August Surprise

It’s no surprise that Americans have no clue about the conflict in the former Soviet state of Georgia. As far as the corporate American media is concerned, all we need to know is whatever George Bush and their anointed future president John McCain tell us.

"Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century," Bush said. With a straight face, even. If that one didn’t make you burst out laughing at the utter hypocrisy, then you are dismissed. There is nothing for you to read here, or anywhere else for that matter.

McCain denounced Russia by claiming, "In the 21st century nations don't invade other nations." God help us if we’re as stupid as they think we are. If that isn’t the finest slice of Orwellian doublethink, well I haven’t seen it.

Then Johnny (There-Will-Be-More-Wars) McCain adds this little nugget. “We are all Georgians.” What the hell is that supposed to mean? Do we all need to pick up our rifles to go defend the barricades in Tbilisi?

For years McCain’s neocon foreign policy advisor Randy Scheunemann was a lobbyist for the Georgian government. So that would make Johnny Bomb Bomb the perfect impartial observer to enlighten Americans about Georgia, right?

Aren’t we awake enough to see yet? How the hell do we still allow these neocons into our political process?

Americans have no concept of what conflict of interest is anymore. That has been demonstrated more than enough times by now.

The comments from these Republican thugs and warmongers almost make me sympathetic to the Russians.

Of course, the real victims are the innocent civilians. Again. Even when it’s between two dictators, we can’t let a conflict go by without taking sides and making things worse.

The American people are told poor little Georgia is a pro-western democracy, that has been mercilessly and without provocation, invaded by the former evil empire. Yes, a democracy sort of like ours. McCain’s good friend, with the name Johnny hasn’t learned to pronounce yet, is their kind of guy. President Saakashvili has been accused of falsifying elections. Many have claimed Saakashvili used his position as incumbent to skew the vote in his favor, that opposition supporters were intimidated on polling day and the count was fraudulent. Maybe this is why Johnny says we are all Georgians.

In their version of democracy, much of Georgia’s 4.5 million population say that they have not felt any benefits yet. Many say that Saakashvili shows scorn for democratic freedoms and the rights of ordinary people.

So what else, besides defending Republican style democracy, makes us so passionate about protecting Georgia? Why, oil, naturally. Yes, there’s a pipeline running from the Caspian Sea through Georgia. OUR pipeline, no doubt. Well, not only ours. Israel has a huge interest in it as well. I guess that thickens the plot, eh? US and Israeli military contractors and advisors are on the ground as we speak. No doubt there are mercenaries salivating for blood and profit in this one, too.

None of this comes as a surprise to anyone who has been watching this region. Saakashvili has been lulled into thinking we have his back for his military assault on the citizens of South Ossetia.
Many think this may be the big neocon October surprise for the upcoming US election. What a perfect international crisis to scare voters into voting for McCain. Here we go again.

Unfortunately, real people suffer when these monsters play their power games. What about the residents of South Ossetia? Why are they becoming pawns in this cruel contest?

Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, the people in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia live in a strange state of geographical limbo. They have nothing in common with Georgia and are closer to Russia. The South Ossetians are kin and kindred to their fellow North Ossetians inside the Russian border. The people in South Ossetia, as well as those in Abkhazia, speak Russian, use Russian rubles, work in Russia, vote in Russia, have Russian passports, and the elderly even collect Russian pensions.

South Ossetians have been striving for independence for years. South Ossetia and Abkhazia both broke away from Georgia in savage fighting when the Soviet Union disintegrated.

In 1990 South Ossetia tried to break from Tbilisi’s rule. After hundreds of people were killed, Russian peacekeepers were deployed in South Ossetia in 1992 as part of an armistice deal with Georgia.

Tensions increased when in 2006 Russian Army officers were detained in Georgia on spying charges. Russia then imposed sanctions on Georgia.

In November of 2006 South Ossetia overwhelmingly endorsed its separation from Georgia in a referendum. Georgia then accused Russia of provoking war.

In 2008 South Ossetia asked for independence. We know how well that was received. No independence and no democracy for South Ossetia.

Finally on the night of August 7, 2008, just in time to be in the shadow of the opening ceremony of the Olympics, Saakashvili ordered an all-out military attack on Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia. The aerial bombardments and ground attacks were primarily against civilian targets. These included residential areas, hospitals and the university. The city was largely destroyed and around 1500 people were killed.

In response, Russia sent in tanks and troops to ”protect” the separatists.

So why did they continue to advance further into Georgia? I guess it’s all just a game for the evil empires. I don’t know.

What I DO know is this. As Johnny Bomb Bomb postures as the next great American war president, we are NOT all Georgians!