The Georgia war conspiracy theory
Posted by Richard on August 14, 2008
When Russian troops attacked Georgia, I expected the "blame America first" crowd to claim it was somehow our fault. And I figured that the purveyors of moral equivalence would suggest that we were in no position to criticize Russia since we invaded Iraq. (Never mind that we liberated Iraq from a brutal, genocidal dictatorship after it defied 14 U.N. resolutions, whereas the Russsians are trying to topple a democratic government and want to take over a free country as a first step to reestablishing a Russian Empire.)
But I admit that even I was surprised by Robert Scheer's insane conspiracy theory claiming that the McCain campaign is behind the whole thing:
Is it possible that this time the October surprise was tried in August, and that the garbage issue of brave little Georgia struggling for its survival from the grasp of the Russian bear was stoked to influence the U.S. presidential election?
Before you dismiss that possibility, consider the role of one Randy Scheunemann, for four years a paid lobbyist for the Georgian government, ending his official lobbying connection only in March, months after he became Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's senior foreign policy adviser.
Previously, Scheunemann was best known as one of the neoconservatives who engineered the war in Iraq when he was a director of the Project for a New American Century. It was Scheunemann who, after working on the McCain 2000 presidential campaign, headed the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, which championed the U.S. Iraq invasion.
…
In 2005, while registered as a paid lobbyist for Georgia, Scheunemann worked with McCain to draft a congressional resolution pushing for Georgia's membership in NATO. A year later, while still on the Georgian payroll, Scheunemann accompanied McCain on a trip to that country, where they met with Saakashvili and supported his bellicose views toward Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Um, unless I'm mistaken, Saakashvili's "bellicose views" are that Russia should stop supporting rebel armies in two provinces that have long been a part of Georgia, should stop trying to intimidate and dominate Georgia, and has no right to annex Georgia. <snark>What a monster.</snark>
As for the rest of Scheer's screed, it criticizes Georgia's "imperial designs" on two of its own provinces, it attempts to demonstrate that the whole Georgia crisis was manufactured by McCain and his "neoconservative cabal" to further his election chances, and it paints Vladimir Putin as an innocent victim.
Wow.
dirk said
Your opening five words need a review and a rewrite.
rgcombs said
I reviewed them. No rewrite needed. None needed for this, either: “…the Russsians are trying to ”topple a democratic government” and want to ”take over a free country” as a first step to reestablishing a Russian Empire.”
You apparently disagree. Are you perhaps Russian? (Dirk isn’t exactly a Slavic name.) Or maybe you believe that any country allied with the U.S. must surely be in the wrong?
Anyway, thanks for stopping by!
neo'saregay said
georgia attacked first, they knew they had no chance. look at whats happening now, everyone is now supporting georgia and condeming russia. how convienient for georgias president, 1. rather than going at it alone he now has support from his neighbours, doesnt it seem odd, none of the harsh words from them wouldnt have appeared till the war was fought,2. they now have an excuse to join nato. 3. it weakens russia international standing and puts the U.S as the saviour of all. 4. georgias president now has more support from his people thus giving him more leverage if elections were called because now he’s the man fighting to restore georgia 5. russia is now the bad guy and georgia is the good guy on the recieving end, even though it was their decision to attack, thus provoking international outcry( the best publicity stunt). I applaud the georgian president, your a big man to put your country at war knowing the outcome, but hey as long as you get some attention
rgcombs said
Well, neos’aregay, it would be easier to respond to your comment if you used standard English — like capital letters and paragraphs. But, no matter. Your illiterate pseudonym makes it clear that standard English isn’t your thing.
I’ll just point out that your entire rant is premised on the “Georgia attacked first” meme — which makes sense only if you accept the idea that Georgia’s internationally accepted borders aren’t really its borders and that Russia gets to redefine Georgia’s borders whenever it wants to. Bullcrap.
I’m guessing from the name you use that you’re not a Russian sticking up for his country, but an American who believes his country is on the wrong side in every situation. If I’m right, you’re far more contemptible than a Russian who made the same argument would be.
So what are you? Russian? Russian/American? Freedom-loathing, America-hating American?
Just wondering. Anyway, thanks for stopping by.
AllSeeing said
You sir are a silly silly man! i happened to be there when it all went down, and have gotten the story before it was twisted then released upon america.
Georgia did in fact attack Ossetia first and did so for ridiculous reasons. Georgian soldiers poisoned CIVILIANS water supply and bombed CIVILIAN cities. After they bombed they thought how nice it would be to throw grenades and start fires in the basements where the CIVILIANS were hiding. Women, children, and elderly! Also, they made videos of such atrocities!
Russia warned them ahead of time not to do this, but they didn’t listen. Fair enough if u ask me.
Georgian terrorists have been caught in Moscow< and more terrorists are on the move, no doubt to bomb CIVILIANS!
Good ol’ america sends aid and money to poor lil georgia. America is in fact funding and supporting terrorism. Your government is lying to u! It always has, and always will!
I’m a leader of a certain organization who is in a position change all this. A vast legion of free thinking people who have had enough. Theres nothing to be done to stop this. We will in fact restore this pitiful oil drilling, planet killing, piece of dirt government to what it once was in the old days.
In case ur wondering i am in fact an american! My wife lives in moscow.
rgcombs said
Wow, AllSeeing, you’re full of accusations without any substantiation. Have you seen these atrocity videos? Well, link to them. Terrorists in Moscow? Link to your source. It’s not hard. Click the Help tab in the Post Comment dialog box for instructions.
You’re a “leader of a certain organization”? Name it, you coward.
You want to stop our “oil drilling, planet killing” and restore us to “the old days”? Which old days exactly?
If you’re an American, you’re a sorry one.
Georgia attacked terrorist rebels within its own territory, as recognized by the United Nations.
Mind you, I’m sympathetic toward ethnic groups like the Ossetians seeking more self-determination. Although I’m more sympathetic when they seek a reasonable and peaceful solution that grants them a measure of autonomy within the state of which they’re a part — like the Iraqi Kurds — instead of fighting a nasty guerrilla war.
But AFAIK, some time ago the South Ossetian rebels stopped being a genuine self-determination movement and became puppets of the Russians.
If I’m mistaken, why is there not a ”North” Ossetian rebel movement seeking liberation from ”Russia”?
AllSeeing said
First things first pussycat! They aren’t accusations! They are fact! I told u i was there and heard all the news long before it ever reached American television. I do not have any “sources” to show as i was in Russia reading the papers and hearing the news. i have found a couple links to videos i found. Unfortunately most have been deleted no doubt by non other than the good old american government.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=932_1220302619
Oh my! is that Georgian soldiers shooting civilian apartment buildings? Sounds like they are having fun! this took place mind u before russia attacked.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_Ks6hu6ggE
Oh no! guess cos the government owns the information they can change it, edit it, rape it however they want?
I implore u sir, choose your words carefully! Do not ever mistake intelligence with cowardice! Why would i reveal a name that has been kept secret all this time? So i could see this name on all bulletins, or perhaps on CNN? So this silly war mongering gov. can pursue under a war on terror umbrella? I think not!
The old days. Before we decided that we rule the world and that we should get in everyones business. Before we decided that it would be a good idea to spy on our own people with this big brother shit. Before we decided to DICTATE (keyword) what other countries should do with themselves.
NEVER did Georgia attack terrorists within its own territory and the United Nations can shove it up their NWO asses! The only terrorists were the georgian ones inside Ossetia kidnapping innocent people for insane amounts of ransom then killing them anyway. You can do your own research on that one as i also read that in russian papers and news reports. Also in there were the terrorists found in moscow with a stash of weapons and plans to bomb. Not to mention the VHS received recently with yet more terrorist threats to bomb.
I have to agree that it’s much better to reach a reasonable and peaceful resolution to anything, but my point is that the georgians are crazy and have attacked everyone around them for their lands. Yet another point being that the US government does in fact twist the facts in order to control its people. U cannot believe what u hear here as they own the media and censor all before releasing. That to me and my people is corrupt and unjust! I know its impossible to change a man’s mind who has already made it up. Especially one thats been brainwashed into thinking that america can do no wrong.
anyway, your feisty! nothing wrong with that!
rgcombs said
South Osettia has been Georgian territory for over 1000 years — long before the ethnic Ossetians migrated there. When Georgians fight Ossetian rebels, they are ”defending their own territory.”
The Russian claims of Georgian attacks on civilians and 2000 civilian dead were thoroughly discredited by Human Rights Watch investigators. I believe HRW estimated there were fewer than 200 civilian casualties. Considering that the Russian-backed rebels attacked Georgian troops from homes, businesses, apartment buildings, and the like, it’s not surprising that some civilians were caught in the crossfire. This is also true in other guerrilla war situations — as is the fact that a dead male “civilian” is often a dead guerrilla whose comrades picked up his weapon.
You claim the US government “own the media and censor all before releasing.” You, sir, are delusional. The American mainstream media have been at virtual war with the current administration since the 2000 election.
I shouldn’t trust American news reports, but should believe the Russian media? You make me laugh! Putin controls Russian news with an iron fist, and reporters who don’t cooperate are being assassinated on the streets of Moscow.
When you argue that US media are controlled by the government and Russian media are independent and reliable, you prove yourself either a liar or a fool.
As for that “secret organization” you belong to — it wouldn’t happen to be Russkaya Mafiya, would it? 🙂
rgcombs said
Oh, I almost forgot — what about that ”North” Ossetian liberation movement, seeking independence from Russia? How’s it doing?
AllSeeing said
Федера́льная слу́жба безопа́сности
FSB