Tag Archives: South Ossetia

Japan-China Crisis Is A Huge Geopolitical Problem – Business Insider

China and Japan appear to be on the verge of a shooting war over some tiny islands that are the subject of a territorial dispute.

Tension between these countries is escalating irrespective of the islands, and it is a matter of immense national concern for the United States and the rest of the world.

Yesterday in Davos, I sat down with Ian Bremmer, the president of geopolitical consulting firm Eurasia Group, to get his take on the situation.

Now he comes into a context where the U.S. is already acting in a way that’s concerned about a Chinese challenge in the region. It’s the single biggest strategic effort that the Obama administration has engaged in, from a foreign policy perspective.

And you have to think that the Chinese are going to see all this as provocative. The real question is, to what extent is the Chinese government prepared to respond in an escalatory fashion? Is this Russia vs. Georgia? A little bit, right. Are you poking the bear?

And I don’t know the answer to that, but I suspect it’s not good.

A couple of quick points on that:

Do you remember the Russia-Georgia war? That was were Russia threatened the West with war – effectively nuclear war – if they interfered.

Military help for Georgia is a ‘declaration of war’, says Moscow in extraordinary

Moscow has issued an extraordinary warning to the West that military assistance to Georgia for use against South Ossetia or Abkhazia would be viewed as a “declaration of war” by Russia.

The extreme rhetoric from the Kremlin’s envoy to NATO came as President Dmitry Medvedev stressed he will make a military response to US missile defence installations in eastern Europe, sending new shudders across countries whose people were once blighted by the Iron Curtain.

Military help for Georgia is a ‘declaration of war’, says Moscow in extraordinary warning to the West | Mail Online

The Mugging of Ambassador McFaul – Alex Alexiev – National Review Online

Designed ostensibly for three main purposes — to secure Russian cooperation in thwarting the nuclear ambitions of Iran, promote disarmament, and assure supplies to Afghanistan from the north — the “reset” policy has failed miserably, with the partial exception of the last item. Russia now protects Iran’s nuclear ambitions rather openly. It also supports and arms the genocidal regime in Syria, and has succeeded in postponing missile defense in Europe, to the great detriment of our relations with the pro-American Eastern Europeans. It continues to display its neo-imperialist designs, from South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia to Transnistria in Moldova, as well as in its new Eurasian Union scheme.

The Mugging of Ambassador McFaul – Alex Alexiev – National Review Online

Putin, Russia & the West: The War [Russia-Georgia War] – YouTube

This video reveals just how close to war America and Russia came. It had never been closer.

If the major powers have only known peace between each other since 1945, then how is it possible that World War III almost occurred over Georgia? If the longer you have peace then the more peace you will have, how is it possible to interrupt peace?

Moscow has issued an extraordinary warning to the West that military assistance to Georgia for use against South Ossetia or Abkhazia would be viewed as a “declaration of war” by Russia.

The extreme rhetoric from the Kremlin’s envoy to NATO came as President Dmitry Medvedev stressed he will make a military response to US missile defence installations in eastern Europe, sending new shudders across countries whose people were once blighted by the Iron Curtain.

Military help for Georgia is a ‘declaration of war’, says Moscow in extraordinary warning to the West | Mail Online

Doesn’t the entire concept of nuclear war now between America and Russia go against everything you know? Yet, there it is. It almost happened.

Could it be that the longer there is peace then the closer one is to war? In other words, the world does not work the way most people think it should. At a time when all the generations who have known war have mostly died out along with their wisdom, the surviving generations have become susceptible to war 

The third episode tells how, in August 2008, Russia went to war with America’s ally, Georgia. Russia’s president Dmitry Medvedev and Georgia’s president Mikheil Saakashvili reveal why each decided it was necessary to make war on the other.

Former American secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and former secretary of defense Robert Gates describe what happened inside the National Security Council as President Bush considered whether to send in ground troops to save Georgia’s capital. They reveal just how near to war the conflict brought the two nuclear super-powers.

Putin, Russia & the West: The War – YouTube

Russian Threats of Nuclear War Grow Louder

The most recent threats of nuclear war come from the Russian foreign minister. Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is threatening a “very big war” with “suffering across the world” if the west encourages anti-government uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa.

Russian threats of nuclear attack started out in Georgia back in 2008. These threats expanded to the trans-Caspian gas pipeline. Then they moved onto the expansion of NATO. Then onto Iran and Syria. Now these threats have expanded onto the entire Middle East and North Africa. Does anybody see a problem here?

Back in August of 2008 we got a first taste of Russia’s nuclear threats:

Moscow has issued an extraordinary warning to the West that military assistance to Georgia for use against South Ossetia or Abkhazia would be viewed as a “declaration of war” by Russia.

Military help for Georgia is a ‘declaration of war’, says Moscow in extraordinary warning to the West

Russia’s military leaders, led by tough, politically incorrect, plain-speaking old four-star Chief of the General Staff Gen. Yury Baluyevsky, have been warning over the past two years that future full-scale wars, even including the use of nuclear weapons, are certainly not regarded as inconceivable by their planners.

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Later Russia issues an implied nuclear threat if Georgia joins NATO. Obvously, attack on Georgia would then be an attack on NATO which would quickly go nuclear.

Russia’s foreign minister has warned of a repetition of its 2008 war with Georgia if the South Caucasus state joins NATO.

Russia says Georgia’s entry to NATO could lead to war

Here Russia threatens to use military force to stop Europe’s oil pipeline project with Turkmenistan. This would obviously go nuclear if Europe (NATO) fought back. Was Moscow bluffing?

.. Threats to prevent the construction of a trans-Caspian gas pipeline by military force are also a form of Kremlin art: bluff in their substance, even if brutal in their form.

Pursuant to President Dmitry Medvedev and the Russian Security Council’s October 14 decision (see EDM, October 21), Moscow is undertaking diplomatic and political countermeasures to the EU-planned gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Europe.

Bluff In Substance, Brutal In Form: Moscow Warns Against Trans-Caspian Project

Some may forgive Russia for casually throwing out nuclear threats because Georgia and Turmenistan are right on its border. But the threats keep expanding.

Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces implies that anymore eastward expansion of NATO could lead to nuclear war.

Russia is facing a heightened risk of being drawn into conflicts at its borders that have the potential of turning nuclear, the nation’s top military officer said Thursday.

Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, cautioned over NATO’s expansion eastward and warned that the risks of Russia being pulled into local conflicts have “risen sharply.”

Makarov added, according to Russian news agencies, that “under certain conditions local and regional conflicts may develop into a full-scale war involving nuclear weapons.”

A steady decline in Russia’s conventional forces has prompted the Kremlin to rely increasingly on its nuclear deterrent.

Makarov warned that the planned pullout of NATO forces from Afghanistan could trigger conflicts in neighboring ex-Soviet Central Asian nations that could “grow into a large-scale war.”

In its military doctrine, Russia has also described U.S. missile defense plans as another major security challenge, saying it could threaten its nuclear forces and undermine their deterrence potential.

Russian Military Chief Warns of Nuclear War Risks

Here we have the Russian ambassador to NATO threatening nuclear war if the west attacks Iran.

Russia has given Iran its bear hug and warns Israel and the West that an attack on Tehran would be considered an attack on Moscow. The threat heightens the prospect of World War III in the event of a military strike on Iran.

“Iran is our neighbor,” Russia’s outgoing ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, told reporters in Brussels. “And if Iran is involved in any military action, it’s a direct threat to our security.”

Russia: Attack on Tehran is Attack on Moscow – Global Agenda – News – Israel National News

Here a Russian leader seems to imply that if the US does not re-elect Obama, then things might not work out. Not a problem unless you consider the context. He said that while discussing how Russia would directly help Iran if attacked by the West – with obvious nuclear consequences. If America elects someone that won’t tow-the-Russian-line then prepare for World War III.

Last week, Americans learned that they are, or soon may be, at war with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. That is, of course, unless they do just exactly what the Kremlin asks, which is pretty simple, really, and consists largely of re-electing Barack H. Obama, the best friend the Kremlin ever had, as president of the United States.

The word came down from two of Russia’s highest-ranking politicians, Nikolai Patrushev (head of Russia’s National Security Council) and Dmitri Rogozin (formerly Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, recently elevated to deputy prime minister). Both chose to use Iran as the focal point of their remarks.

Patrushev accused the United States of attempting to topple Iran’s government and subjugate its population “by all available means” and implied that Russia would help Iran to shut down oil supplies to the United States through the Persian Gulf if the U.S. dared to try to block Iran’s nuclear weapons program, which, he assured, is nothing urgent that Americans need to worry about.

But Patrushev (who is one of Russia’s most strident haters of America and her values) said it all still might work out: “In the case of Vladimir Putin and then Barack Obama coming to power, the Russian-U.S. relationship, as well as the situation in the world as a whole, may see a strengthening trend.” It seems that the prospect of Americans returning Republicans to the White House makes Russians at least as nervous as the prospect of the West unseating Russia’s bosom buddies in Tehran.

Articles: Russia: Re-Elect Obama, or It’s World War III

The Russian foreign minister adds the icing to the cake by now expanding Russian threats of nuclear war across the Middle East and North Africa.

  • Russian foreign minister says war would cause ‘suffering across the world’
  • Iran says neighbours in ‘dangerous position’ if they ally to U.S.
  • ‘Iran would go guerilla in war with U.S.,’ says Pentagon-linked report

Russia has warned of a ‘very big war’ causing suffering across the world if Western countries encourage anti-government uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa.

Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Western meddling would lead to ‘a very big war that will cause suffering not only to countries in the region, but also to states far beyond its boundaries’, the New York Times reported.

A ‘seriously worried’ Lavrov spoke yesterday at his annual press conference, where he said a military attack on Iran would trigger a ‘chain reaction’ to destabilise the world.

Russia warns of a ‘very big war’ if West meddles with Middle East | Mail Online

Russia keeps threatening and threatening, and so far the west has towed the line. Leaders in the west don’t really believe Russia, but they don’t want to find out. How long can we live in a world where Russia is constantly threatening nuclear war?

Now the west is under Russia’s thumb and must do Russia’s bidding. But will Russia’s friends play nice? While the west is tied down, Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas and now Egypt are free to cause as much trouble as they wish. Will Russia stop Hamas from firing rockets into Israel? What if Israel responds aggressively?

This situation is intolerable and cannot last long. The west is going to find out soon if Russia is bluffing.

As if the problems with Russia aren’t bad enough, now China’s Hu is asking the Chinese navy to prepare for warfare.

Chinese President Hu Jintao Tuesday urged the navy to prepare for military combat amid growing regional tensions over maritime disputes and a US campaign to assert itself as a Pacific power.

The navy should “accelerate its transformation and modernisation in a sturdy way, and make extended preparations for military combat in order to make greater contributions to safeguard national security,” he said.

Addressing the powerful Central Military Commission, Hu said: “Our work must closely encircle the main theme of national defence and military building.”

His remarks, which were posted on a statement on a government website, come amid growing US and regional concerns over China’s naval ambitions, particularly in the South China Sea.

China claims all of the maritime area, as does Taiwan, while four Southeast Asian countries declare ownership of parts of it, with Vietnam and the Philippines accusing Chinese forces of increasing aggression there.

In a translation of Hu’s comments, the official Xinhua news agency quoted the president as saying China’s navy should “make extended preparations for warfare.”

But the Pentagon on Tuesday downplayed Hu’s speech, saying that Beijing had the right to develop its military, although it should do so transparently.

AFP: China’s Hu urges navy to prepare for combat

Generally, the experts are saying these kinds of threats are merely election pandering and should not be taken seriously. Can that be true?

Back in 2010 I wrote an article laying out the foundation of war: 25+ Signs That Point to Nuclear War.

You need to approach the problem of nuclear war like you would a major forest fire – both represent the collapse of a system. In a forest you would look for the historical signs that the forest is susceptible to a major forest fire. Then you would wait for a hot dry summer. Finally, you would watch for the spark that starts the ball rolling.

In the above article I lay out how the historical signs of war are present today. Current implied threats of nuclear war represent the hot dry summer. Finally, we are watching for the spark or catalyst that will actually start a nuclear war.

It would be a mistake to believe Russian threats of nuclear war only apply to an attack on Iran or encouraging Middle East revolutions. Russia and China are ready for nuclear war and are merely looking for an excuse. Both Russia and China are putting regime security above national security, which is typical of autocratic regimes. Years of Russian corruption, Chinese corruption and poor decisions have left Russia and China in danger of revolution. Revolution means death or prison for these regime leaders. They will not allow this to happen.

Watch for conflict involving Israel to understand how a major nuclear war is going to start.

That’s all well and nice, but is Putin actually ruthless enough to launch a nuclear attack against America? Check out this article: Signs Russia Would Have No Problem Nuking America.

What about China? Check out these articles: Does China Want War? [A Collection of Articles].

Related Article:

Russia warns of war within a decade over Arctic oil and gas riches

Russian Bungling: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to South Ossetia

You remember South Ossetia, right? That was the region carved out of Georgia in the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. Apparently, what should have a cake-walk was badly screwed up by Russia. The candidate favored by Russia lost the election due to incompetence by everybody. The winner actually loves Russia too, but she wasn’t who Russia wanted.

Winning elections is a science in Russia, though not a particularly elegant one. The term polit-tekhnolog (“political technologist”) is, after all, a Russian neologism. There are well-paid teams of them in Moscow who do nothing but hatch ways to confuse voters, skew results and, when necessary, stuff the ballot box. Reports of their handiwork have been rife ahead of Russia’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, calling to mind the country’s unofficial electoral mantra, which is usually attributed to Stalin: “It’s not important how they vote. It’s important who is counting.” So with all this experience to draw from, with all these technologists available to help, how did Moscow manage to screw up the ballot last weekend in the tiny Russian vassal state of South Ossetia?

The confusion between Russia and South Ossetia – TIME

OpEdNews – Article: U.S. Arms Persian Gulf Allies For Conflict With Iran

The article below is an alternate view of how the world works. Our good buddy Rick Rozoff pretty much blames the US and the west for all the world’s problems. This is an excellent example of how the left thinks. The successful must be torn down – they are not successful after all. Bad boys are lifted up – the bad boys are not so bad after all. In the end we all meet in the middle.

Washington is using the Persian Gulf Arab monarchies to act as surrogates for its own interests against Iran as it is with Georgia against Russia [21] and the Philippines vis-a-vis China. (NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the North Atlantic Council just returned from Georgia, the second such visit a NATO chief and the bloc’s 28 ambassadors have paid, the first occurring the month after Georgia invaded South Ossetia in August 2008, provoking a five-day war with Russia. Late last month 2,000 U.S. and 1,000 Filipino marines participated in combat drills near the Spratly Islands, which are contested by the Philippines and China.

Even if the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and their GCC partners don’t launch unprovoked strikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites, a provocation staged, say, by the UAE around the oil-rich island of Abu Musa in the Persian Gulf (frequently referred to by U.S. officials as the Arabian Gulf in a direct affront and challenge to Iran), administered by Iran but claimed by the UAE, will be casus belli enough for the GCC and through it the Arab League it controls. From there, as with Libya earlier this year, the U.S. and its NATO allies will take up cudgels on behalf of the “threatened” Arab Gulf states and enter the lists against Iran.

OpEdNews – Article: U.S. Arms Persian Gulf Allies For Conflict With Iran

Who Started the 2008 Russia-Georgia War? | Moscow Times

The short answer is that Georgia started the war but was set up by Russia. Georgia blew it by starting the war. It was warned by the US not to do anything stupid, but it just couldn’t help itself. Take a look at how Russia set up Georgia:

Similarly, there are two versions of how the Russia-Georgia war began in August 2008.

Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, Russia set up military bases in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, a car was bombed in the small Georgian town of Gori, power and gas lines were blown up, and a Russian fighter jet “accidentally dropped” a missile close to Gori.

Moscow also banned imports of Georgian wine and Borzhomi mineral water, prohibited flights between the two countries, and deported Georgian citizens.

And just several months before the war broke out, Russian armed forces repaired a railroad on the Abkhaz border that had the capability of transporting military equipment and ammunition. This suggested that a Russian invasion of Abkhazia was in the works. …

Posted on Aug. 10, 2011.

Independence Illusions | Opinion | The Moscow Times

2008 Russia-Georgia War: Military help for Georgia is a ‘declaration of war’, says Moscow

Moscow has issued an extraordinary warning to the West that military assistance to Georgia for use against South Ossetia or Abkhazia would be viewed as a “declaration of war” by Russia.

The extreme rhetoric from the Kremlin’s envoy to NATO came as President Dmitry Medvedev stressed he will make a military response to US missile defence installations in eastern Europe, sending new shudders across countries whose people were once blighted by the Iron Curtain.

Military help for Georgia is a ‘declaration of war’, says Moscow in extraordinary warning to the West | Mail Online

In this case Russia has effectively declared nuclear war should NATO get involved in this war. If the Russian leadership is willing to launch a nuclear war over this event, then surely its only a matter of time before some other event happens that is nuclear worthy. Putin has crossed a threshold in thinking and is willing to wipe out most of the Russian population in order to get his way.

The lesson here is that with Putin in charge, the West should be prepared for nuclear war. Unfortunately, the West believes that a nuclear war against America and Europe is just about impossible. They are preparing for the eventual elimination of all nuclear weapons. They are acting precisely the wrong way to avoid a nuclear war.

Moscow to Annex South Ossetia as U.S.-Russia “Reset” Crumbles? | The Enterprise Blog

While events in the Middle East continue to dominate headlines, one of the cornerstones of the Obama administration’s foreign policy is coming loose—and few are paying attention.

U.S.-Russia relations have witnessed a flurry of activity in recent weeks that threatens to undermine one of President Obama’s central foreign policy initiatives—the “reset.” The administration claims that its reset—or fresh start—with Russia has boosted cooperation with Moscow on a number of issues, including Iran’s nuclear program, the stabilization of Afghanistan, and even Libya. But the reset seems to be unraveling.

Moscow to Annex South Ossetia as U.S.-Russia “Reset” Crumbles? « The Enterprise Blog

Let’s not forget the sneering “parasite” comment by Putin:

2011-08-01 | US a ‘parasite’ on world economy, says Putin

Russia is going to do what it wants in its neighborhood. In the past Russian leadership has implied that if America interferes, then prepare for war.

Fear of Russia: NATO Developed Secret Contingency Plans for Baltic States – SPIEGEL ONLINE

The South Ossetia war in August 2008 made the Baltic states worry about the prospect of a Russian attack. The diplomatic cables reveal how Baltic politicians persuaded NATO to prepare a new strategy to defend their countries. The plan was supposed to be kept secret to avoid irritating Russia.

Fear of Russia: NATO Developed Secret Contingency Plans for Baltic States – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News – International