Russia recognizes independence of Georgian regions

[denem]

Source: Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia stunned the West on Tuesday by recognizing the independence claims of two Georgian breakaway regions, and U.S. warships plied the waters off of Georgia in a gambit the Kremlin saw as gunboat diplomacy.

The announcement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ignored the strong opposition of Europe and the United States, and signaled the Kremlin's determination to shape its neighbors' destinies even at the risk of closing its doors to the West.

"We are not afraid of anything, including the prospect of a Cold War," President Dmitry Medvedev said hours after announcing the Kremlin's decision and one day after Parliament had supported the recognition.

While the risk of a military clash with the West seemed remote, experts are concerned about the lack of high-level public diplomacy between the White House and the Kremlin — adding to an uneasy sense here at least of an escalating crisis.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iUA357W77ndvCMh32VlQqdGj53mAD92Q5MU00

---

Another Bush Administration triumph.

[ogneopasno]

1. Wow, good thing our Secretary of State is a Russia expert.

She'll be able to settle this -- in Russian, no less! -- in no time.

[Hugabear]

2. god, please let McCain pick Condi for his VP

I would LOVE to see Biden throw that in her face during a debate. "So, how's that Russian expertise of yours working out for you?"

[Moondog]

3. That won't happen

Even the Repukes recognize that she's an idiot.

[denem]

5. The Republicans elected an idiot. They love idiots

Senile idiots included. Or should I say, especially.

[Hugabear]

6. They voted for him TWICE

They also put Schwarzenazi into office.

I can just imagine repukes saying "See, I'm not racist, I like that there Condi Rice!"

[Moondog]

8. Well, yes

there is that. What was I thinking?

[denem]

10. Saint Reagan

... need I say more. Senile is a plus for McCain :(

[denem]

4. Good thing Biden is the VP nominee

In Georgia, a couple of weeks ago. Will be a much sort after guest.

[Demeter]

7. The Only Adult in the Room Is Russian

and that should give everyone pause. Shaakashvilli is an idiot, hand-picked by the neocons to destroy his own country. Just as W was hand-picked to destroy his native land. And Sarkozy is probably the third Stooge in this slapstick.

[denem]

9. But, but - he's OUR stooge.

Our 'idiot', however, must be reserved for the Commander in Chief.

[Igel]

34. Don't confuse the attitude with maturity.

More like arrested development. A teenager who feels like he's not appreciated and decides to be the school bully.

Other cases of arrested development have led to rather difficult circumstances.

Too bad this didn't wait a few decades. Then there'd be 40% fewer Russians, limited oil wealth, 30 million Chinese in Siberia and a significant Muslim population. Too bad Putain wants to take his country out with a bang. Unreconstructed oprichnik.

[martymar64]

36. So you're hoping for dead Russians? You're one sick fucker!

Those famous Georgians Stalin and Beria would be proud of you.

You should change your name to Curtis LeMay

[Zhade]

38. "Too bad this didn't wait a few decades. Then there'd be 40% fewer Russians"

Wow, that's one demented worldview you've got locked up in that crazy brain of yours.

[ohio2007]

11. 1836; US recognizes the Republic of Texas as a sovereign nation in North America

How long til Putin absorbs these great break away republics of Georgia ?

[TreasonousBastard]

12. Exactly as they were expected to do, so who's...

stunned?

Rice, as fucked up as she can be, actually seems to be on top of this, but Cheney is sticking his dripping nose into it and playing Cold Warrior. He's pulling rank and screwing up everything she's trying to do. Just who was it who let Shaakashwhatsis think he could get away with it? The guy who showed up a week after Rice left?

Cheney could just get us into WWIII. Some legacy, eh?

[HawkerHurricane]

13. They recognized South Ossetia, but...

will they recognize North Ossetia?*

[Mudoria]

14. If they recognize the independence of these two Georgian

provinces when will the Russians recognize the legitimate rights of Chechnya to be free and independent of Russia?

[WriteDown]

15. Russian President: Not Afraid Of New Cold War

Source: AFP

MOSCOW (AFP)--Russia isn't afraid of a new Cold War taking hold and is ready for "anything," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday in a television interview.

"We're not afraid of anything (including) the prospect of a Cold War. Of course, we don't need that.... Everything depends on the stance of our partners and the world community and our partners in the West," Medvedev told the Russia Today channel in comments translated into English.

Asked whether Russia was ready for the consequences of recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Medvedev said: "If they want to preserve good relations with Russia, they will understand the reason for taking such a decision and the situation will be calm."

Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080826\ACQDJON200808261007DOWJONESDJONLINE000356.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Russian%20President:%20Not%20Afraid%20Of%20New%20Cold%20War

---

Looks like Putin has stated his intentions. Be safe Ukraine and Georgia.

[inanna]

16. My head is spinning with all of the

latest developments going on today...

Too too much.

Recommended.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

17. Russia now has oil as a lever.

This is clearly a lever to ratchet up world crude oil prices. They have decided that the price has dropped too far. Sadly, our present government thinks that is peachy and is playing their part in this salon farce.

[WriteDown]

19. Even if our current govt....

did not think it was peachy, what could we really do? :shrug: Putin is a dangerous guy and isn't afraid to send some poison soup to get his way.

[IsItJustMe]

33. No more dangerous than the wack job we have. Until these folks understand that violence only begets

violence, we are going to go down this road.

[Demeter]

39. When Violence Begets Unpleasant Consequences, Maybe It Will Stop

Russia has an opportunistic mindset.

[no_hypocrisy]

18. Sounds like he stole *'s line of "Bring it on!"

[phantom power]

20. Heh. "I aint afraid to go back to prison, boy."

[nickn777]

21. Afraid...? They're counting on it.

[paparush]

22. Of course not. It works for them, just like it works for us.

More military spending.
More nationalistic fervor.
More restriction of freedoms.
More concentrated power.

[pegleg]

24. Exactly

[harun]

25. Yup the military industrial complex in both countries is like "bring it on"

[pegleg]

31. Kinda makes one wonder if they aren't working together. After all

this Russian deal is happening right before the election, and the repubs were quick to capitalize on it.

[apnu]

23. Anything to jump start that economy says Medvedev.

And put Russia back on the global relevance map.

[Xolodno]

26. There will be a couple of differences in a new Cold War....

1. Russia knows how to work the "Free Market" now and use it to their advantage.

2. They won't be economically supporting "satellite" nations.

3. I'm thinking most of Europe will sit this out. Look at it in their view, its US imperialism and its goals for a permanent weak (and insulted and cant do a thing about it) Russia thats ironically strengthened their resolve and made them strong again.

4. This administration has pissed off a lot of people in a lot of nations that would love to give their "business" to a competitor.

[14thColony]

28. Good stuff

1 and 2 are certainly true, and the effect of 1 is that there's no centralized economic planning system to artificially retard the economy.

3 - I'd even go one step beyond; given (1), a New Cold War would be as much economic as military. In that arena the EU is reasonably well configured to be a third superpower, making it a multi-polar world instead of the bi-polar world of 1945-1992. In 1945 Europeans threw in with the US due to their extreme war-induced weakness and extreme vulnerability to the USSR, both militarily and economically. Those vulnerabilities vis-a-vis Russia still exist, but they are not nearly the factors today that they were in 1945 - and Europe is far from weak anymore. I think at the very least they'd stay out, with a possibility they'd be a third power center moderating us with respect to Russia - siding with US or Russia as needed to keep things balanced.

[ReformedChris]

29. BINGO! Great Points!

Especially the part about the Euro's sitting this one out. I don't think the Germans or other NATO countries will respond the way they did in the Cold War and support will dry up for an increased American presence.

[Xithras]

27. Oh yay! When do we start running the Duck and Cover films again?

Thank you Mr. Bush, for ending all of that stupid peace crap. I was just telling my kids the other day about how they missed out on the fallout shelters, threats of nuclear annihilation, and pointless military posturing that I grew up with. Now they'll get to experience it for themselves!

/sarc

[David__77]

30. Russia is playing a largely positive role right now.

It's a progressive role, though not totally so by any means. Russia is an aggressive imperialist power, yes. But it's the small fry right now and is a needed counterbalance. And in terms of Georgia, it absolutely played a positive role in defending human rights and self-determination.

[Mudoria]

35. Then they should be ready to recognize the human rights

and self determination of the people of Chechnya. Instead, they massacre the citizens of that nation and occupy their land.

[RamboLiberal]

32. In 1962 this country had the luck of having a cool-headed JFK

in charge instead of the prone to temper-tantrums Nixon. I'm convinced if we hadn't had JFK we would've had nuclear war.

I hope this country is smart enough to pick the thoughtful cool-headed in a crisis Obama and not hot-headed Bomber McCain.

I'd rather not be sitting in front of a TV one night like I did as a 10 year-old in 62 wondering if I was about to die from a nuclear attack.

[Doctor Cynic]

37. Indeed.

If Saakashvilli had a cool head back then none of this would have happened, and he would never have fell into the trap the Russians set.