US hampering Russian peace efforts – Putin

[foundit66]

US hampering Russian peace efforts – Putin
The Prime Minister has accused Washington of undermining Russia’s attempts to restore peace in the South Ossetian conflict zone. Vladimir Putin said a decision by the US military to fly 800 Georgian soldiers from Iraq to Georgia showed America was ‘trying to get in the way’.

In a stinging attack on the US, Putin told government ministers: "It's a pity that some of our partners, instead of helping, are trying to get in the way”.

He said the US was using “its military transport aircraft to relocate Georgia's military contingent from Iraq virtually into the conflict zone”.

He also voiced his frustration at the inability of Russia's western partners to adequately assess the situation in South Ossetia.

“I’m amazed by their skills at seeing black as white, of portraying aggressors as victims and of blamimg the real victims for the consequences of the conflict.

Putin also accused the West of double standards when it comes to judging war crimes.

“As we all know, Saddam Hussein was hanged for burning down several Shiite villages. But now suddenly the situation is different. The Georgian leaders who in a matter of hours wiped out ten Ossetian villages, who ran over children and the elderly with tanks, who burned civilians alive, those people have to be protected,” he said.

Meanwhile, American Joe Mestas, who witnessed days of shelling, has said U.S. and Georgian leaders are responsible for the violence that has killed 2,000 people in the region. He told RT that Washington will have to answer for the violence.

RussiaToday : News : US hampering Russian peace efforts ? Putin

1) I offer this as the "Russian" perspective.
Or perhaps it should be more accurately phrased "Putin's" perspective...

2) I don't know what to think of the U.S. move.
On some levels, I think of it as a means that will hopefully get Russia to get to the Diplomacy Table. (May be wishful thinking)
On another level, Georgia was kind of "helping" in Iraq. Repaying that "help" with this transport seems like helping to "repay the favor".
(I only put that in quotes cause I can't think of a better way to put it.)

However, hypothetical further involvement (of a more involved nature) will have to be something deserving serious internal U.S. discussion.

[foundit66]

And the U.S. "AP" news release...

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is criticizing the United States for airlifting Georgian troops from Iraq.

Putin said Monday that the U.S. move will hamper efforts to solve Russia's conflict with Georgia over the breakaway province of South Ossetia. The U.S. military has begun flying 2,000 Georgian troops home from Iraq after Georgia recalled them.

The Russian-Georgian conflict blew up after a Georgian offensive to regain control of the breakaway province of South Ossetia.

Georgian troops fled South Ossetia on Sunday, yielding to superior Russian firepower, and Georgian leaders pleaded for a cease-fire. Moscow responded that Georgia was not observing its cease-fire pledge.

The Associated Press: Putin assails US over conflict with Georgia

I found the last paragraph interesting.
Possibly conveniently for Moscow, I think there are few resources to judge the accuracy of Moscow's claim.

[cnredd]

Nice to see the Russian media went "old school"...

[Spencer Collins]

A most interesting dilemma,one that could have far reaching ramifications for all involved! I just don't buy into the "US hampering Russian peace efforts" statement Mr. Putin..but it looks like many of your people do..

[faithful_servant]

This whole situation is a complete mess that, IMO, we need to stay out of (outside of diplomatic efforts). The S. Ossetians have clearly and repeatedly stated that they want to rejoin "Mother Russia" and the Georgian gov't was the one to initiate attacks against the separatists. However, the Russians have over-responded and need to stick to a tactic of strictly defending the S. Ossetians and not trying to turn this into a war for Georgia (which is what I believe they are doing).

If anyone can remember back to when the Soviet Union fell apart, Georgia was one of the most important parts of the USSR and it's loss was a major sore point for the Russians. I think that the Russians are turning back the clock to the '50s and '60s and using thier military might to suck up weaker nations and using their position in the UN and their nuclear arsenal to keep anyone from interfering. This is a test by the current Russian gov't to see just how far they can go in flexing their muscles. I think that they're going to end up setting up a puppet gov't in Georgia to ostensibly protect the S. Osettians, but in reality to retake control of Georgia.

[foundit66]

Originally Posted by Spencer Collins

I just don't buy into the "US hampering Russian peace efforts" statement Mr. Putin..

Ditto.

Originally Posted by faithful_servant

If anyone can remember back to when the Soviet Union fell apart, Georgia was one of the most important parts of the USSR and it's loss was a major sore point for the Russians. I think that the Russians are turning back the clock to the '50s and '60s and using thier military might to suck up weaker nations and using their position in the UN and their nuclear arsenal to keep anyone from interfering. This is a test by the current Russian gov't to see just how far they can go in flexing their muscles. I think that they're going to end up setting up a puppet gov't in Georgia to ostensibly protect the S. Osettians, but in reality to retake control of Georgia.

They (or rather Putin) have already shown an adeptness at a "puppet" type situation within their own Russian government. The whole power "shell-game" where they rearrange the chairs, but people still see the governmental power in the same hands.
I think you're right that the resolution of the Georgian situation will wind up as a facade.

[winston53660]

Originally Posted by faithful_servant

If anyone can remember back to when the Soviet Union fell apart, Georgia was one of the most important parts of the USSR .

Why do you think that?

[faithful_servant]

Originally Posted by winston53660

Why do you think that?

Oil, agriculture, skilled workers.

[winston53660]

Originally Posted by faithful_servant

Oil, agriculture, skilled workers.

Yikes we agree somewhat!!!