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Obama Struck Out On Georgia Conflict

Mike

Well-known member
WE have just had a lesson in how the next president of the US would react to a real menace to the world's peace.

Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain were set a test with Russia's invasion of Georgia.

The results? Be terrified that Obama leads in the polls.

Russia has driven deep into Georgia on the excuse of defending separatists in the Georgian territory of South Ossetia - a pro-Russian statelet that Georgia has tried to bring back under its control.

But the truth is Georgia is being punished for its sins against Russian pride and power.

Those sins? Let me count them.

Georgia is such an ally of the United States that it even sent troops to Iraq. It is also pro-European, seeking to join NATO - the military alliance between the United States and Europe.

And it is an economic irritant to the new Russian empire, having pipelines that carry oil and gas from the Caspian to Western markets -- pipelines that challenge Russia's stranglehold on exports. And on Europe's heating.

But Georgia, Stalin's birthplace and a former Soviet satellite, represents a wider threat to Russia, too.

If it manages to break free of Russian domination and join Europe, it may inspire other former Soviet satellites to look West, too - just when Russia is dreaming of buffing up again as a superpower.

That's why the presidents of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania - all once "captive nations" of the Soviet Union - pleaded this week for Europe and NATO to help defend Georgia from "imperialist" Russia. They know how this war threatens them, too.

Those are the high stakes, so how did the two men vying to become president of the United States - and leader of the free world - respond?

Here's McCain: "Tensions and hostilities between Georgians and Ossetians are in no way justification for Russian troops crossing an internationally recognised border."

Russia had "to immediately and unconditionally withdraw its forces". NATO should swiftly accept Georgia as a member, which would oblige Europe and the US to come to its aid.

Now here's Obama's camp: "It's both sides' fault -- both have been somewhat provocative with each other." The United Nations should step in and send a peacekeeping force under "an appropriate UN mandate".

Knock, knock. Excuse me, Mr Obama, sir. But Russia is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and would veto any UN move in Georgia it didn't like.

And, sir, why do you treat invaded Georgia as just as guilty as invading Russia? That's blaming the victim.

It's true that, stung by criticism of his stand, Obama later toughened his rhetoric against Russia.

But take stock. McCain instinctively supported an American ally against a Russian aggressor and rallied to its defence. Obama instinctively palmed off the problem to an international talkshop guaranteed to do nothing but sit on its hands while Russia brought a pro-Western nation to heel.

One of these two men will next year take charge of the US - the greatest guarantor of freedom in a world increasingly threatened by freedom's enemies. Pray the right man wins.

Join Andrew on blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt
 
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