration would be going, Obama is doing just the opposite from what he promised (building unity), his presidency will be the most divisive and disruptive of any in past history.
Here are the Democratic Caucuses:
AAPI Caucus (Asian American and Pacific Islanders)
Black Caucus (How about a White Caucus For a Change? Whites now are less than 50% of the American population. They're a large minority.
Ethnic Coordinated Caucus
First American Caucus That's not for the American Indians but it should be.
Hispanic Caucus
LGBT Caucus Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Rural Caucus Do you have to live on a farm to be rural?
Senior Caucus
Disability Caucus
Faith Caucus (Which faith? Watch out, most don't get along well in the same room)
Veterans & Military Families Caucus (How about a caucus for those currently serving in the armed services?)
Women's Caucus (Where's the Men's Caucus?)
Youth Caucus (Youth are teenagers, and doesn't include Young Demos).
So you can see there's virtually a little group for everyone, except men, Indians, specific faith groups, union folk, colleges, and Young Republicans and Democrats .
How do they think they're going to influence everyone if everyone doesn't get to go to their choice of caucus in Denver? Even a Jackass is smarter than that.
The confusing thing is this: Each caucus will create their own political platform and present it to the delegates. Not all platforms will "be created equal" or receive equal attention and action. Isn't that going to dull the intended purpose, to bring people together? "Dull" is a good word for it. Most Democratic conventions are dull.
Friday, August 22, 2008
A Partial Pullout Recalling The Russian Pograms
Kicked Out of Your own House in Your Own Country
South Ossetia--That must be how the Georgians who lived in South Ossetia must now feel. They were in place in that beautiful little country long before Tsar Vladimir Putin decided to imperialistically 2008-style take a neighboring country. It's easy to do and you can bet both Georgia and Ukraine have learned something from the master of deceit.
What you do is simple. Pick a sparcely-populated area and hand out passports abundantly to your own citizens with he promise that if they will inhabit that area, Mother Russia will back them up in any dispute and eventually will take over that section or country. Hey, this is fun. We can grow our country without really fighting for it. We just outnumber the Georgians already there, hold free elections and elect our own officers.
How do you think President Eduard Kokoity got his title. He's Russian through and through, but since South Ossetia is now mostly Russian it was an easy matter to get elected in this "foreign" country. I think the Muslims in America are watching and soon will be "packing it in" in certain US areas, electing their own officers and when along comes Iran or Saudi Arabia, they can lay claim to part of the States? Stranger things than that have happened in America because of our liberal judges and even more liberal Democrats.
It's a crying shame, but this forced removal of ethnic Georgians from their own land reminds one of the Tsar Nicholas' infamous pograms. The scenarios are the same. Tsar Putin carries on a war that results in sacking of Georgians' houses. Many Georgians fled for their lives, leaving homes and possessions there to be pillaged and taken by Russians.He kicks them out, kills some of them and humiliates them before the world. What's the difference, Tsar Putin, between you and the royal tsars? Nothing. There should be a general uprising, a revolt in Russia to oust you and your puppet Dimytry Medvedev. You're no better than the other tsars of old.
The Associated Press reported today that Russian military pulled out of key Georgian positions. But by no means was it a complete pullout, contrary to the agreements signed between Medvedev and French President Sarkozy and Medvedev and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
The entire world is angry tonight at the shoddy attention to agreements the Russian leaders render.
"Columns of hulking, smoke-belching Russian tanks rolled out of key positions deep inside Georgia Friday as Moscow declared it had pulled its forces out following the worst confrontation between the Kremlin and the West since the Soviet collapse," said the AP. But the United States and France protested the withdrawal was not complete.
True, there was reason for Georgians to be happy--happy to get rid of the stench of those tanks and the Russian overlords--at their sense of freedom as the Russian troops departed.
South Ossetia--That must be how the Georgians who lived in South Ossetia must now feel. They were in place in that beautiful little country long before Tsar Vladimir Putin decided to imperialistically 2008-style take a neighboring country. It's easy to do and you can bet both Georgia and Ukraine have learned something from the master of deceit.
What you do is simple. Pick a sparcely-populated area and hand out passports abundantly to your own citizens with he promise that if they will inhabit that area, Mother Russia will back them up in any dispute and eventually will take over that section or country. Hey, this is fun. We can grow our country without really fighting for it. We just outnumber the Georgians already there, hold free elections and elect our own officers.
How do you think President Eduard Kokoity got his title. He's Russian through and through, but since South Ossetia is now mostly Russian it was an easy matter to get elected in this "foreign" country. I think the Muslims in America are watching and soon will be "packing it in" in certain US areas, electing their own officers and when along comes Iran or Saudi Arabia, they can lay claim to part of the States? Stranger things than that have happened in America because of our liberal judges and even more liberal Democrats.
It's a crying shame, but this forced removal of ethnic Georgians from their own land reminds one of the Tsar Nicholas' infamous pograms. The scenarios are the same. Tsar Putin carries on a war that results in sacking of Georgians' houses. Many Georgians fled for their lives, leaving homes and possessions there to be pillaged and taken by Russians.He kicks them out, kills some of them and humiliates them before the world. What's the difference, Tsar Putin, between you and the royal tsars? Nothing. There should be a general uprising, a revolt in Russia to oust you and your puppet Dimytry Medvedev. You're no better than the other tsars of old.
The Associated Press reported today that Russian military pulled out of key Georgian positions. But by no means was it a complete pullout, contrary to the agreements signed between Medvedev and French President Sarkozy and Medvedev and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
The entire world is angry tonight at the shoddy attention to agreements the Russian leaders render.
"Columns of hulking, smoke-belching Russian tanks rolled out of key positions deep inside Georgia Friday as Moscow declared it had pulled its forces out following the worst confrontation between the Kremlin and the West since the Soviet collapse," said the AP. But the United States and France protested the withdrawal was not complete.
In Igoeti, the closest Russians got to the capital of Tbilisi, Georgians pumped their fists and waved white-and-red national flags as two Russian tanks began to leave. They were trailed by Georgian police in more than 100 civilian cars and several police trucks.
"How can we not be happy? We've gotten what we want," said Levan, 77, a math teacher who would give only his first name. "We're overjoyed to see our own police on our streets again."
A few hours later, Gori was empty of Russian forces.
The withdrawal came two weeks to the day after thousands of Russian soldiers roared into the former Soviet republic following an assault by Georgian forces on the capital of the separatist territory of South Ossetia. The conflict left hundreds dead, several cities destroyed and nearly 160,000 people homeless.
But troops and armored personnel carriers stayed put in at least three positions near Senaki and the Black Sea port city of Poti, raising questions about Russia's intentions. The Russians also said they were creating so-called security zones extending into Georgian territory to prevent future attacks.
President Bush, vacationing at his ranch in Texas, conferred with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and "the two agreed that Russia is not in compliance and that Russia needs to come into compliance now," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
"Compliance means compliance with that plan," he said. "We haven't seen that yet. It's my understanding that they have not completely withdrawn from areas considered undisputed territory, and they need to do that."
The Russians "have without a doubt failed to live up to their obligations," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said in Washington. "Establishing checkpoints, buffer zones, are definitely not part of the agreement."
Georgia's state minister on reintegration, Temur Yakobashvili, told the AP formation of a buffer zone outside South Ossetia "is absolutely illegal."
In South Ossetia, Russian troops erected 18 peacekeeping posts in a so-called "security zone" around its border with Georgia. Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy head of Russia's general staff, said Friday that peacekeepers would establish another 18 peacekeeping posts around Abkhazia.
A total of 2,142 Russian peacekeepers are to be deployed on Abkhazia's de facto border, while 452 will man the South Ossetia de facto border, Nogovitsyn said.
In Moscow, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said the pullback into South Ossetia was finished late Friday.
In western Georgia, a column of 83 Russian tanks, armored personnel carriers and trucks hauling artillery drove north from the Senaki military base toward the breakaway Abkhazia region along the Black Sea coast on Friday afternoon. Georgian police said the vehicles came from the base, which has been under Russian control for over a week.
The convoy doubled in size as it rumbled slowly north, and it took hours to cross into Abkhazia.
In central Georgia, at least 40 Russian military vehicles left the strategic city of Gori, heading north in the direction of South Ossetia, the Roki Tunnel and Russia beyond.
An AP reporter in Igoeti confirmed Russian forces had pulled out from their former checkpoints and roadside positions around the village. Located on Georgia's main highway between Gori and the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, Igoeti had been the Russians' closest position to the Georgian capital.
Georgians milled around a checkpoint near Gori for hours before a crane came to heft the cement blocks from the road and traffic started to filter through. A few Russian soldiers lingered near the site.
Russia's invasion and brief occupation of uncontested Georgian territory has deeply strained relations between Moscow and the West.
Russia has frozen its military cooperation with NATO, Moscow's Cold War foe, underscoring a growing division in Europe. Georgia's pro-Western leaders are pushing to join NATO, angering a resurgent Russia.
The major fighting began Aug. 7 when Georgia launched an artillery and rocket barrage targeting Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia - which has survived since the 1990s with the patronage of Moscow and the protection of troops Russia calls peacekeepers.
Russian forces arrived in less than 24 hours, quickly drove the Georgians back and pressed deep into Georgia.
Under an EU-brokered cease-fire deal, both sides are to pull back to positions held before the fighting erupted.
Western leaders have called for a complete withdrawal of Russian combat troops from Georgia, and for peacekeeping forces to resume the positions they had in South Ossetia before the conflict. But Russia says it will patrol buffer zones stretching into Georgia proper.
Questions remained about whether Russia was withdrawing all its forces.
In western Georgia, an AP photographer say troops and armored personnel carriers still deployed at three Russian positions after nightfall - one on the outskirts of Poti, one at a crossroads near the Senaki base and another further north along he road toward Abkhazia.
Poti is far from any security zone envisioned by Western governments.
And after a long Russian column crossed into Abkhazia, Russian armored vehicles and troops with blue helmets and the Russian initials for Peacekeeping Forces headed in the opposite direction, into Georgia proper.
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Frederic Desagneaux said the cease-fire deal allows Russian peacekeeping forces to operate only "in the immediate proximity of South Ossetia" and only in patrols - suggesting the West considers the new Russian posts outside South Ossetia and Abkhazia as violations.
Regardless of Friday's withdrawal, Russia, Georgia and the West seem certain to continue the diplomatic struggle over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which broke from Georgia's control in wars following the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.
The Russian parliament was expected to discuss recognizing the independence of the separatist regions Monday.
In an interview with the AP, South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity signaled that ethnic Georgians will not be allowed to return as payback for the ethnic Ossetians who could not return to Georgia after a previous conflict.
"There is nothing left anymore" for them to come back to, he noted.
In the village of Achabeti, an AP reporter saw Ossetians remove chairs, window frames and whatever else they could carry from abandoned Georgian houses.
Russian emergency officials arrived in Achabeti to evacuate elderly Georgians who were too frail to flee. The Georgians were taken to Gori, where officials were trying to get in touch with their relatives.
Many of the elderly were happy to be evacuated, having been left with no food or care. But some thought it was an effort to deport all Georgians from Ossetia.
"They are erasing this village from the face of earth so that Ossetians would come here," Aliosh Maisuradze, 83, said with tears in his eyes.
The U.N. estimates 158,000 people have fled their homes due to the fighting. The United States has carried out 20 aid flights to Georgia since Aug. 19, and three U.S. warships were heading toward Turkey carrying blankets, hygiene kits and baby food to GeorgiaVersion One: Russians Say Pullout Complete
Americans and French Insist Pullout Not Complete
In our next article we will give you the West's version of this so-called completed pullout from Georgia. It is a joke to call the pullout complete when Russia still occupies a section of Georgia called South Ossetia. No one disputes that this is part of Georgia. The international boundaries are quite explicit. Russia is again cheating when it issues countless passports, sends those people to South Ossetia to vote against Georgia. Russia "packs-it-in" with Russian citizens who favor Russia in any land dispute. It's Russia's 2008 version of imperialism and it ought to be illegal. Let's see how smart and courageous the UN is in this. Now the Russians are doing it again in Ukraine, but Ukraine is smarter than the Georgians. It is investigating these passports and, I hope, rejecting them.
(The following comes from a Russian News Agency)
MOSCOW, August 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's defense minister said on Friday the military had completed the withdrawal of troops from Georgia as stipulated in a peace deal brokered by the French president last week.
The six-point plan to end hostilities requires Russia's troops to pull back to their positions before August 8, but allows its peace keepers to take "additional security measures" in a buffer zone near breakaway South Ossetia, inside Georgia proper.
"The Russian side has fulfilled the agreements set out in the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan drawn up in Moscow," Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said in a report to President Dmitry Medvedev.
"The units' withdrawal took place without upsets, and was concluded according to plan at 19:50 Moscow time [15:50 GMT]," he said.
The troops have moved back into South Ossetia, and some are already at their bases, he said.
The announcement was immediately rejected by Georgia, as well as the U.S. and French leaders.
White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters that President George W. Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy had discussed the issue over the phone, and agreed that "Russia is not in compliance and that Russia needs to come into compliance now."
Russia has come under severe pressure from Western powers since its peace enforcement operation in response to Georgia's ground and air offensive to regain control over South Ossetia, a small province home to around 70,000 people that broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s.
Large numbers of civilians died in the Georgian onslaught, although figures still remain unclear, and thousands were forced to flee the province, mainly across the border into Russia.
On Tuesday, NATO said it was freezing contacts with Russia until it pulled its troops out of Georgia, and on the same day Western powers submitted a draft United Nations Security Council resolution calling for Russia's immediate withdrawal from Georgia.
Russia responded on Wednesday with its own draft Security Council resolution, reiterating the six-point peace plan signed last week by the parties involved, including the stipulation that Russia may take "additional security measures" in Georgia, while omitting any reference to Georgia's territorial integrity.
The six points agreed by the Russian and French leaders and repeated in the draft resolution include non-use of force, a definitive end to hostilities, free access to humanitarian aid, and a pullback of Georgian troops to their bases.
The remaining points address more controversial issues - the withdrawal of Russian forces to "the line prior to the beginning of hostilities," but only after international mechanisms are set up allowing Russian peacekeepers to "take additional security measures," and also the launch of "an international discussion of lasting security and stability arrangements for South Ossetia and Abkhazia."
Russia's president has said the two breakaway regions should be allowed to make their own decisions on their future status.
Big Response To My Poll--Who Should Bomb Iran?
Click on the map to enlarge the picture:
Ten bloggers said Israel should bomb Iran, four USA, and six the U.K. But 67 percent voted to not bomb Iran at all. That's a vast majority--77 percent. Look at the flags on the map to see where the voters came from. It appears that most Americans and Europeans are against hitting Iran to stall or stop their nuclear bomb production. Is that smart? Blog in, tell us why or why not bombing is good. Why or why not leaving a little country like Iran alone is s dangerous choice.
Re
Ten bloggers said Israel should bomb Iran, four USA, and six the U.K. But 67 percent voted to not bomb Iran at all. That's a vast majority--77 percent. Look at the flags on the map to see where the voters came from. It appears that most Americans and Europeans are against hitting Iran to stall or stop their nuclear bomb production. Is that smart? Blog in, tell us why or why not bombing is good. Why or why not leaving a little country like Iran alone is s dangerous choice.
Re
A Reasonable Answer To My Question About Possible Bombing of Iran's Nuclear Production Facility
Reasonable Response--Except Voting For Obama
Hi Wizard,
Chipmonk commented on your question, "Who should drop the bomb on Iran to stop its nuclear bomb production, Israel, America, U.K., or No bomb, please.".
They said, "I have a good friend in Kerman. He got his Ph.D. in molecular biology in the USA in the 1990's and his wife, a physician, was planning to do an OB/GYN residency when they got deported before he could get a job. They have two children that were born here that had to go back to Iran because they were underage. When they turn 18 they will be allow to decide if they want to be Iranian citizens or come back to the USA and be American citizens, that is if "we" do not kill them before they turn 18. They are beautiful children. The whole family is beautiful. We really need to think twice and not make any war with Iran. I plan to vote for Obama because I have the impression he has some sanity where my friend and his wife and their beautiful children are concerned."
Hi Wizard,
Chipmonk commented on your question, "Who should drop the bomb on Iran to stop its nuclear bomb production, Israel, America, U.K., or No bomb, please.".
They said, "I have a good friend in Kerman. He got his Ph.D. in molecular biology in the USA in the 1990's and his wife, a physician, was planning to do an OB/GYN residency when they got deported before he could get a job. They have two children that were born here that had to go back to Iran because they were underage. When they turn 18 they will be allow to decide if they want to be Iranian citizens or come back to the USA and be American citizens, that is if "we"
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Who Drops The Bomb on Iran's Nuclear Production Facility
http://www.ask500people.com/questions/which-nation-should-take-out-irans-nuclear-
Should NATO Accept both Georgia And Russia?
If Russia and Georgia had been members of NATO, they (Russia) would not have invaded Georgia. Right or Wrong? Submitted 18 hours ago by Wizard
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Please word your questions more carefully. The only possible answer to this question the way you have phrased it is Y (it's either right or wrong). Instead of Y/N your choices should have been Right/Wrong.
[1 point] 17 hours ago by United States plawler
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I don't like the characterization that what happened was an invasion. I don't believe it was.
[1 point] 17 hours ago by Canada waugs Reply
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Yes!!!
Right or wrong, indeed!!! (I know I got this one right!) :-')
[1 point] 15 hours ago by United States Chipmonk Reply Edited 15 hours ago by Chipmonk
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Wrong
[1 point] 14 hours ago by Canada Hauli Reply
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Because Georgia did not invade Georgia? :-)
[1 point] 9 hours ago by United States Chipmonk Reply
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Actually, that's how this all started. Georgia did invade another part of Georgia, which had been acting as a de facto autonomous region for many years.
[1 point] 5 hours ago by Canada waugs Reply
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If Russia and Georgia had been members of NATO then they wold be allies and they wold have no reason to wage war against each other.
[1 point] 4 hours ago by Romania Unnu Reply
* 7 Comments
* 40 People Online
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Add Comment
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Please word your questions more carefully. The only possible answer to this question the way you have phrased it is Y (it's either right or wrong). Instead of Y/N your choices should have been Right/Wrong.
[1 point] 17 hours ago by United States plawler
* Vote Up
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I don't like the characterization that what happened was an invasion. I don't believe it was.
[1 point] 17 hours ago by Canada waugs Reply
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Yes!!!
Right or wrong, indeed!!! (I know I got this one right!) :-')
[1 point] 15 hours ago by United States Chipmonk Reply Edited 15 hours ago by Chipmonk
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Wrong
[1 point] 14 hours ago by Canada Hauli Reply
Cancel
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Because Georgia did not invade Georgia? :-)
[1 point] 9 hours ago by United States Chipmonk Reply
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Actually, that's how this all started. Georgia did invade another part of Georgia, which had been acting as a de facto autonomous region for many years.
[1 point] 5 hours ago by Canada waugs Reply
* Vote Up
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If Russia and Georgia had been members of NATO then they wold be allies and they wold have no reason to wage war against each other.
[1 point] 4 hours ago by Romania Unnu Reply
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Romney Remains Top VP Choice--Who Is Your Choice?
Boston, MA--Among those Republicans in the know, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is still the front runner to be named McCalin's VP running mate.
Romney plays it down, but so do all of the other dozen or so candidates. I don't know why Romney or anyone else would like to be Vice President. It definitely doesn't appeal to very many, except Mike Huckabee, and he isn't too popular even among conservatives these days. That would be a terrible choice.
Above are results of a recent survey. Who would you choose?
Can McCain Maintain His Lead In The Polls?
Orlando--John McCain has overtaken Barack Obama in the presidential race, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released Wednesday morning. Both candidates appeared this week before the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and received warm receptions. Today, President Bush will speak to the group.
I'm not sure if what McCain or Obama said before that group had that much to do with the polls changing, but when you watch Obama in any setting he speaks and looks supercilious, often downright arrogant and, frankly, it turns me off.
He is a newcomer to America's political spotlight, but the one thing Americans do not appreciate is a pretender--and that is what he has been all along. From the time he took flak for not having foreign relations experience, he tried to overcome that by revving up his vocabulary, but if you noticed, his voice became inflected and more biting than ever before.
The claim of elitism riled him up and his voice went up another octave. Thereafter with his nose elevated by a fine Havana, with a none-to-faint hauteur he looked more like Alfred Dunhill's butler turning away a kid at the door asking for a handout than a man seeking our approval.
Meanwhile, John McCain remained composed, the same John McCain we have been accustomed to seeing and hearing. He won't change with the winds as has Obama. Mac has national security experience, Obama has none. Barak has no reason to posture.
He whom Obama chooses will inform McCain's decision on a vice president. McCain doesn't need a foreign relations expert, he is one. What he needs is someone connected to the economy--a Romney or a Bloomberg--and someone who can deliver two or three big states like Massachusetts, California, New York, Michigan, or Florida. Who that is, I have no idea.
When Obama came home from his trip abroad he expected but didn't get a big bump in the polls. This was directly related to his own lack of appeal--what he said and how he deported himself to Americans TV viewers back home.
His snubbing of the real heroes of this war and and xing out the trip to the hospital to see America's wounded because TV cameras couldn't follow him probably wounded Obama as much as anything.
His crazy speech at the Brandenburg Gate was so high-falutin' that most Americans got lost in his semantics, posturing, and performance. We all knew the big German crowd didn't come to see him, they were there for a rock concert. But, still, Obama stuck up his long nose--acted the big shot and "holier-and-better--than-thou" at every turn of phrase. Yet, in all of this, not once did he praise our American fighting men and women who defeated Germany and Hitler and saved Europe from the Russians. Not once did he say Germans owed their freedoms today to an America that lost many lives in World War Two defending freedom for the entire world.
He was afraid to be brave and do the right thing in front of so many Germans. What kind of a "freeze job" will he be in front of Russians and Putin?
And Why did he go to Europe, why the Brandenburg Gate? They don't vote for an American president. Why dummy up to them when it's we here at home in the "good old US of A" that he should be trying to impress? If he showed anything in that speech that we didn't know before--though we highly suspected it when he failed to do the pledge of alegience, place his hand over his heart, or honor the flag--it was that he is not patriotic, not straight up for America wherever he went, not a spokesman for the American people or for freedom and independence.
People were really turned off at his "performance. And John McCain is correct in calling him a celeb. He truly is down there with Paris Hilton. That's really all he is. Put him in there with a bunch of Hollywood nobodies like Shawn Penn, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Tom Cruise. I was going to mention Denzil Washington, but Obama will never be on Denzil's exemplary level.
In a tight presidential race, you will see frequent changes in the polls. For example, Obama should get a bump in the polls when he names his running mate on Saturday and again during the convention.
Likewise, when John McCain names his VP and travels to the Twin Cities for the Republican convention, there should be--he would hope--a surge of interest in his Republican's candidacy. Governor Tim Pawlenty is the most likely candidate for the second spot on his ticket. That's just good old common sense and it would bring down the house in St. Paul.
Does McCain's current leadership in the polls represent a trend? I don't know. You tell me by blogging this site.
McCain leads Obama 46 to 41 percent among likely voters, which the poll found is outside the margin of error. Reuters/Zogby had Obama ahead by 7-points as recently as mid July.
McCain's resurgence comes at the doorstep of the Democratic Convention, and follows other polling that collectively indicates the presidential race has become a dead heat.
Only one major national survey, a USA Today/Gallup Poll in late July, has shown McCain ahead since the general election began in early June. But that 4-point McCain lead was the mirror opposite of other national surveys taken over the same period, leaving reasonable suspicion it was an unreliable outlier.
Today's Reuters/Zogby poll conducted from August 14 to 16, by contrast, seems to follow a recent trend.
A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll released Tuesday, and taken from August 15 to the 18, found that Obama's lead over McCain had fallen to within the margin of error, 45 to 43 percent. That same poll pegged Obama ahead by 12 points in mid June.
So what do you think? Will McCain's upsurge in the polls continue, seeing that when the candidates went toe-to-toe recently in the "evangelical" blind debate, McCain won the debate hands down?
The VAW was polite but of course not enthusiastic. I saw Obama's speech and it was unimpressive and, again, of nose-in-rarified-air quality. He turns folks off with his arrogance.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Blog On, "Should Russia Be Allowed To Occupy Georgia?
I placed my comment into this website and asked a question: "Should Russia be "able" to Occupy Georgia. On second thought, I should have asked "should Russia be allowed to Occupy Russia."
Immediately, we received three or four comments from readers. I am giving you the results, because these comments are from people who live in different parts of the world, not just the USA.
See what you think and please comment on this blog to the above question.
| What are you proposing with "Should Russia be able"? You want Russia disarmed/military incapacitated, unable to occupy enemy nations? Monday |
Russian Withdrawal Agreement A "Dead Letter"
BUSH TO PUTIN: "GET OUT OF GEORGIA NOW OR WE'LL ARM GEORGIA WITH MISSILES AIMED AT MOSCOW!
POTI, Georgia - Just reported in an Associated Press post by Bela Szandelszky, Russian soldiers took about 20 Georgians in military uniform prisoner at a key Black Sea port in western Georgia on Tuesday, "blindfolding them and holding them at gunpoint, and commandeered American Humvees awaiting shipment back to the United States."
Warfare brings out the worst in men and acts of defiance. Even after a peace agreement is signed, acts of defiance are not rare.
But what is rare is that a country the size of Russia would play with fire. Prominent Americans are calling for stiff penalties for Russian anti-social conduct. That's the easiest I can be on those commies. They should not be allowed entry in the Group of 8.
Momma never allowed me to bring home my worst enemy to muddy the new carpet with his dirty boots. Seriously, NATO should do something to kick the Commies out of Georgia and do it now!
Wouldn't it be nice if, for a change, NATO would become courageous and suggest something that could really hurt Russia? Something like sending troops from NATO to force the enemy out?
Russian soldiers, of course prepped, praised with war ribbons and coaxed by anti-social behavior of Putin and Medvedev, have acted as if there wasn't a peace agreement. I suppose only American conquerers act civilly toward a vanquished opponent. I believe Medvedev, on orders from Putin--and young people get it straight. Putin doesn't work for Medvedev, quite the contrary, the Puppet works for Putin and if he doesn't do his will Putin can pull the plug on him--has already deep-sixed the peace contract. In other words, he wadded it up and tossed it into the garbage can on day one.
George Bush, how could you have claimed Putin was such a nice little friend of yours, someone you wanted to bring home to meet Barbara? You were royally deceived Bro, mesmerized by his penetrating eyes. George, you're not a lame duck, yet. Call up Putin and tell him you want those soldiers back and alive who were abducted today, and his soldiers who did the abducting punished--yes, I said they were abducted not captured, because legally we're not in a state of war. Release them immediately, along with theAmerican Humvees; and we want the Russian soldiers out of the country pronto or they go to jail.
He'll believe you and honor the wishes of his good friend from Crawford, Texas. Otherwise, submit his name and that of his puppet to The Hague, each to be tried for war crimes.
If Putin needs one Humvee to get around Moscow in, sell him one--a bullet-proof version; and as chauffer, send Barak Obama who won't give him a moment's trouble--he's very sympathetic to communism. Sell him on it, George. Here's your speal: "The HMMWV is a dynamic vehicle with changes and improvements continually added. For instance, thorough corrosion resistance has been added to ward off that salt they throw on frozen Moscow roads in winter; and most components have been upgraded, including the move to a larger 6.5-liter diesel engine. From day one, system developers have continually found new users--Could the Russians become a new user market for this great truck?--for the flexible HMMWV? Initially introduced with a 1½- ton payload capacity, increased payload requirements to carry various systems have led to Expanded Capacity Vehicles with payloads up to 5,100 lbs. and gross vehicle weight rating (GVW) up to 12,100 lbs."
Tell Vlad--my,we're getting chummy--that as he moves well into the 21st century, the workhorse HMMWV can be called on to carry new sophisticated communications and weapons systems. (I hope the ones in Georgia don't have all that much equipment). The ongoing story of this rugged truck will continue to unfold as new users are found and new missions require its use."
Get him on the phone today, George. Tell him! Tell him if those troops aren't out of Georgia by morning you're going to personally see to it that Georgia gets a new-version Humvee, the kind with the handy Stinger missile attachment aimed at Moscow.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
What Do We Do At Times Like These?
Oil Intrigue--Reign In The Big Russian Oil Bear
It is instructive to recall what the late popular radio commentator, Paul Harvey, had to say about war. "At times like these it is important to remember that we have always had times like these," he said.
It is not uncommon for the town bully to manhandle weaklings, until someone comes to help the unfortunate. Remember the old Marshal Matt Dillon movies where the bad guys came to town killing and taunting honest folk? ...until the Marshal played by Hollywood's James Arness cleaned up the town, expelling the bad guys and leaving the "little people" better off than before the bandits arrived.
Russia is such a bully. America may have to be called upon to play the marshal, though right now its interest is divided. It is a pity that NATO did not approve Georgia's membership, then we could put the burdon on 20 or so other countries--at least for cash donations to put our military to work
Is that even possible, they way our strength is divided in Iraq and Afghanistan? But the U.S. has probably the only reliable army in all of NATO capable of stopping a renegade Russia now "feeling its military oats."
That's the nature of bullies, they plot and plan ways they can get what they want by roughing up someone who cannot retaliate. Are you listening, Mr. George Bush. Sometimes you have played the role of cowboy Marshal Dillon, and you may just have to do so again if Putin's thugs don't get out of "Dodge" before sunup... Overnight, our airforce could destroy all the tanks in Georgia and South Ossetia. All the diplomatic channels must be covered before we attempt something like that. The UN must be positively on our side if that is to be done. Putin knows this, and he is biding his time because he believes the U.S. won't use military force...not just yet.
In the case of Georgia visa vis Russia, you won't see Georgia administer a beating to the the Big Bear's million-man army to the north, as much as they would like to.
It's just a matter of size and strength. You're matching a 150-million-population country against one that has only 9.4 million, if that much anymore. The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are tiny nations in comparison. For example:
Nation Population
Estonia 1,340,602
Latvia 2,270,700
Lithuania 3,369,600
Finland has about 5 million people.
Look for Russia to expand into these countries if it succeeds in Georgia. We can't forget the lessons of Hitler's Germany.
Why is it that America's 300 million people must always protect Europe's 500 million?
These Baltic states had the highest growth rates in Europe between 2000 and 2006, and this has continued in 2007. In 2006 the economy in Estonia grew by 11.2% in gross domestic product, while the Latvian economy grew by 11.9% and Lithuania by 7.5%. All three countries have seen their rates of unemployment falling below the EU average by February 2006. Additionally, Estonia is among the ten most liberal economies in the world and in 2006 switched from being classified as an upper-middle income economy to a high-income economy by the World Bank. All three countries are slated to adopt the Euro around 2010.
However, due to global economic crisis, Baltic economies in 2008 are fragile and previous fast growth has to some extent decreased. The standard of living in Finland tops all the other three. Suomi, it's Finnish name, is considered to have the highest standard of living per capita in the world today. Just 40 years ago it was a sluggish country without much promise. Then came along the Internet and high tech and telecomunication firms such as Nokia.
All of this could be seen by Putin's Russia as a great prize. Something to aspire to, or to covet? If it's the latter, Putin's actions so far in Georgia should be considered a precursor of worse to come. His short-range plan is to control not only oil produced in Russia, but that coming out of the Azerbaijan and Belarus pipeline that flows through Georgia. If he can force out pro-Western Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and install his own leader, he could manipulate the pipeline. He could turn off the spigot and raise oil prices at will. There would no longer be price competition.
In other words, he could do a work of extortion on all oil producers and all dependent countries, and don't believe he hasn't the will to do just that.
In 2007 Putin had much to do with oil prices doubling. To protect its own interests, Azerbaijan cut off its oil flow to Russia. It shut down its oil exports in order to fuel some of the power stations that would no longer be supplied with the Russian gas. The original plan was to do this until the gas from the Shakh Deniz field became available.
Gas from Shakh Deniz was also scheduled to be supplied to Georgia at a price of $120 per thousand cubic meters (tcm). This is just over half the price that the Russians had been asking. However, since Georgia needed about 2 billion cu m per year it still had to buy 1.1 bcm from Russia at the higher price. Azerbaijan had been supplying around 80,000 bd of oil to Russia through the Baku-Novorossiysk oil pipeline which belongs to the Russian pipeline company Transneft. Part of the intent of the increase in price to Azerbaijan was, apparently, to reduce their ability to supply Georgia. This is called the old Putin stranglehold.
Azerbaijan bought 4.5 bcm of natural gas from Russia before at a cost of $500 million. This was Russia's play: At the higher price, Putin reasoned, Azerbaijan would have to cut back on imports, and thus have less to make available to Georgia. However, by switching their power stations to oil-burning, the Azeris thwarted this idea.
Natural gas from Shakh Deniz is fed into the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum pipeline, a different pipeline than the recently completed Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which carries oil and which, between January and October 2007, carried some 4.8 million (though I don't know if this is tons or barrels).
In 1996 Russia's large oil company Gazprom jsc set up a lucrative 20-year-contract with Holland to deliver gas. Not only is the Holland contract their most perspective contract, but success there will be a precursor to expanding Russia's gas market to other European states. Putin's reasoning: Why not make the entire EU dependent on Russian oil while he's at it? Holland's Gazuni National Gas Company is the main Gazprom partner in Holland.
Gazprom jsc and Gazuni want to expand to other European countries, but without friendly relations among the EU Russia cannot hope to expand such business. This is why observers see an imminent Russian retreat from Georgia and an abandonment of their "cat and mouse strategy" as their only smart move, rather than create more bad PR and war with the U.S.
This is where Bush needs to be careful. He needs to bring McCain and Obama to the White House and completely brief both on current happenings and possible U.S. courses of action. One of them will inherit not only the Middle East wars, but an unauthorized Russian war if he's not careful. On the other hand, he can't sit idly by and not play a strong hand. The strongest hand he could have is if Obama and McCain are on board. Russia understands nothing as well as force and power.
With oil and gas shortages of the past many months and rising world prices, the shoe may be on the other foot. Holland and Europe are becoming beholden to Russia. This is precisely what Putin wants, thus his sincere desire to oust pro-American President Saakashvili from office in Georgia. Then he could set delivery quotas and prices as will, further strangling independent states like Georgia and the tiny Baltic countries.
This we must not allow to happen.
It is instructive to recall what the late popular radio commentator, Paul Harvey, had to say about war. "At times like these it is important to remember that we have always had times like these," he said.
It is not uncommon for the town bully to manhandle weaklings, until someone comes to help the unfortunate. Remember the old Marshal Matt Dillon movies where the bad guys came to town killing and taunting honest folk? ...until the Marshal played by Hollywood's James Arness cleaned up the town, expelling the bad guys and leaving the "little people" better off than before the bandits arrived.
Russia is such a bully. America may have to be called upon to play the marshal, though right now its interest is divided. It is a pity that NATO did not approve Georgia's membership, then we could put the burdon on 20 or so other countries--at least for cash donations to put our military to work
Is that even possible, they way our strength is divided in Iraq and Afghanistan? But the U.S. has probably the only reliable army in all of NATO capable of stopping a renegade Russia now "feeling its military oats."
That's the nature of bullies, they plot and plan ways they can get what they want by roughing up someone who cannot retaliate. Are you listening, Mr. George Bush. Sometimes you have played the role of cowboy Marshal Dillon, and you may just have to do so again if Putin's thugs don't get out of "Dodge" before sunup... Overnight, our airforce could destroy all the tanks in Georgia and South Ossetia. All the diplomatic channels must be covered before we attempt something like that. The UN must be positively on our side if that is to be done. Putin knows this, and he is biding his time because he believes the U.S. won't use military force...not just yet.
In the case of Georgia visa vis Russia, you won't see Georgia administer a beating to the the Big Bear's million-man army to the north, as much as they would like to.
It's just a matter of size and strength. You're matching a 150-million-population country against one that has only 9.4 million, if that much anymore. The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are tiny nations in comparison. For example:
Nation Population
Estonia 1,340,602
Latvia 2,270,700
Lithuania 3,369,600
Finland has about 5 million people.
Look for Russia to expand into these countries if it succeeds in Georgia. We can't forget the lessons of Hitler's Germany.
Why is it that America's 300 million people must always protect Europe's 500 million?
These Baltic states had the highest growth rates in Europe between 2000 and 2006, and this has continued in 2007. In 2006 the economy in Estonia grew by 11.2% in gross domestic product, while the Latvian economy grew by 11.9% and Lithuania by 7.5%. All three countries have seen their rates of unemployment falling below the EU average by February 2006. Additionally, Estonia is among the ten most liberal economies in the world and in 2006 switched from being classified as an upper-middle income economy to a high-income economy by the World Bank. All three countries are slated to adopt the Euro around 2010.
However, due to global economic crisis, Baltic economies in 2008 are fragile and previous fast growth has to some extent decreased. The standard of living in Finland tops all the other three. Suomi, it's Finnish name, is considered to have the highest standard of living per capita in the world today. Just 40 years ago it was a sluggish country without much promise. Then came along the Internet and high tech and telecomunication firms such as Nokia.
All of this could be seen by Putin's Russia as a great prize. Something to aspire to, or to covet? If it's the latter, Putin's actions so far in Georgia should be considered a precursor of worse to come. His short-range plan is to control not only oil produced in Russia, but that coming out of the Azerbaijan and Belarus pipeline that flows through Georgia. If he can force out pro-Western Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and install his own leader, he could manipulate the pipeline. He could turn off the spigot and raise oil prices at will. There would no longer be price competition.
In other words, he could do a work of extortion on all oil producers and all dependent countries, and don't believe he hasn't the will to do just that.
In 2007 Putin had much to do with oil prices doubling. To protect its own interests, Azerbaijan cut off its oil flow to Russia. It shut down its oil exports in order to fuel some of the power stations that would no longer be supplied with the Russian gas. The original plan was to do this until the gas from the Shakh Deniz field became available.
Gas from Shakh Deniz was also scheduled to be supplied to Georgia at a price of $120 per thousand cubic meters (tcm). This is just over half the price that the Russians had been asking. However, since Georgia needed about 2 billion cu m per year it still had to buy 1.1 bcm from Russia at the higher price. Azerbaijan had been supplying around 80,000 bd of oil to Russia through the Baku-Novorossiysk oil pipeline which belongs to the Russian pipeline company Transneft. Part of the intent of the increase in price to Azerbaijan was, apparently, to reduce their ability to supply Georgia. This is called the old Putin stranglehold.
Azerbaijan bought 4.5 bcm of natural gas from Russia before at a cost of $500 million. This was Russia's play: At the higher price, Putin reasoned, Azerbaijan would have to cut back on imports, and thus have less to make available to Georgia. However, by switching their power stations to oil-burning, the Azeris thwarted this idea.
Natural gas from Shakh Deniz is fed into the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum pipeline, a different pipeline than the recently completed Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which carries oil and which, between January and October 2007, carried some 4.8 million (though I don't know if this is tons or barrels).
In 1996 Russia's large oil company Gazprom jsc set up a lucrative 20-year-contract with Holland to deliver gas. Not only is the Holland contract their most perspective contract, but success there will be a precursor to expanding Russia's gas market to other European states. Putin's reasoning: Why not make the entire EU dependent on Russian oil while he's at it? Holland's Gazuni National Gas Company is the main Gazprom partner in Holland.
Gazprom jsc and Gazuni want to expand to other European countries, but without friendly relations among the EU Russia cannot hope to expand such business. This is why observers see an imminent Russian retreat from Georgia and an abandonment of their "cat and mouse strategy" as their only smart move, rather than create more bad PR and war with the U.S.
This is where Bush needs to be careful. He needs to bring McCain and Obama to the White House and completely brief both on current happenings and possible U.S. courses of action. One of them will inherit not only the Middle East wars, but an unauthorized Russian war if he's not careful. On the other hand, he can't sit idly by and not play a strong hand. The strongest hand he could have is if Obama and McCain are on board. Russia understands nothing as well as force and power.
With oil and gas shortages of the past many months and rising world prices, the shoe may be on the other foot. Holland and Europe are becoming beholden to Russia. This is precisely what Putin wants, thus his sincere desire to oust pro-American President Saakashvili from office in Georgia. Then he could set delivery quotas and prices as will, further strangling independent states like Georgia and the tiny Baltic countries.
This we must not allow to happen.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Does Putin Want World Domination?
Russia's Last Two Tsars--Nicholas and PutinWhat is it that tells me that Tsar Putin secretly admires Adolph Hitler? He has studied the Fuhrer for decades, from when he annexed the Sudan to when he went wrong invading Russia in the winter of 1941.
Putin is two things: hard nosed former KBG director and a millitarist. Militarism means control of government by military aims. So was Hitler.
A strong military power? That's just what Russia has done these past few years--and now Russia has the largest and most powerful standing army in Europe. It must cost a lot to maintain.
That's how he is exerting his influence in the sovereign affairs of Georgia. Putin noticed that in order to justify invading Czechoslovakia, Hitler had to dream up some sham justification. He first sent a lot of German immigrants to live in Czechoslovakia; then he invented a ruse that they were being mistreated so he had to prepare to invade to save them, but the Czech government backed down and he annexed them without much of a fight. How clever!
Over the past while, the same thing has happened in South Ossetia. More and more Russian passport holders were sent to South Ossetia and before you knew it, 95 percent of this area of Georgia were Russians. It's an old trick and Vlad knows them all. He told them to elect officers, which they did. He told them to ask for independence from Georgia, but Saakasveli refused, so Putin had to--"was forced to"--send in his most powerful army in Europe and almost literally wipe out the Georgians. Oh, before that invasion occurred, Putin pulled another cute trick. He got this American trained Saakashveli to make a military blunder against South Ossetia. They would surround these people and force their will on them.
One problem, Saakashveli forgot to plan well. He forgot to ask his spies, if he ever had any, where the Russian army was. He forgot to figure on Putin coming in on a ruse and rescuing the 'tiny bears" and punishing Georgia's army and its people. Now Saakashveli's job is probably in jeopardy, just what Putin wants, a peaceful ouster of this thorn in his side.
When you think of it, Mexico could do likewise with California, a territory they just hatted to give up in the gusty Nineteenth Century--a time of American expansion into the west and the Great Basin and Pacific Coast regions. These modern-day immigrants to America have Mexican passports. When they surpass Anglo Saxons in population, look for Mexico to come in and try to annex the great state of California--what a prize! Except for one thing--America is strong militarily and Mexico isn't. We wouldn't stand for it. This may be an excellent reason for never arming Mexico with our sophisticated military hardware. Today I saw statistics stating that Anglo Saxons were no longer a majority population in the U.S.
So now that some more of us are a minority, do we get special job and schooling privileges? Hold the presses, change the requirements for getting into Harvard and Yale. Can we call on the ACLU to work for us as they have blacks and hispanics? Don't count on it.
But isn't there a doctrine called "Reverse Discrimination?" Somehow the whites in America must now qualify for some preferential treatment. Can we have this help for the next 100 years as the blacks have had? Again, don't hold your breath. The ACLU is racist--working only for the blacks and their kind.
Actually, Putin is racist. He is an Arien, blue-eyed, blond-haired male who admires what Hitler was doing, getting rid of the darkies. He has also reverted to being a Communist again and openly encourages that kind of political and business behavior with his repressive governing style, the nationalization of companies and all. I don't know how he gets along with the Judeo-Bolsheviks in Russia. They have darker skins which some would call swarthy. In the darkest days of Russia's history they drove out the Jews following the Tsar's repressive pograms, premeditated violence against Jews consisting of destruction of their homes, businesses and religious centers. He must have enjoyed reading about these poor people or watching the great movie depicting it, "Fidler On The Roof", where poor Jews were uprooted and sent to different countries. Even today, he sides with Hamas and Iran in their hatred for the Israeli people. Iran and Hamas have vowed to finally rid the world of the Jewish nation and all its people. Putin is part of this hatred. He has formed a secret alliance patterned after Hitler's great Axis Powers of Germany and Italy. Except, Putin's Axis is with Iran and I believe he is in there with a lot of terrorist nations.
America and Israel are his avowed enemies and that is why he has so much hate for Georgia's current president, Mikhail Saakashveli, trained at the Harvard Law School. Friendly to Bush and western countries.
Isn't Putin walking on thin ice? He would be liable for racist and repressive misconduct and subject to lawsuit by Russia's version of America's ACLU for the murders and other crimes he has committed...if only they had one, which would be called Russia's Civil Liberties Union or RCLU. He is a guilty man and someone, somewhere is surely plotting his demise before taking him into custody to be tried at The Hague for war crimes.
Also, he is a racist for longing for the company of Ukraine and Georgia, both of which populations are lighter-skin people. That may sound far out, but it's true. You don't see him annexing Africa, do you?
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5) Right now Putin controls all the oil that Russia produces and that is considerable but not enough. He wants his dirty little hands on ALL the oil in the Black Sea area, including that which comes from Kerakistan and Aberbyjon--oil that runs to the West through Georgia. He needs that oil, he is insistent on getting his hands on it. Not to steal it, necessarily, not outright. But to manipulate prices. Now, his oil and the Black Sea oil fight for dominance. If Putin wants to put all of Europe and on its knees, teaching them a lesson they will never forget, coming begging for oil to warm its homes this coming winter, he must control all supplies and be able to turn the spigot off when necessary.
6) So it's not about oil per se, but about POWER and PRICE OF OIL.
Look, Russia is a small nation of only about $1.7 trillion in gross national product, while the U.S. has about 14.5 trillion and the European Union about $17 trillion. So this is a case of Putin's brains and manipulative power verses countries with more money and people, and whether Putin's small country of 140 million people can demonstrae their superiority, can bring America's population of over 350 million and Europe's almost 450 million to their knees--Do you get it. Why does Putin remind me of Hitler. Hitler had this Arian nation notion of superiority and failed to prove it. Putin has the same notion and is hell bent to prove it this time.
If he can pull it off it will be a classic David defeating Goliath, little kid defeating heavyweight champion of the world. He loves the chance to show how good he is in international politics and power play.
Experts like Dick Morris, Clinton's former advisor, already concede that Putin is probably the most shrewd power broker in the world,and Columbin President Alvaro Uribe is second. Bush? In this kind of horse race, Bush is a non-starter--a weak reed in a fast running current.
Meanwhile, don't expect a quick resolution of the Russian-Georgian debaccle. Russia actually has no standing in Georgia proper. And in the peace accord arranged by France's President Sarkozy and Putin it is vague on one matter--who would be qualified to negotiate with Russia to really resolve matters. The agreement reportedly said Russia would not negotiate with Sarkozy over the removal of troops for good, but with Georgia and the person representing Georgia couldn't be it's legally elected president, Saakahvili. Wow! That changes things.
What it means is that Putin created for himself veto power over who would become president of Georgia. Now, if that isn't the most illegal thing you've ever seen-- America and Georgia won't stand for that. All Putin is doing is securing for himself the naming of a president of Georgia friendly to Russia. That point established, he can then use this man or woman as his puppet just as he does not with Russia's president, Medvedev. Putin can then shut off the oil when and how often he wants, thus giving him power over Europe this winter when they come begging for oil to heat their homes.
It's a grand scheme and it seems to be working--so far. But it is only round one for Putin. When this is established, he will want to take Poland back, along with the Balcan states and other nations surrounding him. He has a devious plan to get them back into his circle of invluence, believe me, he does. America must be wise enough to stop him in his tracks, even if it means armed conflict involvin
The Truth On Georgia and Russia
Tbilisi, Georgia--There have been some great blogs on this war topic, but I believe I've now figured it out. Read the following and set me straight if I'm wrong on anything.
1) Russia's invasion was not primarily about helping those poor, defenseless people in South Ossetia province of Georgia.
2) Give Tzar Putin and his puppet President Medvedev credit. Russia has long wanted to throw its weight around--again--and when the chance appeared in its own back yard to tear into little Georgia--which Putin calls his "near abroad"--he took it. I'm told by a political observer friend of mine in Sweden--or is he a Russian?-- that Russia legally had observers on the ground in Ossetia, and so did Mikhail Saakashvili, president of the country (Georgia) in which Ossetia belongs.
3) Despite the fact that Saakashvili was legally voted president of Georgia, Putin wants to oust him illegally and it all has to do with oil. Legalities mean nothing to a man destined to rule the world. He's got that "world- domination-is-my-destiny" look in his eyes, my place in history, doesn't he?
g American soldiers and sailers.
1) Russia's invasion was not primarily about helping those poor, defenseless people in South Ossetia province of Georgia.
2) Give Tzar Putin and his puppet President Medvedev credit. Russia has long wanted to throw its weight around--again--and when the chance appeared in its own back yard to tear into little Georgia--which Putin calls his "near abroad"--he took it. I'm told by a political observer friend of mine in Sweden--or is he a Russian?-- that Russia legally had observers on the ground in Ossetia, and so did Mikhail Saakashvili, president of the country (Georgia) in which Ossetia belongs.
3) Despite the fact that Saakashvili was legally voted president of Georgia, Putin wants to oust him illegally and it all has to do with oil. Legalities mean nothing to a man destined to rule the world. He's got that "world- domination-is-my-destiny" look in his eyes, my place in history, doesn't he?
g American soldiers and sailers.
Russia Leaving Georgia? Is It Really True?
August 14, 2008
Gori, Georgia--There are reports coming out of Georgia today that Russian troops are pulling out of Gori on its major east-west highway. But are they leaving other parts of Georgia?
Yahoo News said the strategically located city [Gori] is 15 miles south of South Ossetia, the separatist region where Russian and Georgian forces fought a brutal five-day battle. Russian troops entered Gori on Wednesday, after the two sides signed the cease-fire that called for their forces to pull back to the positions they held before the fighting started.
One U.S. cargo plane arrived in Georgia carrying humanitarian aid from the United States . Observers say this is the first tangible results of an American response that Georgia's leader suggests has been confused and naive. The first shipment arrived on a C-17 military plane, an illustration of the close U.S.-Georgia military cooperation that has angered Russia.
A previous U.S. plane landed Wednesday with cots, blankets, medical supplies, and tents for Georgians displaced by the fighting.
But just as this author suspects, it is believed Russia will probably not leave the country, but take up new positions south of South Osettia in show of strength to protect Russians living there and to discourage Georgians from entering.
This could be a real problem for Georgia long term, to have an occupying army in their country for an interminable length of time with no known exit requirement is certainly not what the U.S. and France anticipated when they signed the agreement with Putin.
Why couldn't they bivouac in South Osettia, a move that would reduce tensions in an already warn-torn country rife with animosity toward Russia made worse by the brutal rough-shod, excessive punishment their soldiers administered to this small nation. The damage inflicted by Russia was over the top--far more excessive by anyone's standards than needed. They did not need to totally destroy private homes and businesses the way they did with their air bombs and tank missiles. But, there again, Russia is not the United States.
When the U.S. went into Bagdad, and even before, our bombs were pin-point targeted to hit military installations and strategic targets only. There were errors, of course there too, with homes damaged inadvertently and innocent people killed or displaced,but it was kept to an absolute minimum and it wasn't on such a massive basis per square mile as in Georgia.
Reports coming out of Georgia say Russian troops have also left Poti, a Black Sea port city with an oil terminal. Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili says this branch terminus is vital to Georgia's economic health.
Georgian police on the outskirts of Gori halted civilian traffic on Thursday morning, and scores of light vehicles carrying Georgian soldiers were parked in the area. The soldiers said they were awaiting further orders. The truce allows Russian forces to take unspecified "security measures," raising the possibility they could try to stay in Georgia proper under the justification of protecting their troops in South Ossetia. Gori was battered by sporadic Russian bombing before the cease-fire, with Russia saying it was targeting a military installation near the city.
The arrival of Russian troops raised suspicion that Russia would try to cut the country in half which early reports confirmed.Gori is about 60 miles west of the capital Tbilisi, and the Russian troops' presence was viewed by many as a demonstration of the vulnerability of the capital to attack.
It may be a good idea for President Mikhail Saakashvili to visit with the Finnish president and others in Finland to study how Finland has been so successful in living next to the "Big Bear" for so many years without conflict. Obviously, appeasement is one answer. Another is that they need to downplay their alliance with the U.S., to create a comfort zone for Prime Minister Putin's fragile ego. In other words, create a so-called political neutral zone, while adopting the U.S. freedoms including private enterprise as Finland has done.
Among many people, Georgia comes off as the villain and Russia the good guy as depicted by the cartoon above. Somehow, Saakashvili needs to reverse this impression and mount a moderate public relations campaign of his own. He certainly has the sympathy of leaders in Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and other Baltic and Caucasus nations surrounding
Russia. Many of them came to Georgia's president and/or communicated sympathy for the Georgian plight during this conflict, plus their worries and advice. Coexistence should be the byword for future dealings with this ruthless leader, Vladimir Putin, but not capitulation.
Gori, Georgia--There are reports coming out of Georgia today that Russian troops are pulling out of Gori on its major east-west highway. But are they leaving other parts of Georgia?
Yahoo News said the strategically located city [Gori] is 15 miles south of South Ossetia, the separatist region where Russian and Georgian forces fought a brutal five-day battle. Russian troops entered Gori on Wednesday, after the two sides signed the cease-fire that called for their forces to pull back to the positions they held before the fighting started.
One U.S. cargo plane arrived in Georgia carrying humanitarian aid from the United States . Observers say this is the first tangible results of an American response that Georgia's leader suggests has been confused and naive. The first shipment arrived on a C-17 military plane, an illustration of the close U.S.-Georgia military cooperation that has angered Russia.
A previous U.S. plane landed Wednesday with cots, blankets, medical supplies, and tents for Georgians displaced by the fighting.
But just as this author suspects, it is believed Russia will probably not leave the country, but take up new positions south of South Osettia in show of strength to protect Russians living there and to discourage Georgians from entering.
This could be a real problem for Georgia long term, to have an occupying army in their country for an interminable length of time with no known exit requirement is certainly not what the U.S. and France anticipated when they signed the agreement with Putin.
Why couldn't they bivouac in South Osettia, a move that would reduce tensions in an already warn-torn country rife with animosity toward Russia made worse by the brutal rough-shod, excessive punishment their soldiers administered to this small nation. The damage inflicted by Russia was over the top--far more excessive by anyone's standards than needed. They did not need to totally destroy private homes and businesses the way they did with their air bombs and tank missiles. But, there again, Russia is not the United States.
When the U.S. went into Bagdad, and even before, our bombs were pin-point targeted to hit military installations and strategic targets only. There were errors, of course there too, with homes damaged inadvertently and innocent people killed or displaced,but it was kept to an absolute minimum and it wasn't on such a massive basis per square mile as in Georgia.
Reports coming out of Georgia say Russian troops have also left Poti, a Black Sea port city with an oil terminal. Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili says this branch terminus is vital to Georgia's economic health.
Georgian police on the outskirts of Gori halted civilian traffic on Thursday morning, and scores of light vehicles carrying Georgian soldiers were parked in the area. The soldiers said they were awaiting further orders. The truce allows Russian forces to take unspecified "security measures," raising the possibility they could try to stay in Georgia proper under the justification of protecting their troops in South Ossetia. Gori was battered by sporadic Russian bombing before the cease-fire, with Russia saying it was targeting a military installation near the city.
The arrival of Russian troops raised suspicion that Russia would try to cut the country in half which early reports confirmed.Gori is about 60 miles west of the capital Tbilisi, and the Russian troops' presence was viewed by many as a demonstration of the vulnerability of the capital to attack.
It may be a good idea for President Mikhail Saakashvili to visit with the Finnish president and others in Finland to study how Finland has been so successful in living next to the "Big Bear" for so many years without conflict. Obviously, appeasement is one answer. Another is that they need to downplay their alliance with the U.S., to create a comfort zone for Prime Minister Putin's fragile ego. In other words, create a so-called political neutral zone, while adopting the U.S. freedoms including private enterprise as Finland has done.
Among many people, Georgia comes off as the villain and Russia the good guy as depicted by the cartoon above. Somehow, Saakashvili needs to reverse this impression and mount a moderate public relations campaign of his own. He certainly has the sympathy of leaders in Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and other Baltic and Caucasus nations surrounding
Russia. Many of them came to Georgia's president and/or communicated sympathy for the Georgian plight during this conflict, plus their worries and advice. Coexistence should be the byword for future dealings with this ruthless leader, Vladimir Putin, but not capitulation.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
You Can't Trust Putin And The Russians
Russian Convoy Rides Rough-Shod, Bombing And Shooting Up Gori Again!
Washington--Just as I predicted several days ago, you can't trust Putin and Russia. Here's a feed from Yahoo News about the latest in Georgia, where
Washington--Just as I predicted several days ago, you can't trust Putin and Russia. Here's a feed from Yahoo News about the latest in Georgia, where
President Bush said a massive U.S. aid package was on the way for tens of thousands uprooted in the conflict and demanded Russia "keep its word and act to end this crisis."
"The United States stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia and insists that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected," Bush said sternly in Washington.
Read the story and come back and comment here:Who Is Our Enemy, This Man Called Putin?
Moscow--From his base as president, and now prime minister, Vladimir Putin likes to think of himself as ruling the world. At least, having something to say about anything that happens in the world because, inevitably, it will someday come to affect Russia and its allies.
Putin has called the demise of the Soviet Union the greatest political catastrophe of the 20th century. He yearns for a return to those superpower days. In a talk he gave in 2007 in Munich, he could not disguise his Cold War nostalgia, asserting that "global security" was ensured by the "strategic potential of two superpowers."
His bitter complaint today is that there is only one superpower, what he calls "that behemoth that dominates a unipolar world." He knows that Moscow lacks the economic, military and even demographic means to challenge America as it did in Soviet days. He speaks of the aggrieved have-not countries that Russia might lead in countering American power.
He has been active in stirring up the world. He has a close partnership with China, a country the U.S. deems worthy of further cultivating, both for political and economic reasons. President Bush's presence at the Olympic Games this week had more purpose than to complain to them about their regressive civil rights record. Bush understands that at the end of the games, for China it will be business as usual, with more people thrown in jail, more reprisals, more leaning on Tibet, and less freedoms than feigned this week. At least one benefit of repression is that terrorists and other malefactors know that if they do something untoward, there is an iron hand to put them down permanently.
So far the Games have been relatively free from violence, bar the one American tourist killed and another injured, but even that was probably not done by terrorists.
Putin has dirty hands, and this war which he perpetrated starting on August 8th is further evidence of his ability to do whatever he wants and apparently get away with it. This is a man who turned Chechnya into a smoldering ruin. A man who won't let Scotland Yard interrogate the polonium-soaked (radioactive chemical) thugs it suspects of murdering Alexander Litvinenko, yet another Putin opponent who met an untimely and unprosecuted death.
Putin is the spreader of weapons of mass destruction. He frequently oversteps his national borders...in the economic, political, cultural and educational policies he imposes on other nations. Something he calls Bush. Have you noticed--the typical guilty mind is prone to criticize others for the very thing of which they themselves are guilty?
As you read the next paragraph you will discover why, when he had the chance in Georgia, he did not totally destroy or even damage the oil pipeline that junctions near Tbilisi.
As president and now as prime minister over a puppet president, Putin is the man who consolidated dictatorial authority at home and the capitulation of both domestic (Yukov and Gazprom Oil) and foreign companies. The word on the American investment street is that you invest in Russia at your own risk. Putin now has his eyes on moving the three friendly billionaire Russian partners in BP Oil into a commanding position and bumping out the British influence. Less than a month ago he caused the Russian partners to force the partnership's CEO, Robert Dudley, to skedaddle from Russia. The trio had registered a string of progressively more severe complaints against Dudley, who is now trying to run things from Central Europe after Russian officials refused to renew his visa.
Dudley's long-distance efforts (which you have to believe won't be workable for long), along with the departure of James Owen, TNK-BP's independent CFO who began this week by stepping down from his post amid the worsening struggle between BP and those same three Russian billionaire partners. Owen's departure, will make it easier for the Russian partners to gain control of TNK-BP. Indeed, oil experts say BP will be squeezed out of the picture before long.
BP's difficulties in Russia follow the stripping of Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-A) (NYSE: RDS-B) from its position as operator at Sakhalin Island a year and a half ago. Most of Shell's assets were sold under duress to Russia's giant natural gas company Gazprom (OTC BB: OGZPY.PK). That's a fate that could await at least some of the TNK-BP assets. And ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) also has found operating on Sakhalin less than a bed of roses, although it continues to ply its trade there.
All this has giant implications for BP and for other companies -- France's Total (NYSE: TOT) comes quickly to mind -- with an eye toward working more in Russia. In BP's case, its TNK-BP assets constitute about a fourth of its global production and almost a fifth of its reserves. While being forced to sell those assets, at whatever price, might not cripple the company, it'd nevertheless deal it a painful blow.
At the bottom of all of this upheaval is Putin. He probably yields more power, if not moral suasion, in the world than George Bush. He is the man who bullies other countries, who cuts off energy supplies to Ukraine, Georgia, and Belarus in brazen acts of political and economic extortion.Political observer Charles Krauthammer believes he is a "modest" man in some ways, though he often appears as the Russian godfather. He loves to challenge the status quo, to challenge the dominant power to boost his own. Krauthammer doesn't think he wants to "bury us" as Kruschev said he would do, only in his 19th-Century crude and elemental way to diminish us.
How Long Will Withdrawal From Georgia Take?
Mikhail Saakashvili speaking to French President Nikolas Sarkozy in Tbilisi
August 13, 2008
Tbilisi, Georgia--Apparent accord was reached this morning between the Russians and Georgia for Russian troop withdrawals. It is not certain when this will take place, but if you know Valdimir Putin you know it will not be in haste--better next week than this. That kind of thing. And maybe better in October or next spring? I doubt that. Occupation is not in the plan. It takes a lot of money to maintain troops in a "foreign" country, and if he is anything he is a pragmatist. Something we can't always say about George Bush.
Putin is the former leader of Russia's KBG and a two-term president and he's no dummy. Words like "slick, conniving, treacherous, scoundrel, bounder, conspiring, intrigue and bastard" are too mild for a man who "miraculously" became prime minister when Mikail Medvedev, his protege, became president. But, of course, you must remember that Putin still controls more than half of Parliament, so his candidacy as prime minister was a "shoo-in," a foregone conclusion.
He's so tough, he even has his protege Dimitri Medvedev eating out of his hand. Nothing happens in Russia without the stain of approval of Vlad Putin. If you're wondering whether to believe him when he blames the president of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili, for starting the war, and that's what most of the news wires are saying, then you don't know Putin well enough.
Even in his own country, Saakashvili is coming in for some pretty stern criticizm this morning. Former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze said Georgia made a "grave mistake" in advancing into the breakaway province of South Ossetia without adequate preparation. That's true, and this American-educated Saakashvili, who has a law degree, is no match for the wits of Putin.
Here's my take on what probably transpired:
Putin has long wanted to punish Georgia for gravitating to the West and, in fact, seems surrounded by Western-leaning countries including the Baltic states, and he saw a natural opening in the obvious great angst between a region of Georgia, South Ossetia, and Georgia. Eduard Kokoyty has been its leader since 2001. I posit that Putin, with Medvedev with him in the Kremlin, called the president of this little Ossetia area to Moscow to lay down the law.
They're sitting in a stunning Kremlin office with it's thick red carpets, heavy draperies that let in only a little light, and lavish dark furniture. Behind the largest desk Kokoyty has ever seen is Putin, whose icy cold, penetrating blue eyes do not leave Eduard's as they speak. This conversation probably takes place in July.
"Eduard, so kind of you to come in. We are aware of the problems you are experiencing with this Saakashveli guy who's out to make a name for himself.'
Eduard Kokoyty's body shakes a little as it's his turn to speak. "I...I don't know where you get your information...
Putin smiles coldly, "Oh, come now...we have our spies, both in South Ossetia and Georgia, itself. I'll bet I could tell you what you had for breakfast this morning."
Everyone laughs.
"We know that you are on shaky ground with your people. Want to solidify your position as president and at the same time help Russia?"
"Uh, of course I do. I'll do anything." At that moment Putin had him. In Kokoyty's totally psyched out mentality, he would shine the prime ministers boots if he asked.
The words "do anything" alerts Putin--this guy's a pushover.
"Then listen to me you sonuvabitch, and listen carefully," he says leaning over the desk with even a stronger eye-to-eye contact, magnetic force that literally freezes Koko.
"I have a plan. If you work it right, it could be the end of this western-leaning Saakashvili fellow, and Georgia will not only be in our hands, but your little province will be declared a sovereign country...or if you wish it can be included, with North Ossetia, as part of the great Russian empire. If you refuse or work it wrong, you're a dead man, understand?"
"I would like nothing more than to work for you, your highness," he says, as if he is talking to King Saud. Putin reminds him he is not a "highness" and Koko's face glows red.
In that simple, intimidating exchange a plan is hatched. Eduard Kokoyty would start a series of raids on Georgian facilities, like bombing the post office, rail line, oil line, roads, and bridges. "And I'll have some of our million-man army, with tanks and warplanes available," assures Putin. "They'll be staged and waiting at the border as this fool Saakashvili plays the part of the fly in our neat little "spider and the fly" entrapment. We will wipe his country off the map and blame him for starting a war. In fact, if you like, I will blame him for genocide and have him tried at the Hague. Do you see the genius of this plan?"
"I...I do, your rightness." By now Putin is smiling, knowing he has this little fart in the palm of his hand.
So the commando activities begin and Saakashvili gets on edge and forgets to prepare properly, starting what he thought was an innocent little invasion of this little section of his country to put it down once and for all. He forgot to send out spies across the Russia border. If he had, they would have warned against the massive and deadly Russian army poised to strike. The rest is history.
Since 1991 Putin has done everything he could to consolidate, following the cataclysmic breakup of the Soviet Union which once had greater population than the U.S., something like 350 million people. Now it is a condensed country of 140 million, but it has resources. Thanks to Western style initiative and private enterprise, Russia is coming back, and with this Georgian affair completed so successfully, Putin can honestly say "Russia is back."
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Russia Stays In Georgia--That's An Outrage
August 12, 2008
Tbilisi, Georgia--Following pressure from the United States and the European Union, Russia has haulted it's war efforts but troops remain in this sovereign nation, for how long no one knows.
Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the United States of hypocrisy in a tough statement that reflected both the measure of his anger at the West and the U.S. He is upset at America because we invaded Iraq. But there is a vast difference between Russia's conquests and America's. We ousted a tyrant and within a short time America will be pulling out our troops without taking anything, including oil revenue, from the Iraqi people. We are an invited guest at this time. Russia is not.
The U.S. has invested billions of dollars in Iraqi infra-structure and security and the money drain from America to Iraq continues despite many conservatives who believe we should exact moneys spent on infra-structure and security from Iraqi oil revenues as pay-back.
America has fought many wars, but has never done so for territorial conquest or to expand our borders. To wit: Japan, Korea, Viet Nam, Germany, Italy, and the whole of Western Europe. On the other hand, Russia, a reduced-size country of about 140 million people, is acting like the bully on the corner stealing candy-pops out of the mouths of children. It has constantly wanted to expand, and for periods of time in its history it has done just that, by bully force.
Since the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviets lost their Baltic provinces and other states such as Georgia surrounding Russia, the Soviets have been angry and have wanted to regain territory. It is my view that this is what this conflict is about and it will be tough to drive Russia out of Georgia. Putin is an expansionist dictator, despite the pseudo-democratization that supposedly took place in Russia. Putin has consolidated power to the extent that he is a dictator without restraint or term limits in a country without freedom of the press, freedom of speech, or really free markets.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said more than 2,000 people have been killed in South Ossetia since Friday, most of them Ossetians with Russian passports. The figures could not be independently confirmed, but refugees said hundreds had been killed.
Here's the history of what has been called the South Ossetian War:
The 2008 South Ossetia war is a military conflict that started on August 8, 2008 involving Georgia, South Ossetian and Abkhazian secessionists and the Russian Federation.
1. Russian army moved from Abkhazia and took control of a Georgian base near Senaki. 2. Thousands of South Ossetia Civilians fled north following Saturday's attacks. 3. Russia attacked Tbilisi airport and the Baku-Tbilsi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.
South Ossetia and Abkhazia are territories within Georgia that declared independence from Georgia and have been acting in a de facto independent capacity since the early 1990s. Neither state has been diplomatically recognized by any member of the United Nations. In the early 2000s, it was reported that 95 percent of population in South Ossetia were Russian citizens. The conflict began on August 8, 2008 after Georgia launched a military offensive to surround and capture the capital of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali immediately after a ceasefire. Georgia claimed to have been provoked by South Ossetian attacks, which South Ossetia denies.
Later the same day, Russia responded by moving its troops across the Georgian border, bringing ground forces into South Ossetia and Abkhazia and launching air strikes on targets elsewhere in the country. The Russian government's stated justification for entering Georgian territory was to protect its own citizens and to prevent "a genocide by Georgian forces". As Georgia retreated from its offensive in South Ossetia, it claimed it was defending itself from "Russian aggression." Georgians killed at least 1000 South Ossetian people before the Russians intervened. Russia responded to the charge in the United Nations, saying Georgia had started the war by conducting a military operation against South Ossetia, which Georgia does not deny. Georgia insisted it had earlier been provoked by attacks by South Ossetian militants, which South Ossetia denies.
Most international observers have called for a peaceful solution to the conflict The European Union and the United States expressed a will to send a joint delegation to try to negotiate a cease-fire. Russia ruled out peace talks with Georgia until the latter withdrew from South Ossetia and signed a legally binding pact renouncing the use of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazi.
Both separatist provinces are backed by Russia. Russian officials had given signals that the fighting could pave the way for them to be absorbed into Russia. That's what Dictator Putin and his puppet president, Demitry Medvedev, want.
Georgia borders the Black Sea between Turkey and Russia and was ruled by Moscow for most of the two centuries preceding the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union. South Ossetia and Abkhazia have run their own affairs without international recognition since fighting to split from Georgia in the early 1990s.
Ossetians are a disntinct Iranic ethnic group whose origin lies along the Don River. They came to the Caucasus after they were driven out of their homeland by Mongol invasions in the 13th century. Some of them settled in territory now known as North Ossetia, which is now part of Russia, and South Ossetia, which is recognized by all members of the United Nations as part of Georgia. South Ossetia currently has a Georgian ethnic minority of about one fifth (14,000) of the total population (70,000). The region, which is one and a half times the area of Luxembourg[(roughly 6 percent of the total territory of Georgia) broke away from Georgia in the 1991–1992 war (in which more than 2,000 people are believed to have died because, as the BBC says, South Ossetians wanted to unite with the rest of their ethnic group in North Ossetia and did not want to accept being citizens of the Georgian government in Tbilisi. A force with 500 troops each from Russia, North Ossetia-Alania (part of Russia), South Ossetia and Georgia monitored a 1992 truce. Georgia accuses the Russian troops of siding with the separatists, which Moscow denies.
Sporadic clashes between separatist and Georgian forces have killed dozens of people in the previous few years. Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili proposed an alternative peace accord, under which South Ossetia would be given "a large degree of autonomy" within a federal state. The separatist leaders note they want instead full independence.
Restoring South Ossetia and Abkhazia—a region with a similar separatist movement—to Georgian control has been a major goal for Saakashvili since the Rose Revolution. Additionally, since 2002, the U.S. Army has been providing substantial amounts of support and training to Georgia. The Georgian budget contains military costs estimated at just under US$1 billion or about 4.5 percent of GDP (purchasing power parity), while Russian military spending jumped to US$40 billion, with a 16 percent increase over last year. Russia has the largest army in Europe, estimated at just over one million.
The full independence of South Ossetia was supported by 99 percent of South Ossetia's civil population according to the South Ossetian independence referendum with 95.2 percent of the population participating in the referendum.
Some sources claim that the South Ossetian separatist government is "dependent on Russia", although these sources do not provide any reliable evidence or reference. These sources also say that the South Ossetian separatist government "is funded by Moscow", which "supplies two thirds of their annual budget" and the Russian state-controlled gas company Gazprom has made "investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars" in South Ossetia.
Author's note: Gazprom, if you will remember, was an independent company created with private funding in Russia--much of it from foreign banks and people--before Putin nationalized it. So much for private enterprise in Russia. Putin saw a good thing and said, "Mine!" This is just one more evidence of the acquisitiveness and illegitimacy of the Russian leader swine. People who invest in Russia are throwing their money away. If the business succeeds, there's a good chance Putin will put his hands on it.
Most of the residents of South Ossetia are Russian citizens holding Russian passports: according to the British media source BBC, "more than half of South Ossetia's 70,000 citizens are said to have taken up Moscow's offer of a Russian passport." Russian President Dmitry Medvedev states that 90 percent of South Ossetia residents possess them. Russia has argued this justifies intervention to protect its citizens, within its peacekeeping mission.
Let joint American-European arbitors do their work, and they will if Russia allows it. My suggestion to George Bush, as stated earlier in Angstblogger.blogspot.com is that he insist the Russians leave the sovereign nation of Georgia immediately or he will call for an emergency meeting of NATO with the sole purpose of voting on the inclusion of Ukraine in NATO.
This should scare the pants of Putin to the point where he will immediately withdraw his troops and agree to pay war damage reparations to war-torn Georgia.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Russia's Aim Is Clear: Capture Georgia
President Mikheil Saakasvilli was educated in America in law and is pro-American.
Russia doesn't want to protect anyone, least of all the Ossetian Russians who fled when Georgian tanks rolled in. Russia's aim is to take back Georgia by hook or crook. And by the time this post circulates, due to inaction on Bush's part and bad advice from Democrats, the Russians will be in the driver's seat, having killed or captured most of the Georgian army--an army that the U.S. financed and trained.
There is no excuse for inaction on the part of the United States. We have troops, planes, and other assets in nearby Germany. Land our paratroopers in Georgia's capital city of Tbilisi--downtown Tbilisi, in fact. We need a show of strength, NOW! Drop some tanks, have the airforce make a couple of strikes against Russia's tanks. Drop them in their tracks. Then you will get the attention of Putin and Medvedev. Russia is an uninvited enemy. We would be an invited guest.
World opinion is on our side, as it is with poor little Georgia. It can't possible stand up against this Russian assault. Help, George. Help...
If you wait for the European Union to act, as Democrats suggest, it will soon be too late. Even if you get an emergency session of the U.N. today and a resolution condemning Russia, so what? That won't stop them. One thing Russia knows that all liberals must learn--especially Obama--is that you lead with strength, not with some pretty little gestures like Obama made the other day when he said all sides should act with "restraint." That's such a gentle word, it belongs in the Kindergarten, not rough-and-tumble world politics. I can't believe he's like that. What kind of person would seek the presidency in today's world and not be tough minded?
Georgia is a small, hilly country. We have an embassy in Tbilisi so with one phone call we can logically and legally beef up our embassy and save this city by acting now. Georgia's location, nestled between the Black Sea, Russia, and Turkey, gives it strategic importance far beyond its size. It is developing as the gateway from the Black Sea to the Caucasus and the larger Caspian region, but also serves as a buffer between Russia and Turkey. Georgia has a long relationship with Russia, but it is reaching out to its other neighbors and looking to the West in search of alternatives and opportunities. Right now it needs our help.
Georgia signed a partnership and cooperation agreement with the European Union, participates in the Partnership for Peace, and encourages foreign investment. France, Germany and the United Kingdom also have embassies in Tbilisi.
The tiny nation of Georgia is also a member of the United Nations, the OSCE, the CIS and the Council of Europe. Why have we heard so little from these groups about this crisis? What's the use of belonging to groups if you get no help when it matters?
Because of its strategic location it is in both the Russian and American spheres of influence. In common with many ex-Soviet republics it is both influenced by and fearful of its larger neighbor. Now, we can see why! The invitation of US troops into the country caused tension with Moscow some time ago, but to that I say so what! that should not deter America from taking action while its still not too late. The Russian government also believes that Georgia is being used by Chechen separatists. That's a ruse. The American government has interests in an oil pipeline passing through the country. Former president Eduard Shevardnadze attempted to balance these competing demands. The new leadership of President Mikheil Saakasvilli is much closer to the United States and George Bush. Friends don't let friends down, George.
George, don't let your presidency end on a sour note like this. Get a move on and do something dramatic to stop these Ruuskis. They are land grabbers in the worst way.
Georgia has many mountains. Its highest point is 5,048 m above sea level. The mountains running through Georgia are called the Caucasus Mountains.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Late Breaking News: Obama Urges Constraint?
Looks like there is a Barack Obama, afterall. The latest news had Republican John McCain saying Russia should withdraw its forces. While Democrat Barack Obama condemned the violence and urged the two sides to show restraint.
I can see him now as president: "Now, you naughty boys, just stop that fighting immediately. Fighting is wrong, show some constraint, for the love of heaven, please."
I'm not sure he would have used the word "heaven."
But "restraint" will not bring this matter to a satisfactory resolution. A show of power will, as I explained in the previous article. Bush should get personally involved in Beijing by getting in Putin's face.
"Show restraint?" That was pretty weak, Barak. I thought I taught you better in Europe two weeks ago. Go in with power. Hit them with warnings. America has as much right--even more--to be in Georgia as Russia. After all, we are Georgia's allies, right? Russia is the enemy. The Russians hate the Georgians and vice versa. Drop some stern warnings now if you expect to get elected, which I hope you aren't. This flighty little diplomatic stance will get you nowhere. Show some teeth!
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has long pledged to take back control of South Ossetia, which battled Georgia for de facto independence in fighting that ended in 1992. On Friday, Moscow sent tanks into the region when Georgia launched a major military offensive to retake the breakaway province. And these tanks were staged on the border for a week waiting for word from Russia's spies inside Georgia. Yes, Russia still has spies. They knew every move Saakashvili was going to make before he made it. They are diabolical. Their plan all along was to take back Georgia and now they're doing it under diplomatic cover and the ruse that Georgia started the war and the Russians are just protecting Russians living there. Baloney!
Campaigning in Iowa, McCain told reporters that the U.S. should convene an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council to resolve the crisis.
"What's most critical now is to avoid further confrontation between Russian and Georgian military forces," McCain said.
The U.S. should work with the European Union to put diplomatic pressure on Russia and help establish an independent peacekeeping force in South Ossetia, McCain said.
Obama, speaking to reporters during a flight to Hawaii for a vacation, said he's getting regular updates on the violence. He said it's important for the United States to work with international partners to end the conflict.
"I wholeheartedly condemn the violation of Georgia's sovereignty. I think it is important at this point for all sides to show restraint and to stop this arms conflict. Georgia's territorial integrity needs to be preserved and now is the time for direct talks," he said during a refueling stop in Sacramento, Calif.
I do like that part about "direct talks."
I can see him now as president: "Now, you naughty boys, just stop that fighting immediately. Fighting is wrong, show some constraint, for the love of heaven, please."
I'm not sure he would have used the word "heaven."
But "restraint" will not bring this matter to a satisfactory resolution. A show of power will, as I explained in the previous article. Bush should get personally involved in Beijing by getting in Putin's face.
"Show restraint?" That was pretty weak, Barak. I thought I taught you better in Europe two weeks ago. Go in with power. Hit them with warnings. America has as much right--even more--to be in Georgia as Russia. After all, we are Georgia's allies, right? Russia is the enemy. The Russians hate the Georgians and vice versa. Drop some stern warnings now if you expect to get elected, which I hope you aren't. This flighty little diplomatic stance will get you nowhere. Show some teeth!
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has long pledged to take back control of South Ossetia, which battled Georgia for de facto independence in fighting that ended in 1992. On Friday, Moscow sent tanks into the region when Georgia launched a major military offensive to retake the breakaway province. And these tanks were staged on the border for a week waiting for word from Russia's spies inside Georgia. Yes, Russia still has spies. They knew every move Saakashvili was going to make before he made it. They are diabolical. Their plan all along was to take back Georgia and now they're doing it under diplomatic cover and the ruse that Georgia started the war and the Russians are just protecting Russians living there. Baloney!
Campaigning in Iowa, McCain told reporters that the U.S. should convene an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council to resolve the crisis.
"What's most critical now is to avoid further confrontation between Russian and Georgian military forces," McCain said.
The U.S. should work with the European Union to put diplomatic pressure on Russia and help establish an independent peacekeeping force in South Ossetia, McCain said.
Obama, speaking to reporters during a flight to Hawaii for a vacation, said he's getting regular updates on the violence. He said it's important for the United States to work with international partners to end the conflict.
"I wholeheartedly condemn the violation of Georgia's sovereignty. I think it is important at this point for all sides to show restraint and to stop this arms conflict. Georgia's territorial integrity needs to be preserved and now is the time for direct talks," he said during a refueling stop in Sacramento, Calif.
I do like that part about "direct talks."
McCain On Top Of Georgian Crisis
Why is it that John McCain is the only candidate calling for Russia to leave Georgia and cease all military actions? Georgia is a constitutionally free country and Russia has attacked oil pipe terminals, airports, and government buildings, killing some 1,500 Georgians along the way.
Georgia has a right to do whatever is necessary to control the property within its borders and assure the freedom of all citizens, whether they still have Russian passports or not.
But I don't see Obama on top of this. Bush will be all over it as soon as he can pull himself away from the track and field events and return to America. But I would think this is a great opportunity to come knocking on Putin's hotel room door. They're both there, George, initiate something, man, and leave a personal message.
What I would do is drop in on him unannounced. Take with you your body guards and when they get inside have them draw their weapons. Putin will do likewise and it will be a crazy standoff. Who's willing to pull the trigger first. Then squint hard at him, George, and tell him that if you don't return to your hotel room in ten minutes you have left instructions for Vice President Cheney to have the Airforce drop some bombs on Russian assets. And if that isn't enough curl up your forehead. Give him that severely worried look. Stare him down. Kennedy did it to Nikita Khrushchev on Cuba, remember, Dude? Kennedy even blockaded Cuba so Russian ships couldn't come in. Is there any way, George, that we can blockade Russia this time and kick their butts out of Georgia?
Polite Obama-ish language wont' do it. Maybe we should issue a warning to Putin and then drop a couple of bombs, wiping out some Russian jets and tanks in Georgia. That would deliver the message and the war would end immediately. Where's the UN and NATO when you need them?
Don't go through diplomatic channels--it takes too long. By the time they get the message Russia may be annexing the entire country of Georgia. That's their end game. They saw this coming and Georgia fell for it, mobilizing troops, attacking rebels in South ... what's its name) and now we have an all-out war and only Russia can stop it.
Interesting, Obama says he knows what to do and say at important times. But he's always a little late. Like the Clinton debates where newsmen always called on her first. His lame answer was mostly, "I agree with everything she said." It was because he doesn't know nothin'. He's stupid as far as foreign affairs are concerned. No, one little trip abroad didn't educate him. He didn't even take the time to talk to our injured boys and girls in army hospitals. Too busy seeing the general. What did he learn? Nothing. He was too busy preparing his Brandenburg speech and hobnobbing with the camera crew. McCain was right. He's a true celeb. But photogenics isn't what we are voting about come November.
Georgia has a right to do whatever is necessary to control the property within its borders and assure the freedom of all citizens, whether they still have Russian passports or not.
But I don't see Obama on top of this. Bush will be all over it as soon as he can pull himself away from the track and field events and return to America. But I would think this is a great opportunity to come knocking on Putin's hotel room door. They're both there, George, initiate something, man, and leave a personal message.
What I would do is drop in on him unannounced. Take with you your body guards and when they get inside have them draw their weapons. Putin will do likewise and it will be a crazy standoff. Who's willing to pull the trigger first. Then squint hard at him, George, and tell him that if you don't return to your hotel room in ten minutes you have left instructions for Vice President Cheney to have the Airforce drop some bombs on Russian assets. And if that isn't enough curl up your forehead. Give him that severely worried look. Stare him down. Kennedy did it to Nikita Khrushchev on Cuba, remember, Dude? Kennedy even blockaded Cuba so Russian ships couldn't come in. Is there any way, George, that we can blockade Russia this time and kick their butts out of Georgia?
Polite Obama-ish language wont' do it. Maybe we should issue a warning to Putin and then drop a couple of bombs, wiping out some Russian jets and tanks in Georgia. That would deliver the message and the war would end immediately. Where's the UN and NATO when you need them?
Don't go through diplomatic channels--it takes too long. By the time they get the message Russia may be annexing the entire country of Georgia. That's their end game. They saw this coming and Georgia fell for it, mobilizing troops, attacking rebels in South ... what's its name) and now we have an all-out war and only Russia can stop it.
Interesting, Obama says he knows what to do and say at important times. But he's always a little late. Like the Clinton debates where newsmen always called on her first. His lame answer was mostly, "I agree with everything she said." It was because he doesn't know nothin'. He's stupid as far as foreign affairs are concerned. No, one little trip abroad didn't educate him. He didn't even take the time to talk to our injured boys and girls in army hospitals. Too busy seeing the general. What did he learn? Nothing. He was too busy preparing his Brandenburg speech and hobnobbing with the camera crew. McCain was right. He's a true celeb. But photogenics isn't what we are voting about come November.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Corruption Becomes You
Obma's friend Bill Ayres proudly steps on U.S. flag
In the previous post, we posited that convicted felon Tony Rezko may have corrupted Barack Obama.
Judicial Watch reports that the Rezko connection is not the only one that Senator Obama has with major contributors to his political campaigns.
Two months after he took his Senate seat in 2005, the Senator purchased $50,000 worth of stock in highly speculative ventures, whose major investors were some of his biggest campaign contributors. Can you see where this is going? Apparently, Barack is a little slow because he allowed himself to get into this moral bind.
Wasn't he listening when Reverend Wright spoke each Sunday for almost 20 years? Surely, he must have said something about living a Christ-like life, something more than the anti-American garbage that spewed out of his mouth like hot water and steam of the Yellowstone geyser Old Faithful.
Barack, one of the Sunday School hymnals has a song entitled, "There's a Right And Wrong To Every Question." It would behoove you to start singing that song in your home instead of a song of your own making, "Shades of Gray Sooth My Soul, Clementine."
One of the speculative ventures was a biotech concern that benefited from legislation that Senator Obama pushed just two weeks after purchasing $5,000 worth of its stock. When he was working to pass that legislation, just whose interest was the Senator advancing--his constituents', the company's, or his own?
FACTS ABOUT OBAMA'S CONNECTION TO TERRORISTS
Senator Obama has a dirty little secret. It's his connection to a known terrorist professor living in Chicago. I was outraged when I saw on TV a few months ago that they had to let this terrorist go because of a legal mistake--the police forgot to read him his rights properly. I'm sitting there watching in total amazement. This professor, William Ayers, said over national TV that, yes, I like to blow things up, and the only sad thing is that I didn't do it more often. And we let this thug get away!
Ayers is a founding member of the terrorist group Weather Underground. Do you recall this group engaged in domestic terrorism in the 1970s and again 1980s? It was infamous. He set off bombs in the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon. His group claimed "credit" for a total of 25 bombings.
Ayres and his fellow Weatherman girlfriend (now his wife) turned themselves in to Federal authorities in 1981, but most charges against them were dropped due to alleged prosecutorial misconduct. Ayers was quoted in the New York Times as saying 'I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough."
Ayres is now a professor at the University of Illinois in Chicago. A few years back, Ayers served with Barack Obama on the board of the non-profit Woods Foundation, which reportedly voted grants totaling $75,000 in 2001 and 2002 to the Arab-American Action Network, a radical organization with terrorist ties.
Ayres and his terrorist wife hosted an intimate political affair for Obama. "It appears that Ayers terrorist past didn't cause the Senator any more qualms or anxiety than did the racist and vicious anti-American statements made from the pulpit by his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright," said Fitton.
The above Ayers case and the Rezko scandal are just two of the matters Judicial Watch is looking into. Back in the recesses of Obama's mind could there be more damning relations and incidents that could take down this man's entire campaign?
Has Tony Rezko Corrupted Barack Obama?
How Long Will It Be Before Obama 'Fesses-Up?'
Let's Have The Facts About Barak Obama
I'm impressed with a non-partisan organization called Judicial Watch, led by Thomas Fitton. It's more conservative than it is liberal, but it attacks corruption wherever it's found, and the White House has been a favorite target in both the Clinton and Bush administrations.
This article is not going to rehash that. It will, however, bring you up to speed about Obama's ties to corrupt people.
"Where there's smoke there's fire." Is it any wonder Obama doesn't like to visit the troops, put his hand on his heart during playing of the National Anthem, or praise our troops at the Brandenberg Gate as he failed to do recently? Is he even member of a church these days?
Reverend Wright has ground into Obama's heart a dislike for America. So have his other "friends" whom we will discuss shortly. He has been systematically programed to dislike--no he actually hates-- America and most of what it stands for. But even that is not the main subject of this article because that's old news to you.
Judicial Watch earns its reputation for exposing corruption and filing worthy lawsuits to right matters in America. Well, you might say, so does the NAACP, doesn't it?
No, the NAACP has a strictly left-wing agenda. It files lawsuits to degrade and knock down things we cherish in this country, like religion, and put American citizens second to foreigners. NAACP tactics and results are highly Obama-ish.
Judicial Watch has been been exposing, investigating, and prosecuting public corruption and corrupt politicians since 1994. They don't endorse or oppose candidates for public office. Though proudly conservative, they are not partisan.
The influential independent newspaper, The Hill, named Judicial Watch one of Washington's "Top Ten Watchdog" groups. They recently made headlines across the nation when a lawsuit they filed against the National Archives forced the release of 11,000 pages of Hillary Clinton's White House schedules.
Their efforts to get these records were stonewalled by both the Clintons and the Bush administration. If Obama is elected he will carry into his administration a lot of political corruption baggage. Worst of all, the liberal left media has given him a free ride. They aren't critical of him because Obama is "their man."
FACTS ABOUT OBAMA'S ILLINOIS HISTORY
Judicial Watch has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Illinois State Archives (ISA) to produce 'any and all public documents...resulting from Illinois State Senator Barack Obama's years in office (1997-2004) that the ISA have in their possession.
Last year when he was questioned on "Meet The Press", Senator Obama stated:
"Well, let's be clear. In the state Senate, every single piece of information, every document related to state government was kept by the State of Illinois and has been disclosed and is available and has been gone through with a fine-toothed comb by news outlets in Illinois...every document related to my interactions with government is available right now."
Yet the State Archives responded to Judicial Watch's request by telling them that they don't maintain those records, nor have they received any requests from Senator Obama to archive any of his records.
"Clearly, Barack Obama, just like Hillary Clinton, has a records problem," said Thomas Fitton. Obama could have his records archived, but has chosen not to so that they aren't available to the public. What he doesn't want is a paper trail of his time in the Illinois State Senate.
"So much for transparency from the candidate who has made honesty and integrity his calling card," said Fitton. He promised that Judicial Watch would be just as persistent digging into his public records as they were with Hillary's.
But in other areas of Obama's life there are paper trails, and some of them are very troubling. For example, his relations with Tony Rezko, the naturalized American citizen who immigrated to the U.S. from Syria, settled in Chicago and long has served as a political godfather to Obama. The last "godfather" he got rid of was Jeramiah Wright, but he is finding it is easier to quit a church than to stiff a convicted felon like Tony Rezko.
We know Rezko basically bankrolled Obama's political career
--beginning with Obama's first campaign for public office in 1966. Rezko and members of his large family have contributed more than $200,000 to Obama campaigns since then. The highly respected London Times referred to Rezko as "Mr. Obama's long-serving bagman." These guys are so close that Rezko and Obama went in on a real estate deal together. In fact, Judicial Watch believes Obama's dealing with Rezko may have allowed Obama to pay $300,000 below the asking price for his $1.65 million Chicago mansion.
Obama and Rezko walked through the mansion together, they bought adjoining properties on the same day, and Rezko paid "full freight" on his deal (to the same owner Obama bought his house from).
This story gets more interesting when you consider that on June 4th in Chicago Tony Rezko was convicted in court for fraud and for a kickback scheme designed to shake down investment firms seeking illinois state government business (a scandal directly involving Governor Rod Blagojevich). Papers filed in this case show that about a month before Obama's suspicious land deal, Rezko received a wire transfer of $3.5 million from Nadhim Auchi, an Iraqi billionaire now living in Britain who made his fortune through "business dealings" with the corrupt Saddam Hussein regime. This transfer raises the question posed by the London Times--whether or not "funds from Nadhmi Auchi...helped Mr. Obama buy his mock Georgian mansion in Chicago."
Now with Rezko convicted for alleged corrupt dealings with the administration of a prominent Illinois Democrat Governor, Rod Blagojevich, we see other connections. Rezko had contributed generously over the years to the Governor's campaigns and was rewarded with appointments to state boards nd commissions.
Do you see the pattern of deception? Of investing in politicians for personal gain by Tony Rezko?
Senator Obama has been scrambling to disassociate himself from Rezko. Obama has already removed $160,000 in Rezko-tainted campaign contributions from his ample campaign treasury and contributed them to charity. (Whose charity?)
"Corrupting the state government of Illinois is bad enough, but now the question is whether Tony Rezko has corrupted Barack Obama, the man who may be our next president," said Fitton.
The American people have a right to an answer, and Judicial Watch is digging into it.
Let's Have The Facts About Barak Obama
I'm impressed with a non-partisan organization called Judicial Watch, led by Thomas Fitton. It's more conservative than it is liberal, but it attacks corruption wherever it's found, and the White House has been a favorite target in both the Clinton and Bush administrations.
This article is not going to rehash that. It will, however, bring you up to speed about Obama's ties to corrupt people.
"Where there's smoke there's fire." Is it any wonder Obama doesn't like to visit the troops, put his hand on his heart during playing of the National Anthem, or praise our troops at the Brandenberg Gate as he failed to do recently? Is he even member of a church these days?
Reverend Wright has ground into Obama's heart a dislike for America. So have his other "friends" whom we will discuss shortly. He has been systematically programed to dislike--no he actually hates-- America and most of what it stands for. But even that is not the main subject of this article because that's old news to you.
Judicial Watch earns its reputation for exposing corruption and filing worthy lawsuits to right matters in America. Well, you might say, so does the NAACP, doesn't it?
No, the NAACP has a strictly left-wing agenda. It files lawsuits to degrade and knock down things we cherish in this country, like religion, and put American citizens second to foreigners. NAACP tactics and results are highly Obama-ish.
Judicial Watch has been been exposing, investigating, and prosecuting public corruption and corrupt politicians since 1994. They don't endorse or oppose candidates for public office. Though proudly conservative, they are not partisan.
The influential independent newspaper, The Hill, named Judicial Watch one of Washington's "Top Ten Watchdog" groups. They recently made headlines across the nation when a lawsuit they filed against the National Archives forced the release of 11,000 pages of Hillary Clinton's White House schedules.
Their efforts to get these records were stonewalled by both the Clintons and the Bush administration. If Obama is elected he will carry into his administration a lot of political corruption baggage. Worst of all, the liberal left media has given him a free ride. They aren't critical of him because Obama is "their man."
FACTS ABOUT OBAMA'S ILLINOIS HISTORY
Judicial Watch has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Illinois State Archives (ISA) to produce 'any and all public documents...resulting from Illinois State Senator Barack Obama's years in office (1997-2004) that the ISA have in their possession.
Last year when he was questioned on "Meet The Press", Senator Obama stated:
"Well, let's be clear. In the state Senate, every single piece of information, every document related to state government was kept by the State of Illinois and has been disclosed and is available and has been gone through with a fine-toothed comb by news outlets in Illinois...every document related to my interactions with government is available right now."
Yet the State Archives responded to Judicial Watch's request by telling them that they don't maintain those records, nor have they received any requests from Senator Obama to archive any of his records.
"Clearly, Barack Obama, just like Hillary Clinton, has a records problem," said Thomas Fitton. Obama could have his records archived, but has chosen not to so that they aren't available to the public. What he doesn't want is a paper trail of his time in the Illinois State Senate.
"So much for transparency from the candidate who has made honesty and integrity his calling card," said Fitton. He promised that Judicial Watch would be just as persistent digging into his public records as they were with Hillary's.
But in other areas of Obama's life there are paper trails, and some of them are very troubling. For example, his relations with Tony Rezko, the naturalized American citizen who immigrated to the U.S. from Syria, settled in Chicago and long has served as a political godfather to Obama. The last "godfather" he got rid of was Jeramiah Wright, but he is finding it is easier to quit a church than to stiff a convicted felon like Tony Rezko.
We know Rezko basically bankrolled Obama's political career
--beginning with Obama's first campaign for public office in 1966. Rezko and members of his large family have contributed more than $200,000 to Obama campaigns since then. The highly respected London Times referred to Rezko as "Mr. Obama's long-serving bagman." These guys are so close that Rezko and Obama went in on a real estate deal together. In fact, Judicial Watch believes Obama's dealing with Rezko may have allowed Obama to pay $300,000 below the asking price for his $1.65 million Chicago mansion.
Obama and Rezko walked through the mansion together, they bought adjoining properties on the same day, and Rezko paid "full freight" on his deal (to the same owner Obama bought his house from).
This story gets more interesting when you consider that on June 4th in Chicago Tony Rezko was convicted in court for fraud and for a kickback scheme designed to shake down investment firms seeking illinois state government business (a scandal directly involving Governor Rod Blagojevich). Papers filed in this case show that about a month before Obama's suspicious land deal, Rezko received a wire transfer of $3.5 million from Nadhim Auchi, an Iraqi billionaire now living in Britain who made his fortune through "business dealings" with the corrupt Saddam Hussein regime. This transfer raises the question posed by the London Times--whether or not "funds from Nadhmi Auchi...helped Mr. Obama buy his mock Georgian mansion in Chicago."
Now with Rezko convicted for alleged corrupt dealings with the administration of a prominent Illinois Democrat Governor, Rod Blagojevich, we see other connections. Rezko had contributed generously over the years to the Governor's campaigns and was rewarded with appointments to state boards nd commissions.
Do you see the pattern of deception? Of investing in politicians for personal gain by Tony Rezko?
Senator Obama has been scrambling to disassociate himself from Rezko. Obama has already removed $160,000 in Rezko-tainted campaign contributions from his ample campaign treasury and contributed them to charity. (Whose charity?)
"Corrupting the state government of Illinois is bad enough, but now the question is whether Tony Rezko has corrupted Barack Obama, the man who may be our next president," said Fitton.
The American people have a right to an answer, and Judicial Watch is digging into it.
The Rise of The Right In America--The Biggest Story In American Politics
Let's Have The Facts About Richard Scaife
We can learn much about a person by his statements. Speaking to John F. Kennedy, Jr. who was editor of a magazine called George at the time, this is what he had to say about Bill Clinton's activities as Arkansas governor and president:
Listen, [Clinton] can order people done away with at his will. He’s got the entire federal government behind him. … God, there must be 60 people [associated with Bill Clinton] who have died mysteriously. (3)
Listen, [Clinton] can order people done away with at his will. He’s got the entire federal government behind him. … God, there must be 60 people [associated with Bill Clinton] who have died mysteriously. (3)
Richard Mellon Scaife has been a key figure in The Scaife Foundation, the Carthage Foundation, and the Allen foundations are largely drawn from the oil and banking holdings of people like Scaife. His personal fortune is estimated by Forbes to be around $800,000. Institutional Affiliations:
Education (no degrees mentioned) University of Pittsburgh, (4) Yale University (4,6) Scaife's funding activiies began in various Scaife began funding the Heritage Initially, Schaife was interested in buying Strangely, Scaife reportedly supports abortion rights. Sources (1) Heritage Foundation Board of Trustees (2) Media Transparency: Committee on the Present Danger http://www.mediatransparency.org/search_results/info_on_any_recipient.php?recipientID=1779 (3) Robert G. Kaiser and Ira Chinoy, “Scaife: Funding Father of the Right,” The Washington Post, May 2, 1999 (4) Robert G. Kaiser, “Money, Family Name Shaped Scaife,” The Washington Post, May 3, 1999 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/scaifemain050399.htm (5) Iver Peterson, “In a Battle of Newspapers, a Conservative Spends Liberally,” The New York Times, December 8, 1997 (6) Karen Rothmeyer, “Citizen Scaife,” Columbia Journalism Review, July/August 1981 http://archives.cjr.org/year/81/4/scaife.asp (7) Mediatransparency: Aggregated Scaife Grants (8) Sally Covington, Moving a Public Policy Agenda: The Strategic Philanthropy of Conservative Foundations, The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, July 1997 (9) Al Franken, Lies (And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them) (New York: Dutton, 2003) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0525947647/qid=1070375663/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/103-1853879-8145446 (10) Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting: Fear & Favor 2000: How Power Shapes the News http://www.fair.org/ff2000.html (11) Dennis B. Roddy, “Tribune-Review’s Election Coverage Gores Vice President’s Campaign,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 8, 2000 (12) Robert B. Gunnison, “Sacramento Union Says It Will Stop Publishing Historic paper closing down after 142 years,” The San Francisco Chronicle, January 13, 1994 (13) From the Feeding Trough, cited on Mediatransparency.org http://www.mediatransparency.org/funderprofile.php?funderID=3 According to a 1999 Washington Post report,
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China, Let Those People Go
In preparation for the Olympics, which started today, China rounded up any and all free-speech advocates in and around Beijing and other cities where the games will take place. They are now "enjoying" free meals and 24-hour "protection" from the harsh misty pollution of the outside. Though I doubt their "boxes" are air conditioned and I'm sure they are hot and very uncomfortable, which is typical Chinese torture for which this repressive regime is famous.
Bush was right to criticize the lack of openness in China as he opened the "massive" U.S. embassy in China's capitol city. Here are his words:
.
Bush was right to criticize the lack of openness in China as he opened the "massive" U.S. embassy in China's capitol city. Here are his words:
He prodded China to lessen repression and "let people say what they think." One must remember that this is a communist nation and its leaders tolerate only government-approved religions. Tell me, which ones are they? I know that Baptists, Mormons, Catholics, Jehova Witnesses, and other western churches can't proselytize here, though the Catholics have some kind of presence and the Mormons have a temple in Hong Kong. China has rounded up dissidents ahead of the Olympics and imposed Internet restrictions on journalists that some say amount to censorship, all contrary to Beijing's commitments when it won hosting rights for the games.
I hope someone is keeping count on Chinese promises made and kept. No doubt, they will be coming back in five years wanting to stage another extraviganza and the world should turn thumps down on that. In a way, John McCain is right. President Bush shouldn't even be in Beijing for these games as a sign that he strongly opposes the treatment China is meting out to its neighbor Tibet.
Obviously, Bush thought he could better get the word out in person, rather than merely boycotting the games. Besides, he wanted to include his father. George W.H. Bush was instrumental in getting some semblance of peaceful talks started thirty years ago under the Nixon Administration and for him this is a sentimental journey.
"We strongly believe societies which allow the free expression of ideas tend to be the most prosperous and the most peaceful," Bush said at the vast American diplomatic complex, built at a cost of $434 million.
His comments came on the heels of a speech Thursday in Bangkok in which he urged greater freedoms for the Chinese people. Beijing responded by defending its human rights record and saying Bush shouldn't be meddling in its internal affairs.
But Bush also took care during the embassy ribbon-cutting to praise China's contributions to society and embrace its relationship with the United States as strong, enduring and candid.
"Candor is most effective where nations have built a relationship of respect and trust," Bush said. "I've worked hard to build that respect and trust. I appreciate the Chinese leadership that have worked hard to build that respect and trust." Obviously, China needs to do more to build that trust. The millions of people in Chinese jails would like to be free.
The new U.S. embassy is its second-largest in the world, only after the heavily fortified compound in Baghdad, and Bush said this is symbolic of China's importance to the United States.
"It reflects the solid foundation underpinning our relations," Bush said. "It is a commitment to strengthen that foundation for years to come."
The ceremony took place with a heavy haze engulfing the Chinese capital despite concerted government efforts to slash pollution before the games. It was full of emotional resonance, with those attending including Bush's father, former President George H.W. Bush, and Henry Kissinger, who was secretary of state during the Nixon presidency when the U.S. began a relationship with China.
It was the senior Bush, as chief of the U.S. liaison office during a critical period when the United States was renewing ties with China, who first brought his son to China in 1975. The current president fondly recalls biking around Beijing when that was the predominant form of transport.
Much has changed since. While there still are lots of bicycles, cars dominant the streets today. Skyscrapers have sprouted like mushrooms. And the proliferation of construction cranes shows the building boom is far from over — evidence of the country's economic growth — though most of the work has ground to a halt to help the anti-pollution battle.
The American embassy, on 10 acres in a new diplomatic zone, is wrapped in freestanding transparent and opaque glass.
The dedication followed China's unveiling of its own imposing new embassy in Washington last week. That 250,000-square-foot glass-and-limestone compound is the largest foreign embassy in the U.S. capital.
The number eight is considered auspicious in China — Friday is 8/8/08 on the calendar — so the embassy ceremony began at 8:08 a.m. local time. The opening ceremonies begin exactly 12 hours later at 8:08 p.m.
Bush, the first American president event to attend an Olympics on foreign soil, was to meet with U.S. athletes right before the ceremonies.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Does Iraqi/US Troop Pullout Agreement Undercut Obama?
Better Be No Hanging Chads When Our People
Ratify The Pullout Treaty With America!
Let's say Barak Obama becomes the next U.S. president. One of his arguing points has consistently been against the war going on so long. He has said that if Americans will vote for him, he will get us out sooner than McCain. But what if Iraq and the Bush Administration decide today that most of our troops will be out by a given date--say June, 2009?
Deal done, America and Iraq agree!
Doesn't that undercut Obama's arguments that he could get us out quicker? That he could do better than Bush or McCain?
On the wires today was such a story.
"BAGHDAD - Iraq and the U.S. are near an agreement on all American combat troops leaving Iraq by October 2010, with the last soldiers out three years after that, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. U.S. officials, however, insisted no dates had been agreed."
If it happens, Obama would have to look elsewhere for notariety. Half his contitutency would be gone, because almost his sole reason for running is his opposition to a war he did not vote for. This would severely weaken the Democratic candidate, even to the point of doing something drastic.
Political observers hope that doesn't include grandstanding. Such as one-upsmanship promises to get us out even sooner. Or maybe he could become an astronaut and get back into the limelight by taking the next shuttle to the moon. All chances for his winning the presidency would be canceled. I hear Obama bumper stickers are cheap on Mars.Wednesday, August 6, 2008
McCain Unlikely To Name His VP Until Obama Chooses His
MCCAIN AND OBAMA PLAYING
HIGH STAKES POKER . . .YOUR MOVE, BARAK
ELKHART, Ind. - There was a possible running mate with Barak Obama Wednesday in Indiana, a state that Democrats haven't won since 1965.
He's Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh whom Obama told the audience was "one of the finest U.S. senators that we have." He didn't introduce him as his running mate, though he is on Obama's short list of VP choices.
The two Democrats were campaigning in what is usually Republican state, one viewed as a battleground this year. Bayh served for two terms as governor of Indiana. He is son of Sen. Birch Bayh who was senator from Indiana from 1962 to 1980 when he was defeated by Dan Quale.
A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Evan Bayh is a former supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton.Democrats view Indiana as competitive, but it has not voted for a Democrat for president since 1964. Fact is, the Republican presidential nominee has taken the Hoosier state every year but twice during the past 72 years, 1936 and 1964.
Indiana polls show Obama running neck-to-neck with John McCain, and some people believe the presence of Bayh on the ticket could seal it for Obama. Also, one news report said Bayh has the potential to help the ticket in Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and maybe even Kentucky. How? It didn't say.
As a Midwesterner and one who hails from a state where the manufacturing industry has been decimated by the recent economic downturn, Bayh is seen as a credible messenger to the blue collar white voters in the Rust Belt -- the same voters who Obama struggled to attract during the primaries.
So Indiana's unemployment rate went from 5.3 percent to 5.8--big deal. Yes it is to the auto workers who were laid off, but that number pales when compared to the nation's 7.1 percent rate during the Carter administration in the 70s. Auto workers understand that we are at a crossroads in American car manufacturing. GM and Ford are losing their business and must quickly retool and produce hybrid cars with more gas mileage. Meanwhile, there will be layoffs, especially among plants that make the big cars and trucks.
All of the above led to speculation that if Obama had settled on Bayh, he would use this visit to announce the decision. But it was not to be. McCain has made it quite clear that he will balance his decision for a VP on what Obama does. Is that smart? Probably, because this is a game of checkers and when one man makes a move, there must be a move by the other to counter or defeat that move. Interesting? It's called high stakes poker. The prize--the White House.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Can We Defeat The ACLU?
The ACLU Must Be Destroyed
Joseph Farah wrote a resounding blog in November 2004 calling for freedom loving Americans to fight the ACLS. It was reprinted again in WorldNetDaily.com in 2008 and I’m foursquare behind his words.
Farah reminds us that because we American conservatives took a passive stance in 2004, the Pentagon succumbed to pressure from the ACLU, beating up a fine, patriotic organization called the Boy Scouts, calling it a “subversive organization.”
In reality, it is the ACLU that needs to be destroyed because it is a “subversive organization” contrary to the faith and purpose of our fathers in every respect.
Farah said “Most Americans just laughed and shook our heads in disbelief years ago when a handful of extremists began systematically targeting the Boy Scouts as a "subversive organization."
But over time, because most Americans didn't fight back, didn't marginalize the extremists, didn't speak up proudly and stand behind the Boy Scouts, it is this outstanding civic organization that has taken a beating.”
The decision by the Defense Department under President George Bush’s watch—shame on you Mr. President and Defense Secretary Don Rumsfield--to accommodate the American Civil Liberties Union at the expense of the Boy Scouts “illustrates the way our country is being reshaped by the worldview of the extremists.”
Our founding fathers must be spinning in their graves today.
If you take the ACLU and other extremists supporting its agenda at their word, you have to believe this fight is about "tolerance."
They maintain they oppose the Boy Scouts because of their "intolerance" for people who don't embrace their values. And, in the name of "tolerance," the ACLU and those who consider the Boy Scouts "subversive," have no tolerance for the Boy Scouts – or anyone else who disagrees with them.
The Pentagon agreed to warn its bases not to sponsor Boy Scout troops in appeasement of the ACLU and end a 5-year-old lawsuit that had charged the government with improperly supporting a group promoting belief in God.
Listen to Farah: “The ACLU is never going to change. It is an anti-American organization. It is a group that seeks to destroy all that makes America a unique experiment in freedom. It is an organization in league with all of America's enemies. It is an organization that hates God, hates what is right, decent and morally upright. It is an organization in league with the Devil, as far as I am concerned.”
And the ACLU is an organization that needs to be isolated, exposed for what it is, recognized for what it is and destroyed if necessary.
Instead, because most Americans have a live-and-let-live attitude, we "tolerate" the ACLU. We wink at it. Maybe we laugh at it. But the ACLU and its allies continue to push our society, to transform it, to remake it in its own twisted image.
The Boy Scouts have been targeted by the ACLU and the homosexual activists because the Boy Scouts have been uncompromising in their views and standards. The subversives hate that. They hate when people stand up for what's right.
When it becomes dangerous to stand up for what's right in America, you know we're in trouble as a nation.
Farah asked a good question: “Let me ask you a question: Would you rather live next door to a family that hosts a Boy Scout troop or a family of homosexual activists? Would you rather live next door to a family of people who attend church or synagogue every week, or would you prefer to live next door to the local head of the ACLU? “
What's so scary about the Boy Scouts?
A Boy Scout pledges to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
A Boy Scout vows to keep himself physically strong, morally straight and mentally alert.
And because of these characteristics and goals, the Boy Scouts today are under siege – the latest target in the Culture War.
When you see an institution like this under attack, it should set off an internal warning that our very way of life – not just the Boy Scouts – is threatened by an organized, well-funded conspiracy.
I’m with Joseph Farah and the Boy Scouts, how about you?
ACLU IS SUBVERSIVE
Any Idea How Subversive The ACLU Is?
They've Made Americans Second-Class Citizens
It's interesting--whenever there's a controversy that will make the front pages you can bet the American Civil Liberties Union is all over it. Naturally, they are the darlings of both America's liberal court system and its left wing "Fourth Estate."
Many years ago when I went to law school there was no such thing as the "cultural defense." Yet, today the ACLU has this defense up its sleeves every time there is a foreigner in the news or on the verge of getting kicked out of the country for violation of our laws. But because of the "cultural" defense, the ACLU has had uncanny success with judges in getting a matter dismissed that would land an ordinary American in jail for several years--and which used to warrant deportation of an alien.
Example: The ACLU invented the new "Cultural Defense" so that their foreign clients with plenty of money could slither around the law. In his book, The Enemy Within, radio show host and author Michael Savage paints an exasperating picture. "The cultural defense goes something like this: 'Your Honor, I know my client killed his wife here in America, but she cheated on him. In the village in China where my client was born, it's actually okay to kill your wife if she cheats on you. My client was just acting in accordance with his culture."
Savage then cites an actual case where this defense worked in the New York Supreme Court, "People Versus Chen." Doug Lu Chen lived in New York as a Chinese immigrant. He was there for a year when he learned his wife Jian Wan had an extramarital affair. Several weeks later, September 7, 1987, Chen "wacked" his wife in the head eight times with a hammer.
The ACLU paid for and produced an expert witness from a fancy liberal college--and you can find many of them in and around New York and Boston--an anthropologist from Hunter College, who told the court that in China Chen's infidelity would be viewed in the traditional Chinese culture as a sign of Chen's weakness. Murdering her could be explained by understanding his cultural background.
Since when did we have to understand someone's cultural heritage to not call murder murder? The ACLU succeeded in moving the court over to this defense, and the judge drank it in like a stupid teat suckling jackass. Little do they know the harm they have done to our country. Or maybe they know and don't care. We all had a brush with Muslim "honor killings" when the Islamic from Texas intentionally killed his two beautiful teenage daughters. Had he lived in an Arab country, Islamic law would have condoned those "murders." But he was living in Texas, actually holding dual citizenship in Egypt and America.
He fled, and I haven't heard whether he caught a flight to Egypt and went into hiding or not. But it doesn't really matter because when and if American authorities apprehend him or not. If extradited and brought to trial in America, a liberal court, egged on by the ACLU, would find him not guilty anyway. There have been similar cases of so-called "honor killings" this year, and with more Muslims living in the U.S. there will be plenty more. These people are trying to live a bankrupt religion, as per their understanding of the Quran or the Hadiths.
Nobody claimed that Chen was insane or irrational under pressure. Her attorney stuck with the "cultural differences" argument. It diminished his capacity, he couldn't just divorce the woman or get over it and forgive her.
Justice Edward K. Pincus wanted to side with the ACLU and he did. He stated: "Cultural factors lesson the defendant's responsibility for certain crimes." Wow! It didn't matter that this was a capital one case. Murder in New York could have carried the death penalty or at least a penalty of life in prisonment without parole. New York's capital punishment law wasn't declared unconstitutional until 2004. An American citizen born in America would have faced capital punishment under similar circumstances.
As the worm turns, it pays to be foreign born in America. Foreigners have greater rights in America than Americans? Yes! That's what liberal judges have done to us, under the prodding of the ACLU. Chen ended up with a charge of manslaughter in the second degree and a sentence of five years probation after murdering his wife in cold blood.
Savage has researched this and says it is not an isolated exception. As you will discover in future articles, in a growing number of American courts Americans take a back seat to their foreign counterparts when we decide issues of fairness for crimes committed here in the land of the free. Indeed, we are becoming a nation of second-class citizens, made so by our liberal judiciary and a crooked ACLU.
Solzhenitsyn Dies
Solzhenitsyn, who defied Soviets, dies at 89.
Read what the world has to say about this man's
life and his death.
Read what the world has to say about this man's
life and his death.
Friday, August 1, 2008
This Is Albsolutely Damning to Obama
Hospital Doctor Slams Obama, Canceled Visit
The following is searingly hot on the Web right now. I'm sure Obama's handlers are upset at his gaff in putting popularity before duty. He failed, as an American Senator and a humanitarian which he claims to be, to visit the American wounded solders, the sick and the weary, at a German hospital last week. What's the matter with Barak Obama?
He has made a succession of bad judgment errors, and this one is going to hurt him--already is, even without John McCain's jabs to remind him. The major news networks are dismayed about this, the latest Obama flub-up. If he's going to run the Country like he runs his campaign, WATCH OUT AMERICA!
The McCain campaign issued the following statement today:
Today, Dr. Danny Jazarevic, who served as the Chief of Trauma, Critical Care and Vascular Surgery at Landstuhl, issued the following statement on Barack Obama's canceled visit to Ramstein and Landstuhl:
"Last week, Senator Obama skipped a visit with wounded U.S. troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany because the Pentagon would not allow campaign staff or media to accompany him into the hospital. I served as director of trauma surgery at that hospital for nearly four years and saw the effect that a visit from a celebrity like Senator Obama could have on morale. During that time, I do not recall a single member of Congress canceling a visit with the troops despite being just a few hours away, but Senator Obama seems to have been more concerned with how the visit would affect him than how it would affect the soldiers recovering from wounds received in the service of their country."
Dr. Danny Jazarevic served as the Chief of Trauma, Critical Care and Vascular Surgery at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. In 1984, Dr. Jazarevic joined the United States Army and later the Florida National Guard. He has since served in Honduras, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia, and Iraq. From December 2002 through January 2006, Dr. Jazarevic was assigned to the U.S. Army Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, where he served as Chief of Trauma, Critical Care and Vascular Surgery. During this period, he deployed to Iraq numerous times, including with the 101st Airborne Division Forward Surgical Team and as Director of Operations for the 44th U.S. Army Medical Command. He is currently the Chief Trauma Surgeon at a civilian medical center in Florida, and also serves as a full Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. Dr. Jazarevic has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
The following is searingly hot on the Web right now. I'm sure Obama's handlers are upset at his gaff in putting popularity before duty. He failed, as an American Senator and a humanitarian which he claims to be, to visit the American wounded solders, the sick and the weary, at a German hospital last week. What's the matter with Barak Obama?
He has made a succession of bad judgment errors, and this one is going to hurt him--already is, even without John McCain's jabs to remind him. The major news networks are dismayed about this, the latest Obama flub-up. If he's going to run the Country like he runs his campaign, WATCH OUT AMERICA!
The McCain campaign issued the following statement today:
Today, Dr. Danny Jazarevic, who served as the Chief of Trauma, Critical Care and Vascular Surgery at Landstuhl, issued the following statement on Barack Obama's canceled visit to Ramstein and Landstuhl:
"Last week, Senator Obama skipped a visit with wounded U.S. troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany because the Pentagon would not allow campaign staff or media to accompany him into the hospital. I served as director of trauma surgery at that hospital for nearly four years and saw the effect that a visit from a celebrity like Senator Obama could have on morale. During that time, I do not recall a single member of Congress canceling a visit with the troops despite being just a few hours away, but Senator Obama seems to have been more concerned with how the visit would affect him than how it would affect the soldiers recovering from wounds received in the service of their country."
Dr. Danny Jazarevic served as the Chief of Trauma, Critical Care and Vascular Surgery at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. In 1984, Dr. Jazarevic joined the United States Army and later the Florida National Guard. He has since served in Honduras, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia, and Iraq. From December 2002 through January 2006, Dr. Jazarevic was assigned to the U.S. Army Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, where he served as Chief of Trauma, Critical Care and Vascular Surgery. During this period, he deployed to Iraq numerous times, including with the 101st Airborne Division Forward Surgical Team and as Director of Operations for the 44th U.S. Army Medical Command. He is currently the Chief Trauma Surgeon at a civilian medical center in Florida, and also serves as a full Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. Dr. Jazarevic has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
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