The Young Turks

Congress has failed, even in the face of mountainous evidence of malfeasance and pre-meditated murder (complete w/ financial M.O. and smokin' guns,) to do it's fucking job and put this band of hoods in prison for high crimes. They've had ample legal opportunity yet they allow them remain on the streets to resume their crime spree. Now with this latest business of moving a missile shield from Germany into Poland, Con Rice has created a snowball to hell with her empty and naked claim that it is only a "defense" against "Rogue States."  I want some fucking names because Somebody is getting rich from this deal that is putting us all in jeopardy.  Ten days ago we had a friend and ally in Russia. One with whom we shared both intelligence and economic cooperation. Putin had partied at both the Ranch and the Yankee safe house in New England.  They did shots. Perhaps from one another's mouths. Who KNOWS what went on up there? Now with this recent tampering with an already unstable political orbit, they've managed to put us all at a very real risk of doom.

Between planting the Stars an Stripes in Georgia and expanding NATO to the borders of Russia in direct violation of the post-cold war agreements made by the Clinton and papa administrations, Washington has deliberately pushed us into direct confrontation with Moscow, recreating a climate of hostility where there for twenty good years, has been none. Georgia is not in the North Atlantic. We (until last week) had no threats in Eastern Europe to defend against.

Iran has never threatened us OR Israel for that matter (read the transcripts of the speech. It calls for regime change, just as everyone else does), even facing an aggressive assault  of statements coming from the White House that continue to goad the Iranians and pose a direct threat to their security.  The belligerence from Hilary is a case in point. ("Obliterate them") In the past ten months I have been in Turkey, the Mid-East, E. Africa, South east Asia and Australia. In none of these places have I been hearing heads of State make public expressions of antagonism  towar ds the Untied States. Not on BBC, not on Al Jazeera. Yet on CNN and internet news I hear repeated threats directed at "our enemies" broadcasted daily, from the U.S. State Department.  How we can "not continue to allow them to walk all over us", and so forth.  As a keen overseas observer, I can attest, we do not come off as the good guys. The planners in D.C. are instigating conflicts with countries that do not have a quarrel with us and creating enemies where they don't exist.

Russia indeed invaded a sovereign nation and in doing so is in direct violation of the UN charter. This is quite clear and yet they did it anyway. Their past military support of the break-away provinces of Abkhazia and Ossetia and their separatists  that engage in terrorist tactics, is a war crime.  The current crisis is just the latest development in an epic drama of historical conflict, it's conclusion nowhere in sight.

The  movement of "tens of thousands of refugees" did not begin last week. As both regions in question are internationally recognized as the legal territory of the Georgian state, they technically don't fall into the category of refugees but are internally displaced persons. Georgian IDP's driven from their separatist enclaves have been piling up like cord wood in appalling, makeshift housing above the Tblisi train station for years.   The inhabitants of Abkhazia-Osettia are NOT Russia's citizens to defend and protect regardless of Ruskie passports.

No doubt dozens of nations today are engaged in devastating domestic conflicts with insurgent ethnic populations. Their problems are internal and theirs to resolve. To be sure, many of the rebellions are just and their peoples often are victims of atrocities. Sri Lanka, Mindanao, PI, the deep south of Thailand, Spain.......the list goes on. While on the subject we should'nt neglect to include Chechnya and it's aspirations of independence.

The most recent events point to far more critical issues however, that have little to do with those misused, overlooked populations and more to do with global, political power declarations.

Yes, the West and it's reverb media have failed to accurately represent the Russian side of the crisis in it's historical context and Saakashvili is likely guilty of snuggling up to the wreckless and criminal gang of neo-Convicts that have promised personal fortune and prestige in exchange for selling out his citizenry for attractive U.S. and Israeli weapons contracts and access to Caspian energy reserves. Shame on him. Anyone who is gullible enough to do covert business with Washington and their gangster lobbyists with no risk of betrayal given the scrolls of documented historical record that showcase U.S. partners- in- policy getting ditched, is a chump and in doing so has jeopardized the security of Georgia's citizens. This includes the people of the break-away provinces, exploited by all sides of the major leagues.  The fact that these matters are of the internal nature however does'nt change anymore than the domestic problems of the U.S. can only be addressed by their citizens. Many might agree that a coup within Washington is necessary  but&nb sp; would'nt endorse external interference.

The real crux of the Russian beef, though lies not with the minority groups of Abkhazia.  Let us take a moment to be real. Despite Gorbachev's statement that Moscow is acting in the interests of Abkhazia/Ossetia and out of kind regard for their peoples is not the principle behind any of this. When we look deeper beneath the "facts of this war" we see that the bottom line is the issue of NATO expansion, a legitimate concern, which Moscow has politely addressed a number of times over the past years. They feature that a U.S. military presence camped out on their borders is a direct threat to their National security. Just as the U.S.A. might take issue with Frog occupiers suddenly making themselves at home in Vancouver and Toronto in a show of support for Quebec .

 All of these things are worth noting but the fact is the latest throwdown with their former satellite is, by standard definition, an invasion. That is'nt a matter of debate. That it is illegal, is also indisputable. Yet , it would appear that through western provocation, they have felt moved to assert force in a challenge to Washington to show their cards. Saakashvili, in the stereotypical role of groomed stooge, has for his part, put the whole world in grave peril with his complicity in these games.

Is it acceptable behavior for nations to invade other nations who themselves use brutal force to repel insurgency within their borders? Or even to act as sponsoring patrons to those exile groups trying to bust out?  Given that logic, one can conclude that it is reasonable for the world to encourage a country such as Iran to intervene in the affairs of the nation of Indonesia in defense of the Acehnese who have demanded independence and who identify more with Shariah states. Or Syria to invade Russia because of it's murderous suppression of  Muslim Chechnyans.  If it were the accepted norm for States to invade as Russia has done with Georgia, anytime they agree with the grievances of their disenfranchised and marginalized ethnic minorities, we would be witness to even more misery than we already have.  We as a country, are already ensconced in a couple of serious, self-made, turf wars that have escalated to more horrifying heights by pitting native groups against each other in the manipulative means to suit Neo-Con political objectives.

Thang is....... Russia aint some "crappy little country" that we can strong arm.  They have recovered from their ecollapses with a healthier, more manageable, look.  Weak and defenseless Iraq, they aint. No pretense of WMD threat necessary here. And just because they gave up their old territories don't mean they're not going to object to the U.S. helping themselves to their former subjects and turn Georgia into the Puerto Rico of the Black Sea. The object of Russian military ops in Georgia was to assert control of their back yard. The Neo-Cons have crossed the accepted boundaries. They have pushed it and it is viewed as hostile.

Even from a strictly hawk perspective, the latest round of Risk appears to have been foolishly played out. Why, when U.S. forces are spread as thin as they are in the current perpetrated world conflicts, in the midst of severe recession, would the wise planner/strategist gamble on Europe's main petrol partner and CIA's most trusted inside source for Iranian activities. Tell the Big Bear to go get fucked right in the brink of world economic crisis when they holding all the chips they got?  The manufactured War on Terror is a far more lucrative hustle than the commie monster game. It's an endless gravy train with a golden goose in the caboose. Why kill the goose? Why would you just blow that? Ex-Pentagon officials now amassing fortunes from their offices in the pvt. defense sector are watching in horror as the current helmsmen have just steered us up onto the rocks. Why would you DO that? Place world populations at the threshold of WW III when the war on terror has proven to be a such a cash cow?

Making too much of this? These are exactly the combined ingredients for the kind of disaster we've seen unfold in history. This is how it germinates. Consider Russia taking offense at the posturing, potty mouthed tone coming today from U.S. officials and the alienation that they're experiencing. A Russia-China (also on the outs)- India (who as China's competitor in S. Asia no longer would need Washington's permits)  bloc against the U.S./Israel and the few friends they might salvage in Europe when the shit hits.  Toss an organized Arabian peninsula coalition into the bargain, you have a nasty and hasty recipe for global warming we should all be immediately concerned about. I live in S.E. Asia. Some of these "crappy little countries" will find themselves having to choose their friends real quick- like and they're likely to go with the better Vegas odds. Japan and their computer graphics Japanamation defense? With the decades of built-up, humiliated, step-chile resentments they harbor? I would'nt  be riding up in the front seat.

The most seasoned veteran war planners can take one look at this debacle and tell you that the Bush/Cheney cartel has screwed the pooch. The loud talk has been exposed as a weak and obvious act. Washington broke off more than they can handle and have been forced to fold. It's been an international embarrassment that is going to prove to be too much for these closet queens to swallow and their subsequent aggravation of our former allies and desperate attempt to save some face will cost many innocent lives.

In the early weeks of 2003, as we approached the start of the Iraq invasion, there were some foreseen consequences common among the more sober, level-headed voices of dissent. There were 4 general items of serious concern; This doesnt include the reasons given to invade as they were already disproven and discredited prior to the official bombing that took place.

One was that WMD would unlikely be revealed. Two, after an initial successful bombing campaign, that a drawn-out ground war would deterriate into civil fighting between ethnic groups, and that crude prices would soar. Leaving then, the credibility factor; that we would lose hard earned standing in the International community, alienating ourselves from our traditional allies. Emerging as an untrusted and weaker adversary.

The first 3 predictions have occurred as forewarned. And now that last prediction has arrived at our door.  Before we were just sort of disliked. Travel for yank ex-pats became a trifle awkward. Found ourselves to be a little dee-fensive of our fellow countrymen. Now...... we have been publicly dissed. Told to step off as the whole block looked on, smirking in mutual understanding that the sole superpower just got straight, chumped. All the other kids just experienced a new rush of confidence.

In the anticipated response to the Russian invasion, U.S. officials' half-assed demands went largely unanswered with general disinterest. Medvedev looked everyone square in the eyes and said they would pull out, they were through. At the same moment live cameras featured Russian troops taking afternoon naps atop their tanks in Gori.  As it stands the U.S.  has been reduced to Sleezeball Status. Like some unwashed degenerate with a gambling jones who hangs out in the casino coffee lounge, nursing water. All of our markers exhausted. Mooching smokes and kissing ass. Half tolerated by others.

Then we've John Mc Caint. The Maverick. Seizing the opportunity to demonstrate his sweet moves. Eager and desperate to drive the truck with utter disregard for public safety. Issuing orders from his half- empty VFW halls. Barking out his two- cents in disjointed, semi-literate remarks like a rabid, drooling, market street bag lady. Red-eyed and damp, smelling of pee.  Jeered at and patronized as a spunky and cute side show but ultimately ignored as a damaged imbecile, even by his handlers.  Left to gesticulate wildly at the curb, mindlessly mumbling repeated calls for Georgia-NATO. Like the Howard Hughes character in "The Aviator".  & quot;The blueprint. We need the blueprint. Get the blueprint."

We should all heed the ominous implications of this conflict that have been wisely outlined by Mikhail Gorbachev in an Op-Ed article in a recent issue of N.Y. Times. The upshot being; They Don't NEED us.

Consider too, that an Obama victory does'nt guarantee a remedy as Junior will still have 2 months between Nov. and inauguration to make his last fireworks finale over Tehran who's enemy's enemy may turn out to be a good friend.

Fact is, we're rapidly running out of friends. To further antagonize a recharged Russia who just won that round, is not in the National Interest. 

-Rampart