Georgia Is the Victim, So Blame Russia

History reveals Russia as the aggressor

By Caroline Zimmerman, Newser User

Posted Aug 17, 2008 5:53 PM CDT

(Newser) – Why blame Georgia for Russia's invasion when Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is clearly at fault? Putin has been seething ever since pro-Western Mikhail Saakashvili came to power in Georgia 3 years ago, writes Matthew Continetti in The Weekly Standard. "Putin has been pressuring Georgia for years," writes Continetti, shelling Georgia with bureaucratic and economic attacks while bolstering troops in the region.

Russia even attacked villages under Georgian control last year and blocked UN attempts to investigate. Russian computers then hacked into Georgian networks. Finally—at least according to Saakashvili—a Georgian peace convoy to South Ossetia gave Russia its excuse to attack. "Whatever the precise sequence of events," writes Continetti, "nothing Saakashvili did provided a reason for Putin to invade Georgia proper."

[Images (9)]

[Quotes (1)]

Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili speaks to the media at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Associated Press)

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili speaks during a briefing in Tbilisi, Georgia, Friday, Aug. 15, 2008. (Associated Press)

A Georgian man on crutches passes by a Russian soldier in Gori, Georgia, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008. (Associated Press)

A woman holds candles during a rally in Berlin on Saturday Aug. 16, 2008. (Associated Press)

Russian soldiers sit atop armoured vehicle on the outskirts of Gori, northwest of the capital Tbilisi, Georgia, Friday, Aug. 15, 2008. (Associated Press)

A South Ossetian militia man walks in front of a damaged building in Tskhinvali in the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia, Friday, Aug. 15, 2008. (AP Photo)

A Georgian lies dead on the street during Georgia's recent fighting with Russia. (Getty Images)

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, left, visits wounded at a hospital in Tbilisi, Georgia, after talks with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Friday, Aug. 15, 2008. (AP Photo)

A wounded Georgian woman lies in front of an apartment building, damaged by a Russian air strike, in the northern Georgian town of Gori, on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Putin has been pressuring Georgia for years. Indeed, Russian despots have long considered the southern Caucasus, along with Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, their personal stomping grounds. - The Weekly Standard's Matthew Continetti

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

West to Put Screws to Russia

New fury at Russia's formal recognition of breakaway states

(NEWSER) - The West is preparing to crank up diplomatic pressure on Russia after its challenging move formally recognizing breakaway Ossetia and Abkhazia in the wake of its invasion of Georgia. The US, Europe and NATO have condemned the action, but Russia remains defiant. "We are not afraid of anything, including a new cold war," said Russian President Dmitri Medvedev after formally recognizing Georgia's restive states. "If Europeans want a worsening in relations, they will get it of course." More»

Russia Orders End to Georgia War

Medvedev announces halt to military operations

(NEWSER) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a halt to military operations in Georgia, according to a Kremlin statement. The declaration came moments before Medvedev was to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss an international peace plan after five days of fighting. While Georgian officials claimed that the Russian army was preparing to sack their capital of Tbilisi, Reuters reports that Moscow's forces stayed largely within the two breakaway regions. More»

Russian Army Leaves Georgian Buffer Zones

Troops will stay in breakaway regions; EU forces to remain

(NEWSER) - Russian troops have withdrawn from the “buffer zones” that separate the secessionist republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia from the rest of Georgia ahead of Friday's deadline, the BBC reports. Though Russia plans to keep 7,600 troops inside the breakaway republics themselves, the move "paves the way for the resumption of negotiations on an ambitious" EU-Russia partnership, said Nicolas Sarkozy. More»

EU Snubs Talks on New Russia Pact

Retaliation for invasion of Georgia

(NEWSER) - Europe has backed out of talks on a new partnership agreement with Russia in the wake of the invasion of Georgia, the BBC reports. The decision followed an emergency European summit in Brussels. The commission president said Europe could not continue with negotiations "as if nothing had happened." Talks will be suspended until Russia withdraws completely from Georgia, and the EU is prepared to send hundreds of civilians to Georgia to monitor the ceasefire agreement, said an official. More»

Putin: US Sparked Georgia War

Part of plot to win votes for McCain, he claims

(NEWSER) - Invoking the era of Cold War conspiracies, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the US of sparking conflict in Georgia to give John McCain a campaign boost. “They need a small victorious war,” the told CNN. He insisted the US encouraged Georgia to attack their two breakaway regions earlier this month, forcing Russia to intervene. The White House called the accusations “absurd." More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Georgia Is the Victim, So Blame Russia