Master Plan or Screw Up? Georgia and U.S. Strategy - Counterpunch, And A Statement From The Georgia Peace Committee

A quick overview (6 minute +-) from Pepe Escobar of AsiaTime Courtesy of The Real News Network

H/t to OpEdNews Ossetia - The Politics of Naming and Blaming

The conflict in South Ossetia may be in standoff mode, but it certainly isn't over. It has been said repeatedly in reports that the conflict is deep rooted and complex.

Isn't everything?

The entire responsibility for this fratricidal war, for thousands of children, women and elderly dead people, for the inhabitants of South Ossetia and of Georgia falls exclusively on the current President, on the Parliament and on the Government of Georgia. The irresponsibility and the adventurism of the Saakashvili regime have no limits. The President of Georgia and his team, undoubtedly, are criminals and must be held responsible. --Georgia Peace Committee, Official Statement

Image Courtesy Of Telegraph.co.uk

Master Plan or Screw Up?
Georgia and U.S. Strategy

August 14, 2008

By MIKE WHITNEY

The American-armed and trained Georgian army swarmed into South Ossetia last Thursday, killing an estimated 2,000 civilians, sending 40,000 South Ossetians fleeing over the Russian border, and destroying much of the capital, Tskhinvali.

The attack was unprovoked and took place a full 24 hours before even ONE Russian soldier set foot in South Ossetia. Nevertheless, the vast majority of Americans still believe that the Russian army invaded Georgian territory first.

The BBC, AP, NPR, the New York Times and the rest of the establishment media have consistently and deliberately misled their readers into believing that the violence in South Ossetia was initiated by the Kremlin.

Let's be clear, it wasn't. In truth, there is NO dispute about the facts except among the people who rely the western press for their information.

Despite its steady loss of credibility, the corporate media continues to operate as the propaganda-arm of the Pentagon.

In Full @ Counterpunch Magazine


PEACE COMMITTEE OF GEORGIA
0182. Apt. 2, quarter 8, house 10, massif 3, Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel:++ 995 93 761363 Fax/Tel:++ 995 32 731516
E-mail:[EMAIL REDACTED]

Declaration of the Georgian Peace Committee

Once more Georgia was launched into a situation of chaos and bloodshed. A new fratricidal war exploded with renewed strength on Georgian soil.

To our great disappointment, the alerts of the Georgian Peace Committee and of progressive personalities of Georgia on the pernicious character of the militarization of the country and on the danger of a pro-fascist and nationalist policy had no effect.

The authorities of Georgia once again organized a bloody war, feeling the support of some western countries and of regional and international organizations. It will take decades to cleanse the shame poured by the current holders of the power over the Georgian people.

The Georgian army--armed and trained by U.S. instructors and using also U.S. armaments--subjected the city of Tskhinvali to a barbaric destruction. The bombings killed Ossetian civilians, our brothers and sisters, children, women and elderly people. Over 2,000 inhabitants of Tskhinvali and of its surroundings died.

Hundreds of civilians of Georgian nationality also died, both in the conflict zone as well as on the entire territory of Georgia.

The Georgian Peace Committee expresses its deep condolences to the relatives and friends of those who have perished.

The entire responsibility for this fratricidal war, for thousands of children, women and elderly dead people, for the inhabitants of South Ossetia and of Georgia falls exclusively on the current President, on the Parliament and on the Government of Georgia. The irresponsibility and the adventurism of the Saakashvili regime have no limits. The President of Georgia and his team, undoubtedly, are criminals and must be held responsible.

The Georgian Peace Committee, together with all the progressive parties and social movements of Georgia, will struggle to assure that the organizers of this monstrous genocide have a severe and legitimate punishment.

The Georgian Peace Committee declares and asks broad public opinion not to identify the current Georgian leadership with the people of Georgia, with the Georgian nation, and appeals to all to support the Georgian people in the struggle against the criminal regime of Saakashvili.

We appeal to all the political forces of Georgia, the social movements and the people of Georgia to unite in order to free the country from the Russian-phobic and pro-fascist anti popular regime of Saakashvili!

The Georgian Peace Committee Tbilisi, Aug. 11, 2008

Related @ Technorati: Abkhazia, Bush Administration, Caucasus, Central Asia, Cold War, Diplomatic Relations, Disinformation, Georgia, Georgian Government, Georgian military, Imperialism, International Diplomacy, National Liberation, National Secession, Natural Gas, Natural Gas Pipeline, Neocon, Neoconservative, Neo-Imperialism, New World Order, Oil Wars, Ossetia, Ossetian, Project for the New American Century, Proxy Army, Proxy War, Russia, Russian Army, Saakashvili, South Ossetia, South Ossetian, War Pigs, Warmonger, Warmongering, World War III, World War Three, WW III, Pepe Escobar, Real News Network, OpEdNews