So, basically this whole Russo/Georgia war is our fault and is really no big surprise.

[bushmeister0]

Beside the obvious political support we've been giving to Georgia over the years, most recently W.'s insistance that Georgia join NATO by this December, we've enabled the Georgian military to get strong enough to go after Ossetia.

Globalsecurity.org reported in 2005:

"In early 2002 the United States launched a two-year, $64 million program, 'Train and Equip,' to create three battalions and one motorized company meeting NATO standards. Following the successful conclusion of that program in 2004, a follow-on initiative was launched with comparable funding to train a further 4,000 Georgian servicemen . . .

Observers suggested that the rationale for reversing the downsizing of recent years was to launch a new military offensive to bring the unrecognized breakaway Republic of South Ossetia back under the control of the Georgian government.

In addition to upping manpower, Georgia greatly increased its defense spending, from 79 million laris ($43 million) in 2004 to 317 million laris in 2005. The increase was consistent with the requirement that countries aspiring to NATO membership spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defense.

The weaponry purchased reportedly includes armored personnel carriers, self-propelled artillery, helicopters, and T-72 tanks. The latter three items called into question earlier statements that Georgia has no aggressive intentions and plans to strengthen its armed forces exclusively for defensive purposes, to repel any external invasion. These weapons are well suited for an offensive against the Ossetians. From mid-June to mid-July 2005, some 800 Georgian troops conducted large-scale tank exercises using some 170 battle tanks. One year earlier, Georgia had only 76 T-55 and T-72 tanks.

Georgia had succeeded, with assistance of the United States, Turkey, and other allies, in transforming the paramilitary National Guard into a trained, disciplined, and well-equipped fighting force qualified for NATO membership."

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/georgia/army.htm

So, the fact that they've decided to attack the Ossetians shouldn't come as any surprise to anyone, least of all this administration.

NPR just reported, btw, that Georgia is recalling their 2000 troops from Iraq. Another coalition of the paid-off bites the dust!

[SpiralHawk]

1. "I'm The Decider. Smirk." - Commander AWOL

[SidneyCarton]

2. We gave them the tools, they were fools enough to use them.

Yes we bear a degree of responsibility, I agree, but no one told these fools that attacking Ossetiya was a good idea. And unless I see some evidence that we promised them assistance in a war against Russia (not that they believed we would, but that we actually promised it) I won't go so far as believing we gave them the green light.

As to materials and training: In 1941 the Wehrmacht was far better trained and better equipped than the Soviet Army, it was also several times the size of the Georgian Army. We all know who marched into whose capital in 1945, numbers still count for something, and the Georgians have no space to trade for time.

[malaise]

3. Listen to Robert Hunter on BBC

Bush made that moron Saakashvili believe he could slaughter the citizens of South Ossetia and Russian peacekeepers with impunity. Nearly 1,500 people are now dead.

[mediaman007]

4. Are Putin and W* both in China? That ought to make for a little drama!

Maybe Bush* can look into Putin's eyes and see how fucked the country of Georgia is. Nice move, Neocons!

[Odin2005]

5. No, it's Russia's fault. They are the ones controlling the rebel vassal state.

And call the occupying force "peace-keepers"