Georgia Conflict: Condoleeza Rice Toughens Stance towards Russia

THE TELEGRAPH: Washington has toughened its stance towards Russia as it sought to limit the damage to its prestige over the crisis in Georgia.

On the defensive after criticism that its response to the crisis has failed to stop Russia from prolonging its military operations in Georgia, the Bush administration lashed out at Moscow. Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, said that Russia's reputation was now "in tatters".

But this did not stop Russia from searching for a fresh pretext to extend its occupation of Georgian territory. While President Dmitry Medvedev announced that a troop withdrawal would finally begin on Monday, a spokesman for the Russian defence ministry later accused Georgia of preparing "a major provocative act" in the strategic town of Gori.

Miss Rice, who is to leave Washington for Brussels on Monday for an emergency Nato summit, called on Mr Medvedev to ensure that he carries out his latest promise.

"I hope this time he will keep his word," she said.

"Russia's reputation as a potential partner in international institutions, diplomatic, political, security, economic, is frankly, in tatters.

She added: "Russia will pay a price. We will look seriously with our allies and bilaterally at the consequences of this Russian action ... Georgia will rebuild, Russia's reputation may not be rebuilt." Georgia Conflict: Condoleeza Rice Toughens Stance towards Russia >>> By Alex Spillius in Washington and Adrian Blomfield in Gori | August 18, 2008

THE NEW YORK TIMES:
Russia, Pledging to Leave Georgia, Tightens Its Grip >>> By Michael R. Gordon | August 18, 2008

SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL:
Merkel's Most Serious Foreign Policy Crisis: German Chancellor Angela Merkel is now facing her most serious foreign policy crisis to date. The war in the Caucasus has shattered relations with Russia and sparked disagreements within the EU -- and with the United States >>> By Ralf Beste, Markus Feldenkirchen and Alexander Szandar | August 18, 2008

SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL:
Russia's Strategy Paralyzes US Government: The Bush Administration has warned that ties with Russia are imperiled, but the truth is that the US can undertake little more than symbolic action against Moscow. As much as Russia's actions have irritated the Americans, no one is interested in an escalation >>> By Gregor Peter Schmitz in Washington, D.C. | August 15, 2008

TIMESONLINE:
Cross Us and We’ll Crush You, Warns Medvedev >>> By Philippe Naughton | August 18, 2008

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Russia Warned: Withdraw from Georgia, or Else
THE GUARDIAN: European leaders warned Russia yesterday to withdraw its forces rapidly from Georgia or face unspecified consequences, as Moscow stalled on its pledges to honour a ceasefire and pull back the thousands of troops from the Caucasus republic.

With the US and European governments due to meet tomorrow to consider their options for the first time since the crisis erupted 10 days ago, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France threatened the Kremlin with an ultimatum for the first time, warning that more delays in a pullout "would have serious consequences on relations between Russia and the European Union".

The French warning echoed similar statements from the Americans in recent days, none of which appears to have rattled the Russians, whose forces remain in firm control of large tracts of Georgia well beyond the two separatist enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"People are going to begin to wonder if Russia can be trusted," said Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, yesterday of Moscow's failure to keep its promises.

The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, added to the pressure on Moscow by insisting on an "urgent" retreat. She also backed Georgian aspirations to join Nato. Downing Street said it would send the foreign secretary, David Miliband, to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, later this week. Russia Warned: Withdraw from Georgia, or Else: Nato to hold emergency meeting amid doubts over Kremlin promise >>> By Ian Traynor in Brussels and Luke Harding in Tbilisi | August 18, 2008

NZZ Online:
Merkel sichert Georgien Unterstützung zu: Russlands Präsident kündigt Beginn des Truppenrückzugs an >>> 17. August 2008

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The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (UK) >>>

The Rebirth of the Great Power Diplomacy of the 19th Century? The First Rumblings of World War III?
THE TELEGRAPH: Last month, Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's hawkish ambassador to Nato refused to reveal how the Kremlin would retaliate if Poland agreed to co-host an American missile defence shield.

But he did promise that the response would come as a "pleasant surprise" for the West.

Just as he intended, the Kremlin's reply was neither pleasant nor, entirely, a surprise.

Alongside the ambitions of Georgia and Ukraine to join Nato, missile defence has been the principal source of tension between Moscow and the West. Vladimir Putin, the prime minister, has threatened to retrain nuclear missiles on Europe for the first time since Soviet times and Russia has already walked away from an arms treaty that was pivotal in ending the Cold War.

But the Russians have gone even further in their threats. Poland faces not just the prospect of having Russian missiles pointing in its direction but also risks "100 percent" a military attack. And not just any attack, if Gen Anatoly Nogovitysn is to be believed, but a nuclear attack.

Under Russia's military doctrine, the country's deputy chief of staff explained, the Kremlin had every justification to launch a nuclear strike against Poland if the missile shield is built.

These are strong words and we have yet to see whether this is mere bluster. Dmitry Medvedev, the president, struck a slightly more moderate note but Mr Putin, the real power in Russia, has not yet given his reaction.

Poland, unlike Georgia, is already a member of Nato. A Russian military assault on the country would, if Warsaw were to invoke article five of the Nato treaty, oblige Britain and the other members of the alliance to come to Poland's rescue. In other words, it could be the beginning of World War III. Analysis: Russia Is a Foe to Be Reckoned With >>> By Adrian Blomfield in Tbilisi | August 15, 2008

TOWNHALL.COM:
Vlad the Assailer >>> By Bill O’Reilly | August 16, 2008

MAIL Online:
Superpower Rivalry Is Once Again a Fact of Life – and Death >>> By Max Hastings | August 16, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (US) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (US) >>>

US Demands Russian Troop Pull-Out
Photo of Saakashvili courtesy of Google Images
Watch video: President Saakashvili and the US secretary of state give a news conference >>>
BBC: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has demanded that Russian forces withdraw from Georgia immediately.

It comes after Georgia's president signed an EU-brokered ceasefire deal, after nearly five hours of talks.

In angry comments at a news briefing in Tbilisi, President Mikhail Saakashvili said his country would never accept the loss of any of its territory.

The crisis began when Georgia attacked the breakaway region of South Ossetia a week ago sparking Russian intervention.

President Saakashvili said he had signed the six-point ceasefire agreement - brokered by France - but that it was not a permanent solution. US Demands Russian Troop Pull-Out >>> | August 15, 2008

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The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (US) >>>

Bush Condemns ‘Bullying’ Russia
Watch video: President Bush: "Russia must respect the freedom of its neighbours"
BBC: US President George W Bush has accused Russia of "bullying and intimidation" in its military actions inside Georgia.

Mr Bush demanded that Moscow respect Georgia's territorial integrity and withdraw the troops it sent in a week ago - or risk international isolation.

The crisis began when Georgia attacked the breakaway region of South Ossetia, sparking Russian intervention.

Meanwhile Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili said his country would never accept any foreign occupation.

In a joint news conference with the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Mr Saakashvili criticised the West for not granting his country Nato membership earlier this year.

It followed nearly five hours of talks on an EU-brokered ceasefire deal.

The Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, has demanded that Georgia sign the deal immediately - but said only Russia could guarantee peace in the region. Bush Condemns ‘Bullying’ Russia >>> August 15, 2008

THE SPECTATOR:
Russia’s Aggression In Georgia Is A Portent Of Perils To Come: Philip Bobbitt says that the crisis reflects Russia’s determination to remain an old-fashioned nation state, dominating its region. Intellectual imagination will be needed to thwart that ambition: a recognition that the post-Cold War world needs new global institutions >>> By Philip Bobbitt | August 13, 2008

TIME:
Staring Down the Russians: The end of the Cold War was supposed to usher in a new age in which the major powers would no longer dictate to their neighbors how to run their affairs. That is why Russia's invasion of Georgia is so tragic and so potentially ominous. Russia is now on watch: Will it continue to rely on coercion to achieve its imperial aims or is it willing to work within the emerging international system that values cooperation and consensus? >>> By Zbigniew Brzezinski | August 15, 2008

THE TELEGRAPH:
After Russia's Invasion of Georgia, What Now for the West?: At least for now, the smoke seems to be clearing from the Georgian battlefield. But the extent of the wreckage reaches far beyond that small country >>> By John R Bolton | August 15, 2008

THE TELEGRAPH - Related:
Russian General Says Poland a Nuclear 'Target': Poland has made itself a nuclear target for Russia’s military by hosting elements of a US anti-missile system, a senior Russian general warned >>> By Damien McElroy in Tbilisi | August 15, 2008

MAIL Online:
Russian General Threatens Nuclear Strike on Poland as Bush Demands Moscow Withdraws from Georgia >>> | August 15, 2008

THE TELEGRAPH:
Russia Threatens Nuclear Attack on Poland over US Missile Shield Deal: Russia threatened a nuclear strike against Poland after a landmark deal to site American global anti-missile shields in the country >>> By Harry de Quetteville and Andrew Pierce | August 15, 2008

THE GUARDIAN:
Abdullah Gül Challenges US Superpower Status: US must share power in new world order, says Turkey's controversial president >>> By Stephen Kinzer | August 16, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (US) >>>
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Diana West: Roars About Russia, Bare Whispers About Islam
TOWNHALL.COM: Amazing how quickly the punditocracy switches maps, time zones and histories, simultaneously mastering new combinations of consonants and vowels, to report and react to a "surprise" conflict in Georgia. It's almost hard to recall that, just a few days ago, the most urgent questions confounding most of the media had to do with just how narcissistic John Edwards really is, or what the ramifications of Barack Obama's plans to announce his vice presidential pick via text message might finally be.

Since the sight of tanks rolling usually has a way of concentrating the media mind, the question has become: Whither Russia?
In truth, the demise of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn earlier this month was a journalistic godsend. After all, who hadn't already dusted off their long-retired Soviet history books -- not to mention their long-retired Soviet history experts, all of whom have had the busiest couple of weeks in years -- by the time Vladimir Putin announced last week that "war has started" over South Ossetia and Abkhazia?

Historical memory somewhat refreshed, Western media were ready with the headlines -- "The evil empire is back"; "Welcome to the 19th century"; "The Russian bear's new teeth" -- to promote the main thrust of most stories: namely, that Russia is reverting to tsarist, expansionist, Soviet-style, empire-amassing type. Roars About Russia, Bare Whispers About Islam >>> By Diana West | August 15, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (US) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (US) >>>