We’ve heard Ambassador Churkin’s polemic, which did not respond to the call we have made for an immediate cessation of hostilities and return to the status quo ante. He has acknowledged his government’s refusal to deal with the democratically elected president of Georgia.
He has acknowledged that this situation is no longer about South Ossetia .
He has attacked the UN Secretariat. He has made suspicious comparisons to other conflicts.
I want to focus however, on one point that Ambassador Churkin made. Ambassador Churkin referred to his minister’s phone conversation with Secretary of State Rice this morning.
That conversation raises serious questions about Russian objectives.
In that conversation, Foreign Minister Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Rice that the democratically elected President of Georgia “must go”.
I quote again: “Saakashvili must go.”
This is completely unacceptable and crosses a line.
I want to ask Ambassador Churkin, is your government’s objective regime change in Georgia?
The overthrow of the democratically elected government of Georgia?
Mr. President, Russia must affirm their aim is not to change the democratically elected government of Georgia and it accepts the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia .
Mr. President, Russia is threatening the territorial integrity of Georgia and this Council must act decisively to reaffirm the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia."
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Permanent Representative, on the situation in Georgia, in the Security Council Chambers
Just how is Bush going to get that bear to step down and go back to his hibernation cave? We could step up our Defcom level like we did in the days of the Cold War. We have to do something, for Georgia has supported us in Iraq and Afghanistan, something that nasty bear hasn't done.
ReplyDeletePutin Compares Saakashvili To Saddam Hussein.
ReplyDelete"Of course, Saddam Hussein ought to have been hanged for destroying several Shiite villages," Putin said. "And the incumbent Georgian leaders who razed ten Ossetian villages at once, who ran elderly people and children with tanks, who burned civilian alive in their sheds - these leaders must be taken under protection."
Unfortunately, I think your analysis is correct. Putin is shooting for regime change.
Putin wants Georgia as an appetizer. What's next? Somebody better step in to help these people.
ReplyDelete(love the bear image)
Debbie Hamilton
Right Truth