Article

2008-08-13 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Bush orders massive airlift to Georgia in face of Russian blockade

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by lotp 2008-08-13 12:23|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 Wow, things just really got interesting.

Bush just doubled down and called. Let's see if Putie is willing to fold or anty up.

Posted by DarthVader 2008-08-13 12:40|| 2008-08-13 12:40|| Front Page Top

#2 Oh, and Fox News just confirmed.

Rice is heading to Tbilisi too.

Posted by DarthVader 2008-08-13 12:42|| 2008-08-13 12:42|| Front Page Top

#3 The red line in the sand.

Posted by Spike Uniter 2008-08-13 12:42|| 2008-08-13 12:42|| Front Page Top

#4 President George W. Bush does not forgive those who lie to him. He said Prime Minister Putin lied to him about Russian troop movements before the Georgian invasion. Now he is saying Russia must cease lying about ceasing fire. I don't think we need worry about a second Cold War. Russia can act the bully in its Near Abroad, but I suspect they reached their limit selling useless Russian-staffed defence systems to Iran and Syria.

Posted by trailing wife ">trailing wife 2008-08-13 12:50|| 2008-08-13 12:50|| Front Page Top

#5 and the dhimmicrats and the messiah have said?????????????

Posted by AlanC 2008-08-13 12:55|| 2008-08-13 12:55|| Front Page Top

#6 Very interesting, a Berlin Airlift of my times?

I'm trusting the powers to be know more than I, and that it isn't overrun by 'peter principles'.

Trailing Wife, I have to agree with you that President Bush does not take kindly to being bs'd. This is quite a line to take.

Posted by swksvolFF 2008-08-13 12:58|| 2008-08-13 12:58|| Front Page Top

#7 He's also sent Rice to France and then on to Tblisi.

Let's see what the Russians do in the face of the physical presence of the US Sec State.

Posted by lotp 2008-08-13 13:16|| 2008-08-13 13:16|| Front Page Top

#8 "and the dhimmicrats and the messiah have said?????????????"

I dont think anyones had a chance to react yet.

Joe Biden should be happy, though.

Posted by superstitiousGalitizianer 2008-08-13 13:18|| 2008-08-13 13:18|| Front Page Top

#9 so folks, if Barry Messiah were to fly to Tbilisi himself right now, would you call that an admirable move, or grandstanding?

Posted by superstitiousGalitizianer 2008-08-13 13:19|| 2008-08-13 13:19|| Front Page Top

#10 Right now it would be grandstanding. But likewise if Candidate McCain were to go over there and joggle the current president's elbow. Candidates aren't supposed to make foreign policy for the country before they're sworn in.

Posted by trailing wife ">trailing wife 2008-08-13 13:24|| 2008-08-13 13:24|| Front Page Top

#11 Moot theoretical exercise--he won't. He might get hurt there and that would not be good--people would suspect that he isn't really a messiah.

Posted by Spike Uniter 2008-08-13 13:25|| 2008-08-13 13:25|| Front Page Top

#12 anna chennault says "hi!"

But in any case, that means that if the Chosen One keeps quiet, thats appropriate?

(I note of course that sitting US Senators have the right to do fact finding and even talk to foreign leaders)

Posted by superstitiousGalitizianer 2008-08-13 13:29|| 2008-08-13 13:29|| Front Page Top

#13 The leaders of the Baltic States, Poland, and the Ukraine were in Tblisi, attending a mass rally and making television appearances. Here is an excerpt from the Baltic Times article covering the event (I've submitted the article for Rantburg posting):

"You have the right to freedom and independence. We are here to demonstrate our solidarity ... freedom is worth fighting for," said Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Georgian television.

Yushchenko appeared on stage with Poland's President Lech Kaczynski and his colleagues from Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, as well as Latvia's Prime Minister Godmanis, addressing thousands of people who gathered for the rally.

Georgian President Saakashvili was first to address the rally. "This is the new Europe. Georgia is a European country which will defend its integrity," he said.

He thanked the Lithuanian president for everything Lithuania has done for Georgia and for the mission of Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitekunas. ""I would like to thank you, President Adamkus, for your minister and for his coming here during the difficult times and the actions that he took," said Saakashvili, adding that the Lithuanian diplomacy chief stood with the Georgian nation during its most difficult time.

Vaitekunas and representatives of other European countries went to Georgia at weekend to discuss negotiations about the peace plan.

Godmanis, Yushchenko, Kaczynski, Ilves and Adamkus joined hands and held them aloft to cheers from the crowd of tens of thousands which was awash with the Georgian national colours of red and white as well as flags of the US, the European Union (EU), France, Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine.

"This country [Russia] seeks to restore its dominance, but the time of dominance is over," Polish President Kaczynski told the crowd, which chanted "Poland, Poland!" as he took the microphone.

"You are not alone, we are standing with you ... Let's stand together united and victory will be on our side," said Lithuania's Adamkus.

Estonia's Ilves said: "Everyone who believes in freedom and democracy is saying today 'I am Georgian'. We are here to demonstrate our solidarity." He said "I am Georgian" in Georgian.

Posted by mrp 2008-08-13 13:31|| 2008-08-13 13:31|| Front Page Top

#14 "Everyone who believes in freedom and democracy is saying today 'I am Georgian'...

Which is why you won't hear it on America's campuses. All the anti-war protest was just a front for the Anti-American chic who live off the tit of academia and limousine socialists. It was never about principle, just power.

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-08-13 13:35|| 2008-08-13 13:35|| Front Page Top

#15 "Which is why you won't hear it on America's campuses. All the anti-war protest was just a front for the Anti-American chic who live off the tit of academia and limousine socialists. "

so whats the excuse of john Derbyshire, and dozens of others on the right, inluding some folks whove posted here?

A rightwinger can actively make excuses for Russia, and thats a legitimate thoughtful reflexion on the "hypocrisy" of us balkan policy, but lefties are anti-Georgian cause they haven organized in a couple of days? Gotcha.

Posted by superstitiousGalitizianer 2008-08-13 13:42|| 2008-08-13 13:42|| Front Page Top

#16 Over dinner last night, Mrs. Ret offered up the statement that there was no obvious mobilization of Navy folks @ NASWI. (her work at the Naval Hospital there puts her in a good spot to observe such goning's ons). So probably not a lot on additional manpower requirements; at least for Medical or NAVAIR type stuff.

Posted by USN, Ret. 2008-08-13 13:44|| 2008-08-13 13:44|| Front Page Top

#17 Toomas Hendrik Ilves, BTW, is a Social Democrat

Posted by superstitiousGalitizianer 2008-08-13 13:45|| 2008-08-13 13:45|| Front Page Top

#18 Nah - Obama will go to Atlanta and the MSM will proclaim how brave and admirable he is for going to Georgia during the crisis.....

Posted by CrazyFool 2008-08-13 13:56|| 2008-08-13 13:56|| Front Page Top

#19 A rightwinger can actively make excuses for Russia, and thats a legitimate thoughtful reflexion on the "hypocrisy" of us balkan policy, but lefties are anti-Georgian cause they haven organized in a couple of days?

Actually, McZoid has been criticized vigorously on that point.

Posted by lotp 2008-08-13 14:04|| 2008-08-13 14:04|| Front Page Top

#20 superstitiousGalitizianer,

I'll let the campuses prove me wrong. They won't so there is no gotcha till it happens. As for others you want to throw into the pot, just add their names, it doesn't alter my point on their use of fake principles to rationalize the usual suspects hatred of the environment that makes their existence possible.

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-08-13 14:05|| 2008-08-13 14:05|| Front Page Top

#21 finally ...

Bush orders US Air Force-Navy humanitarian airlift to Georgia
DEBKAfile Special Report

August 13, 2008, 7:07 PM (GMT+02:00)

Bush starts to remove the gloves
He demanded that Russia open all routes to these deliveries and to civilian transit.

DEBKAfiles military sources report that the strong military actions a furious US president George W. Bush ordered Wednesday, Aug. 13, after seven days of Russian-Georgian warfare, amount to a bid to break the sea, land and air blockade Russia still maintains against Georgia in violation of the EU-brokered ceasefire.

The first direct US-Russian military clashes in Georgia are now possible if the Russians fail to give way when challenged by US air transports and vessels heading for Georgia. For seven days, Russia has exerted exclusive mastery of Georgias skies, sea and land routes.

Flanked by the secretaries of state and defense, Bush said that Robert Gates as head of the military had already sent the first US Air Force transport with humanitarian and medical aid on its way to Georgia.

Our military sources report that the US air corridor has a short distance to fly from US bases in Italy and Turkey.

The US president accused Moscow of violating the less than one-day old ceasefire fire in its conflict with Georgia, by sending Russian tanks and APCs to the east of the Georgian town of Gori, threatening the capital Tbilisi, bombing the Black Sea port of Poti and sinking Georgian vessels.

Bush reiterated US support for Georgias democratically-elected government and territorial integrity and declared Russia must cease all military acts and withdraw to positions held before the conflict flared. Russian must keep its word and act to end this crisis, if it wants to achieve its aspirations in the international community.

The Bush statement Wednesday followed reports of Russian tanks entering Gori after the ceasefire, and some 15 armored personnel carriers heading out of the devastated ghost city and blocking the highway connected South Ossetia to the rest of Georgia. Russian irregulars were reported killing, burning and looting in Gori and destroying ammunition dumps. A Georgian checkpoint has been placed outside Tbilisi.

Russia was also said to have shot down two Georgian spy drones over the breakaway province.

Posted by Legolas 2008-08-13 14:05|| 2008-08-13 14:05|| Front Page Top

#22 superstitiousGalitizianer, not left-wingers per se, anti-war (e.g. ati-US-and-its-allies-war, the wars initiated from the other side are peachy with them, cuz they are righteous), although, there is some overlap, as well with Ron Paulite right.

Posted by Spike Uniter 2008-08-13 14:08|| 2008-08-13 14:08|| Front Page Top

#23 Already posted - please check the front page before copying articles into comment threads.

Thanks.

Posted by lotp 2008-08-13 14:08|| 2008-08-13 14:08|| Front Page Top

#24 "Which is why you won't hear it on America's campuses. All the anti-war protest was just a front for the Anti-American chic who live off the tit of academia and limousine socialists. "

so whats the excuse of john Derbyshire, and dozens of others on the right, inluding some folks whove posted here?

A rightwinger can actively make excuses for Russia, and thats a legitimate thoughtful reflexion on the "hypocrisy" of us balkan policy, but lefties are anti-Georgian cause they haven organized in a couple of days? Gotcha.

Hold that thought.

I think a lot of the "conservatives" arguing the neo-soviet cause are doing so in name only.

I could mention some posters here who continously talk about how they're really against the Moslem enemy but when you look closely their proposed actions would tend to mostly hurt all those people in the moslem world who threw in their lot with the US instead of Saddam or Osama or Ayman or wosshisname in Iran. And they pretend Putin is some sort of savior when he's been one of our enemies' major suppliers of weapons and other technology.

I've looked at the situation, I've medidated, I've prayed to God, and I've finally come to the conclusion that if we're gonna pin our hopes on a savior, Putin is much inferior to The Emperor Bonaparte.

Posted by Abdominal Snowman 2008-08-13 14:14|| 2008-08-13 14:14|| Front Page Top

#25 ooops sorry - cut and pasted wrong thing...

Posted by Legolas 2008-08-13 14:18|| 2008-08-13 14:18|| Front Page Top

#26 To get back on topic, I like this comment posted at Gateway Pundit:

Chuck Simmins said...

Providing humanitarian assistance is a task normally assigned to the State Department. Assigning this mission to the Department of Defense suggests that the MRE's and cots will be shipped in crates labeled Stingers, or maybe the other way around.

Posted by Sherry">Sherry 2008-08-13 14:19|| 2008-08-13 14:19|| Front Page Top

#27 lotp,

by some of us, yes. and as much for spamming as anything else. Some similar thoughts, expressed APPROPRIATELY, have not drawn anywhere near the venom.

I am pretty sure that there are folks on campus already organizing, as there are on Sudan, Burma and Tibet.

And no, they wont be folks in ANSWER or similar anti-US "antiwar" groups. If Proco had ONLY attacked groups like that hed have my sympathy -certainly Id suspect hes right.

But he went further attacking all campus activists, which just makes no sense to me. This has happened very fast. It takes time to organize a rally, if youve ever been involved in doing so.

BTW, where I live most universities arent even in session yet. Anyone thought of that?

Posted by supergalitz 2008-08-13 14:22|| 2008-08-13 14:22|| Front Page Top

#28 sherry,

emergency humanitarian aid has often been provided by DoD most notably after the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Just noting.

Posted by supergalitz 2008-08-13 14:26|| 2008-08-13 14:26|| Front Page Top

#29 A gentle suggestion: take a deep breath, friend 'hawk/sG.

Posted by lotp 2008-08-13 14:28|| 2008-08-13 14:28|| Front Page Top

#30 thats always good advice, lotp.

You dont think the fellow who posted this

"Everyone who believes in freedom and democracy is saying today 'I am Georgian'...

Which is why you won't hear it on America's campuses. All the anti-war protest was just a front for the Anti-American chic who live off the tit of academia and limousine socialists. It was never about principle, just power.

could do with a deep breath as well?

Posted by supergalitz 2008-08-13 14:39|| 2008-08-13 14:39|| Front Page Top

#31 fox news says
Humanitarian Aid Arrives in Georgia
- The first of C-17 planes carrying humanitarian supplies has arrived in Tbilisi,

Posted by linker 2008-08-13 14:41|| 2008-08-13 14:41|| Front Page Top

#32 #28 superwhatever -- of course I know that! It's always been the military delivering those goods marked with USAID (I read that as State Department).

I watched those Marines landing. I watched those helicopters fly flight after flight. I even know there were Navy ships anchored out, with sailors forgoing showers so water could be flown ashore.

I just thought Chuck's comment was clever, and wanted to get back on topic instead of all this he said, she said stuff.

Go back and read what I posted. I didn't say DOD doesn't do humanitarian work. I've been working on my Rantburg University diploma too long not to have known that!

Posted by Sherry">Sherry 2008-08-13 15:42|| 2008-08-13 15:42|| Front Page Top

#33 Gee supergalitz,

didn't you read

I'll let the campuses prove me wrong

They will or won't. You seem a little agitated, worried they won't?

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-08-13 15:49|| 2008-08-13 15:49|| Front Page Top

#34 so far the only folks saying "i am georgian" are the folks from Poland, Ukraine, and the Baltics.

I dont see any upsurge ANYWHERE in the US, and that includes most of the rightwing blogosphere, where the concern seems to mainly for John Edwards baby, and whether a cold spell is probative relative to climate change. Nobody cares, which is why Im where some folks do. Though MANY dont. So I dont see any need on the part of campuses to prove anythign any more than anybody else.

Posted by supergalitz 2008-08-13 16:29|| 2008-08-13 16:29|| Front Page Top

#35 with sailors forgoing showers so water could be flown ashore.

Having been Navy, we make fresh water from seawater, it's not the water is short, I see this as a "Share the load" Gesture, The real problem is containers to ferry water ashore, as a rule we don't carry those.

I know of several instances where Navy ships Tied up to piers and connected to the city's water mains with Fire Hoses to provide the ship's water to the city.
(Usualy Nukes, with power to spare, Water costs fuel.)

Posted by Redneck Jim">Redneck Jim 2008-08-13 18:06|| 2008-08-13 18:06|| Front Page Top

#36 "President George W. Bush does not forgive those who lie to him."

True enough, TW. I suspect Putin knows that also.
Putin, who holds a weak hand, is now screwed. I wonder if some ambitious SOB attacked on his own while Putin was abroad? What Putin has now is a fait accompli (or not so accompli as the case may be) and everybody pissed at him. And what did he gain? Salve the wounded pride of the Russian military? Capture a pipeline that hasn't been built yet?

Someone Russian, and I'm not sure it was Putin, screwed up royally. Putin is ruthless enough to go for what he wants, but he is NOT stupid. And this attempt at annexation is starting to look like a loser, and stupid.

Posted by Slats Glans2659 2008-08-13 21:27|| 2008-08-13 21:27|| Front Page Top

#37 Actually McCain said - "we are all Georgians today" Saakzhivilli (sp?) even said that in his speech to the masses who attended that rally today and mentioned McCain's name wrt that. There were even U.S. flags being flown at the rally according to one of the shows I caught today.

Posted by Hupusong Hatfield aka Broadhead6 2008-08-13 22:23|| 2008-08-13 22:23|| Front Page Top

#38 As a gentle rejoinder, I don't think Putin holds a weak hand. He's in possession of the two 'breakaway provinces', has a division of troops in the land, has armor and air units working, and has the bellicosity to go further. He holds the land right now.

I'd say that's a reasonably strong hand. Doesn't mean he can't be beat, but it's a strong hand.

Posted by Steve White 2008-08-13 23:02|| 2008-08-13 23:02|| Front Page Top

23:43 FOTSGreg
23:35 Correction
23:33 JosephMendiola
23:29 Correction
23:28 rjschwarz
23:23 Halliburton - Blogosphere Welcome Division
23:23 Jiggs Chiter5628
23:20 JosephMendiola
23:17 Correction
23:12 3dc
23:11 tipover
23:02 Steve White
22:56 Classical_Liberal
22:55 Correction
22:36 Halliburton - Asymmetrical Reply Division
22:35 crosspatch
22:33 McZoid
22:30 Hupusong Hatfield aka Broadhead6
22:30 Besoeker
22:23 Hupusong Hatfield aka Broadhead6
22:22 McZoid
22:21 USN,Ret.
22:18 lotp
22:18 Halliburton - Asymmetrical Reply Division