Evening Buzz: Peace Wanted
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/WORLD/europe/08/13/georgia.russia.war/art.tshkinvaliwed.ap.jpg caption="A woman wheels her belongings through Tskhinvali, capital of the breakaway enclave of South Ossetia."]
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Cease-fire? It seems that's not the reality in Georgia, the former Soviet Union republic. There are reports that Russian tanks and troops are still on the move in Georgia tonight. U.S. officials say Russia probably has at least 15,000 troops in the region. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke out on the crisis earlier today saying the military action by Russia "must stop, and must stop now." Rice added, "This is not 1968 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia where Russia can threaten its neighbors, occupy a capital, overthrow a government and get away with it. Things have changed." Rice spoke after President Bush announced U.S. aircraft and ships would deliver humanitarian aid to the civilians caught in the middle of the fighting. President Bush said, "We expect Russia to meet its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia, and we expect all Russian forces that entered Georgia in recent days to withdraw." Some tough talk during a tense situation. Do you think the U.S. is doing enough to stop this showdown? Tell us what you think.
Also tonight, attacking Barack Obama. The same author who went after John Kerry's swift boat military record four years ago is zeroing in on this year's presumptive democratic nominee. He says his goal is to "defeat Obama." But is he telling lies? We'll be breaking it down for you.
And, is the Chinese women's gymnastic team breaking the age rule? They won a gold medal last night in the team competition. Team U.S.A. earned silver. The official line from China is that everyone on its team turns 16 this year. That's the Olympics rule. But they are tiny. The smallest member of the team weighs just 68 pounds and stands four-foot-six inches. 360's Randi Kaye is keeping them honest.
All that and more tonight on 360°.
Hope you'll join us!
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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I am confused about all of this and the media is not helping me or the American public. Let's see, who attacked whom? It seems that Georgia invaded this disputed territory and people in this disputed territory call on their neighbor to help them out. Russia supported their neighbor due to Georgia reckless actions, where thousands of people died and we here in the west is getting a picture painted to us that Russia is the bad guy. Let's say this was Mexico attacking New Mexico, what would the US do? It's amazing with all the access to content in this GREAT COUNTRY; we are still treated like we were a bunch of incompetent.
We are playing war games with a country that has the ability to inflict serious damage of us or our allies and the media is playing this game right along with the players. That’s not good, next time, the guy that is not in the loop for the memo will pull the switch and the world will never be the same.
Once (twice) upon the time there was a sovereign country – internationally recognised within its borders – Serbia (Georgia). In that country there was a break away province, seeking independence – Kosovo (South Osetia). There was a 3rd country (ies) that invaded the sovereign country in order to help separatist province get independence it deserves – USA+EU (Russia). Other world leading countries (Russia) stood and watch injustice being done to sovereign country (Serbia) and didn't do anything to help against invasion.The question is will USA do something now that tables are turned. How is this any different than what happened to Serbia almost 10 years ago?
People are mostly looking at the conflict in Georgia as signs of a Russia reasserting itself . However no one is explaining why now?. I am always reminded with the "chain reaction effect". a person or country may do or say something with an intended limited effect but the statement or action taking on a life of its own and leading to unforseen consecuenses. I think people forgot that a month or so ago the US signed a deal with poland for the missle defence shield. Russia at the time said that there will be a military (among other things) response to this deal. i think most analysts and governments either took this as empty talk, or at best that russia would some how try and develop and deploy offensive military hardware. i think what they really meant is that soon we will show the world that we are still a military power and we are not afraid to use that power.
So now the question is. Is the US ploicy toward russia (pushing almost all of its neighbours into NATO, and putting anti balistic defenses on its doorstep) the best foriegn policy.
i am afraid that the bush administration and its hawks are again misscalculating, and pushing the world back to a cold war era mentality, and who knows with the changed ethnic and political situation now in Europe maybe even a hot war?
Hello. It seems someone isn't telling the truth. A report on the BBC America channel on Monday showed an interview with Putin. Mr Putin explained that Russia was responding to ethnic cleansing by Georgia. Putin stated that the Georgian army had all but destroyed several towns in the small country whose name I can't recall. In the interview Putin was adamant about his claims.
I'd like to know who is reporting the entire truth. Are american news agencies leaving this information out so as to scare americans into hating Russia again?
I tend to believe the BBC because I have seen how tainted the american press can be. I would enjoy hearing what CNN has to say about this.
From everything I see on ll the news channels only one thing comes to mind, it may seem a little drastic but I feel its the truth. WW3. The increasing Russian ideal of "We're back, so deal with it" along with the rising conflicts in china and the middle east will push the US along with the World to its breaking point. Take a look at the bigger picture, Instead of one Fascist person/group (like WW1) we now have AT LEAST 3 major beings who can and will bring the third world war. Its sad
P.S I love Anderson 360!
Tanner
Alberta, Canada
I say lets light the fires and lock horns with the big old russian bear. It's a long time coming. Let's get it on. Take the U.S. prison population which is reportedly at 10% of the U.S. population which is 30 million people. And from statistics it cost an average of $30,000 dollars per person per year to up keep them. Guess what that's 900 trillion dollars take half of that to train them and equip them and put them of the front line. Take the other half and apply towards the deficit. Let be known that if you break the law and a jail sentence is given your going immediatly to the front line. If you jump ship and join the kami's then you just imposed the death penalty on yourself. No draft, save money, save the democratic country of georgia, send more troops to Iraq and Afghanistan.
There is an issue we must address. Namely, what would America do if the same situation happened? Pretend a portion of Mexico wanted to be independent, with the government backed by America and almost everyone there being an American citizen. Then pretend that Mexico attacked this enclave of Americans. The US would have no hesitation in moving to defend their citizens there – this is has happened in Georgia. It is the responsibility of countries to protect civilians and their own citizens. Even Canada would act in military defense of their civilians if the need arose. Any country would do this, be it the US, China, Russia, Canada, UK, France, Germany, etc. I admit the Russians have gone too far, but did the Georgians not start it in the first place by invading South Ossetia and killing Russian citizens?
I can agree that Russia is getting aggressive and some would call it the new "Russian Empire," but how do we justify the Middle East and military forces worldwide? They likely see it as we see it when they do it – militarist expansionism. We acted to stop terror, which I agree with. The problem is that they have problems with terrorism, but when they fight it like we do, it is a bad thing. Our Iraq conflict and Afghanistan conflict is equivalent to Chechnya in many respects, so why it is it ok for us to fight terror and defend our citizens, but it is not ok for them to do it? All countries should be allowed to fight terrorism within reason. For example, Russia will be pulling out soon. The US should do the same before angering other nations and saying for them to withdraw while we continue to fight.
We go into Afghanistan and we go to into all these places and we ignore Russia when they say not to go there. What cause have we given them to listen to us? Also, we did not like it when Cuba had nuclear weapons on our back porch, so why do we feel Russia would be ok with NATO troops right on their porch?
We need to drop the newly used word ' Russia ' and think in terms of of the old word U.S.S.R. under KGB dictatorship where non-armed civilians from small lawful nations are attacked at will and forced into slavery in the name of a communist state. During those days when even breathing the thought ' freedom ' and common civil rights caused people to be shot where they stood . Communism is only good when you want societies in total fear of the that Government and when you need mass slavery to the state owned employment agencies. Total failed system lacking growth from religion to proper living wages plus civil rights so I need to ask WHAT IS RUSSIA THINKING ? . If the former russia desires to return to the newly U.S.S.R . then perhapes civil war will break out in the heartland as communism trys to take root like it did during the days of the communist fall Russia-U.S.S.R nearing a civil war.
Hopefully the Russian people will heed this warning and stop it before it gets out of control that is if there is freedom of the press in Russia – U.S.S.R it may already be to late.
I was wondering why we do not see any report from Osetia? All I see on CNN is georgian side.
I've found out that Tshinvali is burned to the ground by Georgians.Why don't you show that and talk to Osetians,too?
Looks like a well-planned cold war propaganda...
First of all this is beyond ridiculous. What is Russia thinking invading a country over oil or for any other reason without anybody in the world giving the go ahead. Oh wait a minute, didn't we invade Iraq? Oh I forgot, that was for humanitarian reasons except remember Shock and Awe? Oh I forgot, we dropped flowers and hot dogs and apple pie during that campaign. How many people in Iraq after 6 years have water and power. How many Iraqi's have been killed. What about Afghanistan or Panama where we invaded a sovereign country for one man? There has been more coverage of this invasion than anything going on Afghanistan. What are you hippocrits advocating, going into a war with Russia? Your propaganda knows no bounds. Impotent America? While the Messiah is on vacation in Hawaii, what did he say he would do? Go into talks with the Russians. Well, what is going on now? Last I heard America wanted Georgia to be included into NATO, which would have prevented this problem, but the rest of NATO didn't allow that to happen. Again, where is Europe? Oh, they won't do anything because they get alot of their oil from Russia. Anderson, I challenge you to go to Baghdad or Afghanistan or even Cedar Rapids, Iowa and interview some real people and we will see if you shed any tears then. This is a crisis but things are going on in America and other countries that effect Americans and instead of spending the whole news day going over and over this story and getting a bunch of hacks from the Clinton administration to say how bad things are being taken care of why don't you cover some issues Americans really care about? They did a great job of preventing genocide in Bosnia!
to Andrew:
Trying to cut off russia's oil is stupid, you need the United Nations Security Council, and If one nation, doesnt agree, that is the permament members, which is russia, than no more sancions, the un army is not abile two take action, and no more sanction's on Iran, and bullying north korea, and thus the united states, AND nato are usless, and with china, russia can do almost anything they want.