From Dan Froomkin in the Washington Post:
Back in 2005, speaking before a crowd of more than 150,000 exuberant Georgians cheering “Bushi! Bushi!”, President Bush made a promise to the people of that former Soviet republic: “The path of freedom you have chosen is not easy, but you will not travel it alone. Americans respect your courageous choice for liberty. And as you build a free and democratic Georgia, the American people will stand with you.” So where was Bush as Russia launched a major military attack against Georgia? Monkeying around with the U.S. women’s volleyball players — and otherwise amusing himself at the Beijing Olympics. This is not to suggest that Bush should have sent in the Marines. But his impotence in the face of such a gravely destabilizing move highlights not only his personal loss of stature, but how deeply he has diminished American authority on the world stage generally and, particularly, in the eyes of Russia.
Photo: U.S. President George W. Bush prepares to speak to supporters in Freedom Square in Tbilisi, Georgia in a Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Subscribe by Email
2 Comments
Perhaps your readers would be interested in the following:http://larussophobe.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/special-extra-%e2%80%94-editorial-the-facts-on-georgia/It summarizes the factual background which lead to the current state of war, a background which consists of relentless aggression by Russia and repeated efforts by Georgia to avoid war.Now we see the real Vladimir Putin, in all his horror displayed before the world.
There’s no doubt that Mr. Bush has fundamentally betrayed not only his own words but the institution of democracy itself with his inaction. He has much to answer for in the court of history, which will not be kind to him.