I think it would be worth an update to highlight the J. R. Nyquist article which econavenger scouted out above. Nyquist offers a translation of Medvedev’s foreign policy speech which I found very helpful. I recognized the obvious doublespeak on offer, but I had no idea what exactly Medvedev was really saying.

Many thanks to econavenger and to onlineanalyst for their links.

And this is just one more reason to drill. The United States could become one of the leading oil producers in the world again. If we did, then the Russians and other assorted malcontents, crazies and trouble makers could not use oil as a weapon quite so easily. Drilling might also restrain prices. I think that if the price of oil were under $100 a barrel the Russians might not have enough money and resources to cause quite so much trouble.

Keemo on August 16, 2008 at 8:50 AM

Gotta agree with Cavuto there. There is always room for the unpredictable, but I think he’s right.

It’s August. It’s early.

But for Democrats, it’s over.

At the risk of sounding like I’ve snapped…allow me this snap judgment.

The Democrats have just lost the presidency this week.

For them, a horrible week.

So horrible…so discombobulated. So inconsistently communicated and messaged, that they’ve lost their message.

And I think, this election too.

Because here’s the deal as we end this week, my friends.

The Dems…are done.

I know. Laugh all you want. And I will conveniently destroy this message in the event I’m wrong.

But here’s why I don’t think I am.

During this crucial defining period that brought a Russian bear out of hibernation and a befuddled Nancy Pelosi into drilling reality…allow me to drill home this point.

Democrats lost a lot of mojo this week, their only saving grace that it’s an August week.

I don’t think that will save them.

Not when Russia threatens a new Cold War and the best their presumptive nominee can do is offer hope warring parties could put aside their hostilities…

While his opponent calls Russia what it clearly was and is: a bully. And a bully that must be dealt with.

And if his presidential metal wasn’t tested enough…Barack Obama caves to Hillary Clinton and allows a roll call vote. He’s doing it for all good and decent reasons. But nothing good or decent will come of it….her supporters still don’t flip over him, no matter what he does to accommodate them.

He’s given Hillary a prime time speech. Bill a prime time speech. Chelsea a prime time speech. Is Sox the Cat still around?

My god, who won this damn thing? Show some backbone, man!

Then in the middle of the week Obama’s economic team comes out with this grand explanation of a tax cut package that reminds all again…not of cuts promised for the middle class…but serious hikes for those who don’t much consider themselves above middle class.

And charges again that these new numbers “still” don’t add up as we explored on this very show.

On the very same week Nancy Pelosi read the furor among her own members and decided to backtrack on that no-drilling vote thing.

Not good things for a party that said it would lead the charge.

It shouldn’t be this way…with the slowing economy, democrats should be running away.

But they look weak on a military crisis.

Inconsistent on an economic crisis.

And impotent on their own brewing political convention crisis.

Things change. Tides ebb and flow.

But I think we will look back to this week in August as the time the party that had it all in the bag…just puked in it.

Neil’s a smart guy; I sure hope he’s right with this bold statement!

I agree. I think that Bush was hopeful his efforts to create a personal relationship with Putin would reap benefits.
If that doesn’t do it then lots and lots of specialized weapons should find their way into the hands of the Georgian military.

Somehow.

From Iran. Or somewhere.

And I would also admit Ukraine into NATO promply and start talking with all satellite nations about missiles.

I do think that we need to help Georgia, we should not let it fall. But it is not fair to say Bush flinched. What did he flinch from? There was never any real likelihood that the US was going to use overt military force to try to push back the Russians. We did not do it in the rest of Europe when Russia was pushing people around for decades.

There are things we can do, and should do and are doing..but it seems to me that some people are expecting something that not only will not happen but that most people definitely do not want to happen. That is direct military confrontation with the Russians.

I am afraid that something like this might well happen someday, but if it has to Georgia might not be the best place logistically for such a confrontation. And I sure the Russians know that.

But the truth is we do not know what will happen. This is not over yet. The next few days could bring any number of outcomes.

And while some people like calling Sarkozy Chamberlain is not really fair either. He can not make the Russians give up more than they are willing to give up. Are the French people prepared for war with Russia over Georgia? Is Europe prepared to deal with no gas and oil as punishment? I doubt it.

Just like Bolton when he was working at the UN found he had to deal with people who had agendas of their own, there is only so much Sarkozy can do. That is just the sad reality.

becki51758 on August 16, 2008 at 6:55 AM

Considering that Georgia has one of only two main-trunk oil pipelines to Western Europe from Asia (the other runs through Iran), what Putin has done already has made domestic oil production a gilt-edged priority, regardless of the evasions of the “progressive” crowd.

Of course, finding them in bed with not only the “Death to Western Civilization” types in the “green” movement and the Islamist clique, but also with the ambitious kleptocrats who dream of a new USSR (run like the old one, only worse) should come as no shock to anyone who has watched them in action since the end of World War Two.

The fact that Comrade Pelosi now wants to deplete the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to reduce fuel prices long enough to get the Obamessiah elected (and in the process, severely restrict our military’s global reach capability- that fuel is after all earmarked for their use in times of trouble), tells you all you need to know about her sympathies, and those of her crowd, I think.

Her protestations about Putin’s move into Georgia, to my mind, smack less of “righteous indignation” and more of her resenting him doing it without sending her an aide-memoire’ first, i.e.,

“We’re going in when the Olympics start, be sure you have your maskirovka ready to execute, Nan.

Love, Vlad “

2008, say hello to 1938.

And Tomorrow The World. With the Pelosi and Putin types living in castles- and everyone else in wattle-and-daub huts.

And not contradicting their “betters” – if they know what’s good for them, that is.

clear ether

eon

If this doesnt convince our government to drill here now for our oil..nothing will.

as all Americans fail to notice – that the same civillisation is in dire trouble and that galavanting off to Iraq, Afghanistan or Georgia is simply ignoring the rot.

aengus on August 15, 2008 at 11:26 PM

I’d hardly say people here have failed to notice, although your point is well taken.

As for the rot, I’m coming to believe that it’s largely unavoidable– a byproduct of several natural forces (like affluence, liberalism, impulses towards equality and “fairness,” etc.)that cannot be stopped except through collapse. Now, since the world no longer has its unexplored bits, renewal, if it’s to happen, must occur in a formerly healthy place (like Europe) or in a formerly diseased place (like China). If no place is ready, we coast in mediocrity for a century or so. Perhaps this will serve as the impulse to settle the moon!

If the Georgian army won’t stand up to Russia, we shouldn’t either.

The Georgians, who are vastly outnumbered and outgunned, are falling back and allowing the Russians to extend their supply lines. The Georgians know that if they fight in seperate groups dispersed throughout the countryside they will be wiped out. If they enitce the Russians to fight in built up areas or hold them in place until winter, they have a much better chance of staving off defeat. They can’t win a war of attrition due to sheer numbers, but they can be most effective by grouping up and pulling the Russians into a place where they (the Georgians) have a tactical advantage. There is also logistics and communications to think of as well; Georgian supply lines from their economic centers will be short, the Russian supply lines will be long (unless they plan on looting everything forom the Georgians, and even then they won’t get much).

Now, did anyone see that dog Gorbachev on Larry King claim that we were equiping the Georgians with airplanes and advanced weapons? HA. I’m pretty sure that we hadn’t, at least up until this point, been delivering any Javelins, SMAWs, or SRAWs to the Georgians… but if the Russkies already think we have, I guess we might as well….

First the all out sons-of-#itches, barbarians, and chronic drunks with no regard for human life, otherwise known as the Russians, came for the Georgians, then they came for the Ukrainians, then they came for the Poles, then … … … … … … … …

Yes, Putin has a blueprint.

My problem with the coverage of this is that America is acting as though we are losing a war when we aren’t even fighting.

Reflect on what you just said.

If the Georgian army won’t stand up to Russia, we shouldn’t either.

They are a nation of 5 million people and are standing up pretty well considering, Russia is a nation of 140 million people, we are a nation of 300 million people.

I fully expect a coup in Georgia and pressure to force their elected leader to step down.

Have you informed the Georgian people of this?

That still wouldn’t be a threat to the USA – unless we act as though it is.

ThackerAgency on August 16, 2008 at 1:11 AM

First the all out sons-of-#itches, barbarians, and chronic drunks with no regard for human life, otherwise known as the Russians, came for the Georgians, then they came for the Ukrainians, then they came for the Poles, then … … … … … … … …

You just got yourself a missile defense shield in Poland because of your respect of international law.

I don’t think YOU see the message that Russia is sending. Russia is completely dismantling the entire military capability of Georgia. . . that’s their goal. You say ‘ha ha ha’ you got a missile defense shield in Poland. They say, we can destroy the missile shield installations within a week without consequence.

When Russia withdrawals and you see all the destruction of military facilities, ask yourself why they would destroy all the military facilities and leave the missile shield (that we pay for) in tact.

Russia didn’t attack America. If they did, I’d have an entirely different take on this situation. My problem with the second author and many people on this board is that you are acting as though Russia DID attack America.

We are NOT Georgians. The Georgians are getting their butts handed to them in systematic fashion. If the Russians were over here, we’d be burying them where they stand. The problem is the posturing. Is what Russia is doing terrible? Of course – they shouldn’t do it. I understand WHY they are doing it, and it is brilliant on their part. . . but that doesn’t mean I think it is right for them to do it.

That said, it really isn’t THAT important. They didn’t bomb Pearl Harbor. They didn’t fly into the World Trade Center. They didn’t sink any of our ships.

My problem with the coverage of this is that America is acting as though we are losing a war when we aren’t even fighting. If the Georgian army won’t stand up to Russia, we shouldn’t either. I fully expect a coup in Georgia and pressure to force their elected leader to step down. That still wouldn’t be a threat to the USA – unless we act as though it is.

canopfor on August 15, 2008 at 11:05 PM

Good points! They have been flexing and testing their new found muscles ever since their economy has recovered from the fall of communism. I wonder just how much is either strength or just show.

I do believe Iran is involved along with Russian operatives to subvert the west anyway it can. I’m sure the Iranians know that bear can bite also. They are playing a dangerous game.

And finally, another condition for successful work is strengthening Russia’s relations with China, India, Brazil, Mexico, the Republic of South Africa, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, Japan, ASEAN countries and other nations in Asia-Pacific region, Near and Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Nice list you’ve got there.

Nice work there Dmitry Medvedev.

You just got yourself a missile defense shield in Poland because of your respect of international law.

The only thing your weak infrastructure has going for it is the election of BO.

Good luck maggot.

that the same civillisation is in dire trouble and that galavanting off to Iraq, Afghanistan or Georgia is simply ignoring the rot.

aengus on August 15, 2008 at 11:26 PM

The cobbler’s children go barefoot?

Gerard Baker’s commentary is a measured and thoughtful analysis and reminder to the EU of the challenges that it faces…if it is to be an effective organization.

Uh, Gerard Baker deserves a gold medal for stupidity. Has it ever occurred to anyone to discover the true purpose of the EU? Like the Euro-Arab Agreement of 1972 and its import of several million Muslims to the European Continent.

This man is actually British himself and lives in Britain yet he doesn’t notice that Britain is crumbling all around him and that the EU is destroying Britain.

All he cares about is the latest neoconservative cause (Georgia) as if the survival of Western civllisation depended on supporting US foreign policy, whilst failing to notice – as all Americans fail to notice – that the same civillisation is in dire trouble and that galavanting off to Iraq, Afghanistan or Georgia is simply ignoring the rot.

MB4 on August 15, 2008 at 10:29 PM

Baker implies that it is Sarkozy, who has assumed the Chamberlain mantle.

onlineanalyst on August 15, 2008 at 10:43 PM

Well then let him make his own movie then.

He can have George W. Bush play Edouard Daladier and have Nicholas Sarkozy play Neville Chamberlain, but I don’t think that George W. Bush do a French accent very well.

Kini on Aug 15,2008 at 10:50PM.

Kini: You are el correct.Thats why,a year or so,the USSR
was telling the world that up north was theirs as
far as oil and gas deposits go!

And thats the reason a US ship is on its way to map
the Northern shelf!

And Russian bombers flying near the borders,and if
memory serves me right,didn’t a Tupolov fly over an
American Aircraft Carrier a while back!

This has all been planned! Time to wack Iran,before
they(USSR)threatens that next!

And I’m going to keep saying it, Iran is mixed up in
all of this,the Red Bear and the Persians are in co-
hoots!

Meanwhile, the weakest fall under the protection of the collective never be be heard of again.

Talk about Resistance is Futile

After years of the Left smearing any attempt to shore up our defenses, re-vitalize our alliances, increase our presence via diplomacy or hands-on involvement in friendly or allied nations, why would one be surprised by the current onslaught by that same Left attacking any atttempt to actually deal with a clear and present danger?

Apologists and useful idiots…both comprise a dangerous fifth column here in the US and in Old Europe.

All, it seems, an anticipated tactic to be used by Russia to regain her “dignity.”

The Left should go to Kiev, go to Warsaw, or Vilnius, Riga or Tallinn, and yes, Tblisi…and ask the people there about Russian peacekeeping and fraternal assistance, instead of sitting in their salons trying to out radical-chic each other, enjoying for free the fruits of liberty.