REAL 3 a.m. call, Hills: Russia & Georgia near war

Let's see if anyone picks up on prospective NATO member Georgia and a resurgent Russia chafing from the West's wooing of Ukraine, et al.

From Reuters:

Russia's deployment of extra troops in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia has brought the prospect of war "very close", a minister of ex-Soviet Georgia said on Tuesday.

Separately, in comments certain to fan rising tension between Moscow and Tbilisi, the "foreign minister" of the breakaway Black Sea region was quoted as saying it was ready to hand over military control to Russia.

"We literally have to avert war," Temur Iakobashvili, a Georgian State Minister, told reporters in Brussels.

Of course Hillary could offer to obliterate Georgia, er, Russia, er SOMEONE. Perhaps Georgia Tech.

Of course this is in an area not far from Iran. And merits a response far from the muddled thinking of Hillary and the non-thinking of the Bush Administration.

And the Russians, whatever you think of electing Putin for another term in reality, aren't dumb.

After the NATO summit, Moscow announced plans to establish legal links with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, another "frozen conflict" region inside Georgia.

Note timing. The Russians do. And they will see if a peep comes out of the White House...or anyone for that matter.

Destablizing an area not far from Iran? Hello, I hear the phone ringing.

Perhaps John McCain will answer. Ahem, Russia did in fact stay in Georgia for more than one hundred years.

Perhaps Hillary will answer. Perhaps some notable Georgians can donate some Georgian wine to Bill's Presidential Library.

Or perhaps Barack can step up and take the issue head-on and show off his willingness to bring this trouble spot to America's attention. That's what we need in a leader.

•  tips/posts/Athens GA hackey sack not threatened

  by Belvedere Come Here Boy on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:58:28 AM PDT

•  No.

  Destablizing an area not far from Iran? Hello, I hear the phone ringing.

  Conspiracy theories are entertaining, though.  Thanks.

  by Plutonium Page on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:01:07 AM PDT

•  NATO

  prospective NATO member Georgia

  This incident highlights why Georgia should not be part of NATO. It has no connection to NATO and only serves to draw the alliance into conflicts in the Caucasus.  What's going on right now is an international issue, but not a NATO issue per se.

  by weasel on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:05:11 AM PDT

•  This conflict has little to do with Iran

  and a great deal to do with Russia's influence over the "near abroad".  Georgia and Russia are moving in opposite directions politically, but Georgia is a divided polity on a number of cultural and ethnic levels. Russia is exploiting that weakness.

  In addition, there is a hint of payback for the West's recognition of Kosovo. If Kosovo can be independent of Serbia, why not Abkhazia independent of Georgia? It's a fair question.

  by Dont Just Stand There on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:09:55 AM PDT