Obama And Georgia

By Semperpapa

The country of Georgia, not the state, to be precise.

The former Soviet Republic of Georgia, which became a free, pro-west nation after the implosion of the Soviet Union, has since been a staunch ally of the United States, even providing Military assets to the efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
After gaining independence in 1991 as an individual nation instead of a Soviet Republic, the country has been trying to assert its sovereignty, independent from Moscow.
The 2003 Rose Revolution brought Mikhail Saakashvili to power, a staunch supporter of the West.

Georgia has been a major contributor to the international efforts in the war on terror, providing the American-led invasion of Iraq with 2,000 troops. That effort placed the Georgian contribution to the war in Iraq third in number of soldiers after the US and Britain.

Granted that the Tbilisi government was using the Military contribution as an incentive for the powers to be to support its request for NATO membership, but nevertheless the Georgian soldiers bled and died with ours.

Saakashvili should have known, therefore, that having been an ally of the United States would place Georgia on the black list of the current administration, as it is obvious that being a supporter of America is enough to be looked unfavorably by Obama.

During the 2008 invasion of Georgian territory called South Ossetia by Russian military forces, then candidate Obama expressed no condemnation of the Russian illegal incursion, even as the Bush administration expressed its deep regret for it and worked toward insuring the halting of combat and the withdrawal of Russian troops from almost all invaded territories.
And than there was the spineless move on the part of what is today called NATO. Just a shadow of the organization that kept Europe free from the Soviet tanks, today’s alliance has made no move on Georgia request for membership, lest the other European countries would have to actually do something in defense of one of NATO members.
As of today, Russian troops are occupying a portion of Georgian territory.

During this week Nuclear Conference in Washington, Obama appeared not to find the time to have a one-on-one meeting with Saakashvili, even if finding enough time to meet with much less “prevalent” participants, especially after the announcement from the Caucasian country’s government that its security forces had foiled a plot involving the sale of weapon-grade uranium.
In a perfect world, Saakashvili should have been the first foreign leader Obama would meet, if the US President was really serious about the prevention of such material falling in the wrong hands.

Instead, the president of Georgia got a polite phone call from the White House.
Moreover, considering the reverence Obama has been demonstrating toward the leaders of the resurging Soviet Union, Medveded and Putin, Saakashvili greatly increased the contempt from Obama when he publicly expressed his belief that the Moscow government is very involved in the airplane crash that killed the Polish president, Lech Kaczynski, his family and several other governmental VIPs.
Coincidentally, the Polish President had been a unbendable supporter of Georgia during the 2008 Russian military action, obviously sparking Moscow’s ire against him.

While NATO turned its back and Obama snubs them, the Georgian president continues to be a strong ally, including ordering the deployment of about 1,000 troops to Afghanistan to fight under US Military command.
According to Georgian officials, the deployment of troops to Afghanistan has a dual benefit. One would be, again, to prove the solidarity of the country with the ISAF efforts. The second would give those troops invaluable training that is viewed as essential in view of possible future confrontations with the Russian Military, eventuality Tbilisi sees almost unavoidable.

I have feelings of sorrow for the people of Georgia, as it must be a sobering realization to witness a country like the United States so openly and resolutely turn its back on its allies (Britain, Israel and Georgia too) and all because of the efforts of one man who is completely dedicated to renege on the traditions of American support for the cause of freedom.

It is a shock also for many Americans, who are appalled at the treatment this President has reserved for those nations who have been walking the walk, talking the talk right next to America.
Embarrassing action from a President who has made the word “embarrassing” the foundation of his every policy since the day he was elected.

Just my thoughts!