Conversations With The Cranky Woman
Cranky wrote me an e-mail regarding the coverage of the Georgia conflict. I post it here, along with my response, because I think hers is a question playing on the minds of many as the media beats the war drum against the ravening Russian bear and all debate is drown:
So why is everyone, including Obama (although he did call for diplomatic resolution), on Georgia’s side? I thought they invaded first!
CW
I replied:
Dear CW,
Georgia counts South Ossetia as part of its territory, even though South Ossetia’s had de facto autonomy since Georgia became Georgia.
So South Ossetia wasn’t invaded, technically - it was just shelled, bombed and assaulted by tanks. That’s why the news often calls it a matter of “Georgia attempted to regain control of the breakaway district of S. Ossetia” - because they were trying to conquer the rebels; not that they ever *had* control.
However, as I note in my writing, “attempted to regain control” means hitting civilians with a day-long bombardment with Multi-Launch Rocket Systems, and then burning alive whatever survivors were left in the basements.
Why is everyone on Georgia’s side? Well, largely because it serves our interests to be. They’re a check against Georgia in the region. Secondly, because the details of the ethnic cleansing have long been ignored, and the story has become more about Russia’s response - and when it will end - than what initiated it.
Considering that the Russians are now either seizing what they’re sitting on, or leaving scorched earth in their lazy wake of withdrawal, expect sympathy for the cause of their intervention to continue sinking.
Oh, so I get it — you can stand outside the borders of a nation and bomb their cities and villages and terrorize their citizens and it’s not called an invasion. Very clever, these Georgians! And when a country with whom you have a defense pact tries to help, they are the bad guys. Very intriguing! Goes to show what I have been beating to death — that the GOP and McCain in particular can’t leave behind the Cold War or any war for that matter — it’s still us against the Commies. People, that was a long time ago. Let’s not even try to use any common sense or forward thinking. As long as we have bombs, let’s bully to the max!
And by the way, as pointed out by Rachel Madow on the Olberman show, talk about presumption! Since when does Senator McCain get to dictate policy as if he were already President? After lambasting Obama for his “presidential presumption,” McCain steps to the forefront with his ridiculous posturing. Perhaps since he has stolen every idea and campaign position from Senator Obama, he thought he might presume to outdo the presumption as well!
Comment by Cranky Woman — August 18, 2008 @ 3:01 pm