Cleveland, Ohio August 18, 2008. We have been peppered since Aug. 7 with news about Russia invading Georgia. In stern voices, the Bush Administration has decried the invasion.
On Aug. 11 President Bush said: "Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century."
On Aug. 10, Vice President Dick Cheney said "Russia's military actions in Georgia must not go unanswered."
Sadly, the American media is playing to the Administration's lead.
"What's troubling about this war, fought in a relatively unknown region, is that none of the suffering here is about the enclave of Ossetia," CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews reported August 17. "This war is all about Russia and the message Russia's sending to the world. This is Putin's announcement that Russia is back as a great power."
And the Neocons, looking for something to resusciate their murderous policies, are back at it: "We have to understand, these Russian troops didn't materialize out of nowhere," said political analyst Robert Kagen. "This is the culmination of Putin's efforts to pull Georgia back within Russia's sphere and exert control over it."
In 2002 and 2006 the Bush Administration made it official U.S. policy to launch pre-emptive war without warning. Sounding reasonable, the Bush Doctrine states: "To forestall or prevent ... hostile acts by our adversaries, the United States will, if necessary, act preemptively in exercising our inherent right of self-defense. The United States will not resort to force in all cases to preempt emerging threats. Our preference is that nonmilitary actions succeed. And no country should ever use preemption as a pretext for aggression."
The fine print elaborates: "If necessary, however, under long-standing principles of self defense, we do not rule out the use of force before attacks occur, even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy’s attack. When the consequences of an attack with WMD are potentially so devastating, we cannot afford to stand idly by as grave dangers materialize. This is the principle and logic of preemption. The place of preemption in our national security strategy remains the same. We will always proceed deliberately, weighing the consequences of our actions. The reasons for our actions will be clear, the force measured, and the cause just. " National Security Strategy, March 2006. http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss/2006/sectionV.html
When the Bush Doctrine was unveiled, many clearer and brighter minds than those populating the Administration warned that any country anywhere could justify going to war on the basis of pre-emption.
So the question the American media is ignoring: Has Russia done this? If so, who will do it next?
While CBS News ranted about Russian actions and the implications for a renewed cold war, ABC News may have hit closer to the truth. While Russia claims to be helping break-away Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russian's real intentions may be about -- you guessed it --oil.
Deja vu.
We all know about Iraq. We know that our so-called war of pre-emption was a major policy blunder. And we know that Iraq was the first instance in this century of one sovereign nation invading another. That's right, the United States did first what we complain Russia has done.
So on what moral basis does the Bush Administration stand in making demands on Russia?
What credibility does the Bush Administration have in the world in making its demands?
Very little considering that we need Russia to help us with Iran.
By way of update, Russia said it will withdraw its troops today. That makes it a two-week war.
That's a far cry better than what we've gotten out of the Bush Administration, which has yet to say when American troops will be withdrawn from Iraq after more than five years and 4,143 American dead.
So the questions again: How can the Bush Administration talk about Russia with a straight face?
And for the Americans who put this nincompoop in office, what have you learned?
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