Cheney heads to ex-Soviet nations in show of support

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US Vice President Dick Cheney departs Tuesday on a four-nation tour to support US allies Georgia and Ukraine amid a chill in relations with Russia over its military conflict with Georgia.

Because we don't have enough trouble.

I know there's a big party going on in Denver, but things seem to be equally hoppin over on the other side of the pond. Cheney is going over there, and that makes me worried. Russia says 'bring it on, bitches! We've got your oil/gas, and can turn it off anytime.

The G7 — Britain, the US, France, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan — said in a statement released by the US State Department: “We deplore Russia’s excessive use of military force in Georgia and its continued occupation of parts of Georgia.” Read more…

[UPDATE: I've included a post from Registan with a totally different take] I confess to great ignorance, when it comes to this conflict and the region in general. But Sean-Paul's latest makes great sense to me.

"Where's NATO?"

I remember the conversation so clearly, as if it happened yesterday. I was meeting with Alex Rondeli, a tall, smart, well-connected Georgian involved in the formation of the country's foreign policy. Everyone interested in the foreign policy of the region, I was told, who traveled to Tbilisi, had to meet with him. So I did. Obviously I don't have my notes of the interview with me, as they are in storage back home in America, but I remember when the conversation turned towards NATO and America helping Georgia. Alex was clear that he thought, from a rational, realpoplitik perspective, that Georgia's best hope was in joining the West and all its institutions. But he was also realistic enough to realize that Georgia had to find a way of living with its giant northern neighbor.

And I asked him, point blank, "what makes you think the US will keep its promise to Georgia in the event of war with Russia? Can you really trust the US?" And then I made it clear, before he answered, that I thought it was folly to trust the US, that Georgia's best course was to find a modus vivendi with Russia and develop its economy on its own terms because the Russians aren't going away.

They haven't. Now they are attempting to split the country. And Georgians are wondering, where is NATO? NATO isn't coming. Deal with it. Read more…

War is always about money, in the end. I'm way behind on my newsreading, and so I totally missed this until this morning. At least some civilians are being allowed to flee. What's at stake here? Who are the key players? And Thanks, Chimpy, for opening the Pandora's Box of "wars of choice are great!" Anyone with details willing the share them, I'm grateful. It bodes ill that he's already using rhetoric like this:

"I must protect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are. We will not allow their deaths to go unpunished,"
Dmitry Medvedev, Russian President

Connect Savannah Online

Why in the world did you decide to take on John Barrow?

Regina Thomas: Several things. First, it didn’t matter who was in the seat, this is the year that I set aside to run. Fate would have it that John’s record is horrible. Read more…

No mo HMO

Fifteen people gathered outside Blue Cross Blue Shield Georgia’s Buckhead quarters Thursday to protest for-profit health insurance. Read more…

I asked Regina Thomas, candidate for Congress in Georgia, if she supported HR 676, Medicare for All, her response: Read more…

Things are so dry down south it's time to invoke the Weather God. Such thoughts opened up my Rhyming Cumulus--soon thereafter I felt some lyrics falling, falling on me...

Pray For Rain in Georgia

she stood upon the ferry bridge
she raised her hands to the sky
help her son make it through the night
across the world so wide

he raised his eyes up to heaven
where he suspected it was
he waited for an answer
the way he always does

(chorus)
pray for rain in Geogia
pray and pray
when the clouds all open up
they will open up
and wash us all away
pray for rain in Georgia
pray and pray
when the lord is woken up
we just woke him up
he will wash us away Read more…

I know next to nothing about Russian/Georgian relations. I do know energy resources are at the heart of how they deal with each other. This can't be good:

MOSCOW, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Russia cannot rule out military action in dealing with mounting tensions with neighboring Georgia, the daily Kommersant reported on Monday.

"All diplomatic steps that are usually taken in such strained relations have been exhausted ... The next action could be the breaking of diplomatic relations and a military operation," the report warned, quoting an unnamed source with Russia's Defense Ministry.

Relations between Moscow and Tbilisi have been increasingly strained since Georgian authorities arrested four Russian officers last week, charging them with spying activities.

Russia has recalled its ambassador in Tbilisi and evacuated itscitizens. Read more…