[Marxism] 2nd ML Russo note on Georgia

[Anthony Boynton]

And here is a follow up note from ML Russo on Georgia

"I think Saakashiti (I like that twist on his name) thought either 1) Russia
won't intervene - and was perhaps encouraged in this assumption by
Washington - and he'll have a free hand teaching the South Ossetians a
lesson while reversing his domestic unpopularity; or 2) Russia would
intervene and he'd run squealing like the greasy stuck pig he is about NATO,
etc. (can you tell I really hate this guy, slick Harvard lawyer con man that
he is? :-)

"Actually I think he was prepared for both, based on the following:

"1) The Georgians had a free hand to pummel South Ossetia with rockets and
tanks for 3 days at least.  It therefore took the Russians 3 days to
effectively intervene, and it means they were not fully mobilized and massed
at the border ready to roll.  This could explain something
Stratfor<http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/russo_georgian_war_and_balance_power>noted
(although it contradicts their assertion of Russian readiness,
although I have no doubt they always had contingency plans and units
earmarked for that purpose, as the Abkazia intervention shows), why did not
U.S. military satellite intelligence pick up on an obvious military
concentration at the border?  Because there may not have been one to detect,
instead the contingency troops were still on alert back at the barracks of
the Russian 53rd Army.

"2) We live in the wonderful age where we can witness combat almost in real
time, and I have been watching whatever has been available, including
Russian sites.  I've seen little evidence of actual engagements by the
Georgians of *Russian* forces - few Russian causalities, no wrecked Russian
vehicles, etc. - and had the Georgians stood their ground the Russians would
have suffered considerable casualties, they are not supermen.  Like I said
before it appears that the South Ossetians took the brunt of the Georgian
offensive (and did quite well considering they were without armor and heavy
artillery - I wouldn't want to fight those guys!), and the Georgians planned
to withdraw beyond Gori as they did, upon the approach of the Russians.
That move had both political and military advantages, though I think it was
primary political:  Saakashiti could do his "poor little Georgia" stuck pig
routine on CNN while preserving some of the better units of the Georgian
military.

"If this is all true, this could also lend some credence to your McCain
speculations.  This could be some kind of amateurish "acting Presidential
before I am even elected President" thing.  Further adding to it is that
this Caucasus dustup does not work in favor of Washington in re Iran; quite
the contrary it gives the Russians - for whom stopping NATO expansion is
more important - another card to play.  Therefore I don't think even Cheney
was necessarily involved in particular, that would fit with the
"intelligence failure".  The message to Washington is: keep up your
aggressive NATO bluster - and that is all that it is since you are
completely tied down in South Asia, as we've just shown with Georgia - and
we can also make life unpleasant with respect to Iran - and Afghanistan,
where NATO depends on access to Russian airspace for supply.

"In short, another fine Yankee imperialist fuckup.  Keep up the good work,
guys (and Ms. Rice, who received special anti-Russian training at Stanford)
antagonizing Russia - I'm rooting for you!  Because you are no Roman or
British Empire - they weren't such laughably incompetent dumbfucks!"