Lugar Calls for Consideration of Arming Georgia
Republican Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana has called for the U.S. and its allies to consider rearming Georgia. I think this is a terrible idea. Georgia has proven to be a destabilizing and aggressive force in the Caucasus. President Saakashvili irresponsibly ordered the attack on South Ossetia in August of 2008. This would not have been possible without substantial American aid; Georgia increased military spending at the fastest rate in the world in 2008. As a result, hundreds of Ossetian civilians and 16 Russian peacekeepers lost their lives in Georgia's unprovoked attack. The United States should not arm a Georgia with proven aggressive intent. Who can doubt what Georgia would do with a rebuilt military?
The Bush Administration bears moral responsibility for arming Georgia before, if Georgia rearms and again attacks, America foreign policy makers will be complicit. Further, Georgia is not a dependable or responsible partner and should not be admitted to NATO. This can only appear to the Russian leadership as attempted encirclement. Fortunately, it appears that the Obama Administration is not tone deaf towards Russia in the way that the Bush Administration was.
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Reader Comments (3)
Bruce, what makes you think that Georgians might again "attack" South Ossetia or pehaps even Abkhazia? Is it some kind of subliminal desire to have Tbilisi bombed by Russian forces? We both know it'd be inevitable this time.
It would be naive to think that Georgia's leadership would not attack South Ossetia and/ or Abkhazia if given the opportunity. Why? The actions and statements of the last 16 years make clear their intentions.
It is offensive to suggest that I want Tblisi to be bombed There is nothing in anything i have written to suggest this. I don't want anyone to be bombed
My quarrel is with the irresponsible actions by Georgia's leadership. It is clear from my writings that I admire the courageous people in Georgia who are exposing human rights violations.
Please tone it down and restrict comments to facts, Remy.
I meant our [Georgia's] "subliminal desire", not yours. I wouldn't dare to suggest you want Tbilisi bombed, sorry for misunderstanding.
"It would be naive to think that Georgia's leadership would not attack South Ossetia and/ or Abkhazia if given the opportunity."
How exactly does this opportunity look like? I believe the only opportunity is when Russians abandon their positions and arming Abkhazians and Ossetians. That's of course political-fiction.
The statements are unimportant, there are actions and reactions and one filling the scheme is: Georgia attacks "again" --> Russia bombs Tbilisi.
So what's that "opportunity"?