McCain: 'Today We Are All Georgians'

We Are All Georgians
By JOHN MCCAIN
August 12, 2008

For anyone who thought that stark international aggression was a thing of the past, the last week must have come as a startling wake-up call. After clashes in the Georgian region of South Ossetia, Russia invaded its neighbor, launching attacks that threaten its very existence. Some Americans may wonder why events in this part of the world are any concern of ours. After all, Georgia is a small, remote and obscure place. But history is often made in remote, obscure places.

As Russian tanks and troops moved through the Roki Tunnel and across the internationally recognized border into Georgia, the Russian government stated that it was acting only to protect Ossetians. Yet regime change in Georgia appears to be the true Russian objective.

Two years ago, I traveled to South Ossetia. As soon as we arrived at its self-proclaimed capital -- now occupied by Russian troops -- I saw an enormous billboard that read, "Vladimir Putin, Our President." This was on sovereign Georgian territory.

Russian claims of humanitarian motives were further belied by a bombing campaign that encompassed the whole of Georgia, destroying military bases, apartment buildings and other infrastructure, and leaving innocent civilians wounded and killed. As the Russian Black Sea Fleet began concentrating off of the Georgian coast and Russian troops advanced on one city after another, there could be no doubt about the nature of their aggression.

Despite a French-brokered cease-fire -- which worryingly does not refer to Georgia's territorial integrity -- Russian attacks have continued. There are credible reports of civilian killings and even ethnic cleansing as Russian troops move deeper into Georgian territory.

Moscow's foreign minister revealed at least part of his government's aim when he stated that "Mr. Saakashvili" -- the democratically elected president of Georgia -- "can no longer be our partner. It would be better if he went." Russia thereby demonstrated why its neighbors so ardently seek NATO membership.

In the wake of this crisis, there are the stirrings of a new trans-Atlantic consensus about the way we should approach Russia and its neighbors. The leaders of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Latvia flew to Tbilisi to demonstrate their support for Georgia, and to condemn Russian aggression. The French president traveled to Moscow in an attempt to end the fighting. The British foreign minister hinted of a G-8 without Russia, and the British opposition leader explicitly called for Russia to be suspended from the grouping.

The world has learned at great cost the price of allowing aggression against free nations to go unchecked. A cease-fire that holds is a vital first step, but only one. With our allies, we now must stand in united purpose to persuade the Russian government to end violence permanently and withdraw its troops from Georgia. International monitors must gain immediate access to war-torn areas in order to avert an even greater humanitarian disaster, and we should ensure that emergency aid lifted by air and sea is delivered.

We should work toward the establishment of an independent, international peacekeeping force in the separatist regions, and stand ready to help our Georgian partners put their country back together. This will entail reviewing anew our relations with both Georgia and Russia. As the NATO secretary general has said, Georgia remains in line for alliance membership, and I hope NATO will move ahead with a membership track for both Georgia and Ukraine.

At the same time, we must make clear to Russia's leaders that the benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world require their respect for the values, stability and peace of that world. The U.S. has cancelled a planned joint military exercise with Russia, an important step in this direction.

The Georgian people have suffered before, and they suffer today. We must help them through this tragedy, and they should know that the thoughts, prayers and support of the American people are with them. This small democracy, far away from our shores, is an inspiration to all those who cherish our deepest ideals. As I told President Saakashvili on the day the cease-fire was declared, today we are all Georgians. We mustn't forget it.

Mr. McCain is the Republican nominee for president.

Category:

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[rivanool]

Russia is simply against people living in normal conditions, they want everybody to live in the same kind of corrupt sh*thole as they are. Instead of making life tolerable on the 1/6th of the planet that they have invaded they need more territories and conquests, they want to spread like a disease.

[tdutyful]

Уёбок бля!

[Potato730]

@rivanool lol what a fucktard one gotta be to think like that. do u read what u r typing?

[persia1324]

communists still rule in Russia.

[UnitedCommunists]

What right does McCain have to say this when his buddy Bush attacked two weak countries himself. At least Saakashvilli is a dictator and a despot.

[Rustaveli2k7]

@CaucasianHonour if Ossetians want independence they can go Join in with Russia across the Tunnel on Russian side, this side Georgian side called Samachablo, no sane Georgian would ever accept Loss of that land which is a foundation of our ancestors you people are crazy to think that, same thing goes to Apkhazia

because most people who lived in Abkhazia were Georgian natives Georgian Abkhazians who were kicked out and killed, Remaining 50-70 000 population is short of real people 250 000

[Rustaveli2k7]

@CaucasianHonour lol one of my best friends is married to Ossetian Girl you are full of crap there are plenty Ossetian people with in Georgian society, problem is ithat they are "Georgian Ossetians" instead of "russian ossetians"

Ossetians were brought to Samachablo across mountains from Russian side and half of them were in Russian side (Vladikavkaz) half were on Georgian, but that was Georgian land much much longer before then called Samachablo so don't tell me about Ossetian Independence

[Rustaveli2k7]

FACT: Ossetians already have their land in Vladikavkaz, "south Ossetia" legally does not exist as real name is SAMACHABLO which has been there for longer than Ossetian existence or Russian existence.

Fact: your claim that "no one attacks Georgia" is false because in 1993 Abkhazian rebel Terrorists and Ossetian rebel Terrorists Kicked out combined 500 000 people from their homes and killed tens of thousands this is a first direct attack.

what happened in 08 was Just another faze.

[MartyDaf]

Клоун

[TheKing2033]

BRAVE!!!McCAIN BRAVO!!!

[tdutyful]

@Georgianish

Да пошёл ка ты на хуй мудило ёбаное!

[Georgianish]

@freemanaa

So what ?

Stalin is disrespected in Georgia and You can see none of he's statues in Georgia ,none of streets he's name e.t.c

As a Georgian I'm not ashamed to confess that he was greatest bastard of 20 th Century.

Russians should disrespect him like We do