Morning:
8°c
With a single dessert and just two glasses of wine our bill was kept in check - but the effort of doing so was not much fun
Latest: Gordon Brown apologises for his poor handwriting and for misspelling the name of a dead soldier in a letter to the young man’s mother
More...
Military help for Georgia is a 'declaration of war', says Moscow in extraordinary warning to the West
Last updated at 16:47pm on 27.08.08
Moscow has issued an extraordinary warning to the West that military assistance to Georgia for use against South Ossetia or Abkhazia would be viewed as a "declaration of war" by Russia.
The extreme rhetoric from the Kremlin's envoy to NATO came as President Dmitry Medvedev stressed he will make a military response to US missile defence installations in eastern Europe, sending new shudders across countries whose people were once blighted by the Iron Curtain.
And Moscow also emphasised it was closely monitoring what it claims is a build-up of NATO firepower in the Black Sea.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (right) meets with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin - the 'real architect' of the Georgia conflict - and the Security Council (unseen) in Sochi yesterday
The incendiary warning on Western military involvement in Georgia - where NATO nations have long played a role in training and equipping the small state - came in an interview with Dmitry Rogozin, a former nationalist politician who is now ambassador to the North Atlantic Alliance.
"If NATO suddenly takes military actions against Abkhazia and South Ossetia, acting solely in support of Tbilisi, this will mean a declaration of war on Russia," he stated.
Yesterday likened the current world crisis to the fevered atmosphere before the start of the First World War.
Rogozin said he did not believe the crisis would descend to war between the West and Russia.
But his use of such intemperate language will be seen as dowsing a fire with petrol.
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Dallas at Georgia's Black Sea port of Batumi today, carrying what the U.S. says is humanitarian aid
Top military figure Colonel General Leonid Ivashov, president of the Academy of Geopolitical Studies in Moscow, alleged that the US and NATO had been arming Georgia as a dress rehearsal for a future military operation in Iran.
"We are close to a serious conflict - U.S. and NATO preparations on a strategic scale are ongoing. In the operation the West conducted on Georgian soil against Russia - South Ossetians were the victims or hostages of it - we can see a rehearsal for an attack on Iran."
He claimed Washington was fine tuning a new type of warfare and that the threat of an attack on Iran was growing by the day bringing "chaos and instability" in its wake.
With the real architect of the worsening Georgian conflict - prime minister Vladimir Putin - remaining in the background, Medvedev followed up on Rogozin's broadside with a threat to use the Russian military machine to respond to the deployment of the American anti-missile defence system in Poland and the Czech republic.
Poland agreed this month to place ten interceptor missiles on its territory, and Moscow has already hinted it would become a nuclear target for Russia in the event of conflict.
A South Ossetian separatist fighter prepares to fire his weapon as another raises the South Ossetian and Russian flags, in Tskhinvali, the capital of Georgia's separatist-controlled territory of South Ossetia yesterday
"These missiles are close to our borders and constitute a threat to us," Medvedev told Al-Jazeera television. "This will create additional tension and we will have to respond to it in some way, naturally using military means."
The Russian president said that offering NATO membership to Georgia and Ukraine, two former Soviet republics, would only aggravate the situation.
Moscow has consistently expressed its opposition to the U.S. missile shield, saying it threatens its national security.
The U.S. claims the shield is designed to thwart missile attacks by what it calls "rogue states," including Iran.
Meanwhile, Russia - seen by the West as flouting international law - today demanded NATO abide by an obscure agreement signed before the Second World War limiting its warships in the Black Sea.
Russian ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin
"In light of the build-up of NATO naval forces in the Black Sea, our fleet has also taken on the task of monitoring their activities," said hawkish deputy head of Russia's general staff, Anatoly Nogovitsyn.
The Montreux Convention, as it is called, sets a weight restriction of 45,000 tonnes on the number of warships that countries outside the Black Sea region can deploy in the basin.
"Can NATO indefinitely build up its forces and means there? It turns out it cannot," said Nogovitsyn.
NATO has said it is undertaking pre-arranged exercises in the Black Sea involving US, German, Spanish and Polish ships. Two other US warships sailed to Georgian waters with humanitarian aid.
Georgia is poised to sever diplomatic relations with Russia, or reduce them to a bare minimum.
"We will drastically cut our diplomatic ties with Russia," said a top official.
President Mikhail Saakashvili said he was frightened to leave Georgia to attend the EU summit on the crisis.
"If I leave Georgia, the Russians will close our airspace and prevent me from returning home," he said.
Russia sought Chinese backing for its action - but the Communist regime in Beijing appeared reluctant to offer support, instead issuing a statement saying it was "concerned" about recent developments.
NATO called for Russia to reverse its decision on recognition for the two enclaves, both Georgian under international law.
But the new 'president' of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoyty, called for Russian military bases on his territory.
French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner warned today that an marauding Russian bear could trample over other ex-Soviet states.
"That is very dangerous," he said, pointing at Ukraine and Moldova.
Reader views (21)
We have to take into account the background facts for Osetia and Abhasia. The conflict between both countries and Georgia was for decades including times while the three states were part of USSR. They have different languages and cultures. They should have been made independent 20 years ago at the same time Georgia claimed its independence. They are now independent. Big Deal. Good for them!
I am surprised EU is backing Georgia. It is a very well known fact now that Georgia initiated the military action against Osetia and 1500 civilians were killed. I am glad that someone stopped the further damage. EU should have supported Russia for good cause.
We also have to remember that USA is on the other continent trying again to cause problems for Europe. We, as Europeans would have to face another crisis. We had financial bill and problems problems after Yugoslavia, Iraq? Why War in Europe? To weaken the EU market, economy and creating problems. We Europeans do not want another war. Osetia and Abhasia want their independence - give them and lets leave in Peace. We are already paying huge prices for gas and electricity. We can not allow USA to dictate how Europe does their business. No one in Europe including Russia want a war on their doorstep.
I hope EU leaders will see that current wars initiated by USA is directed on weakening the European economies and making USA economy stronger.
- Mrs Stanley, London, UK
The media lately turned into a instrument for mass-control. Despite some narrow-minded comments around here, it's remarkable enough to say that there actually are a lot people around who don't take the news blindly. Comparing this a whole society it usually is a small minority.
The western media seem to follow up each other on the way of news publishing. An objective approach of news from foreign countries or allies (within Western Europe) is far from reality. Even tough when that news is in contradiction with the facts. This way of Western propaganda (because we're definitely in times of war) is highly concerning. Especially with demonizing Russia. The previous Sovjet has a long history and although it's powerful elite Russia has been neutral towards most international conflicts. In this case (missile shield/Georgian conflict) U.S. intelligence is truly provoking and testing Russia. And for what?
Several options are open: Clearing space for a future Oil transport, pipeline. Testing Russia's military capability. Testing Russia's tolerance. Distraction from invading another region (which possibly could be Iran). Or a combination of them.
To make a point with this. The media doesn't interfere anymore. It lost it's function to inform the consuming citizens. Until internet-restrictions are reality, which are being developed nowadays, make sure you get your news from different sources. Dutch politicians act like they're in a puppetshow, they obey and won't make a change.
- Knowlegde Ispower Student, The Netherlands
Who does the Western media think they're fooling? NATO promised Russia it would not expand into Eastern Europe or install weapons on its borders, that's a historical fact. Georgia attacked South Ossetia and Abkhazia with massive atrocities against civilians, Russian passport holders, which Russia was fully justified in reacting to. Next, the U.S. flouts international law all the time, what the hell do you call the completely illegal Iraq war? What about the completely illegal recognition of Kosovo? Does the media really think our memories are so short? So much for the myth of our "free" media, they're just there to frighten and manipulate us for war manufacturers (and the media outlets they own) so that they can continue to wage illegal wars and distract us with fake, external enemies, so that we don't notice their egregious crimes and blood profiteering. We're not that stupid, and your the time when corporate-owned media does nothing but support Western fascism is coming to an end.
- Stephan Larose, Kelowna, Canada
The US and NATO, but largely the US, have created the entire Georgian situation. Since 1990, the US has consistently and arrogantly trodden on Russian sensibilities expecting the entire planet to rush to so called "Democracy", or more accurately Corporocracy regardless of historical or cultural considerations with, of course, the US as the accepted global leader regardless. Not surprisingly the US has made a complete mess of matters an ability its power brokers and administrators have in unusual abundance. If anyone doubts this look at post WW2 political and economic strategy in the Middle East and South East Asia.
- Nigel Maund, Perth, Western Australia
Perhaps we should get our own military problems solved before taking on more responsibilities in the land of the Russian bear. Afghanistan, Iraq, and hundreds of bases vulnerable to terrorists have left the military unable to respond with any kind of force structure. The economic and debt structure of the US is also a contributing factor to the decline of our imperial ambitions. The decline of the British Empire provides a historical picture of the decline of a once great country such as the US who gets too big for its britches.
- Joie, Lisco, Nebraska
The U.S. did not want Russian missiles on Cuban soil and saw it as a terrible threat. All-out nuclear war almost resulted.
Why does the U.S. expect Russia to tolerate missiles on IT'S doorstep? The U.S. has military bases all around the globe. Russia has a right to feel threatened. After all, the U.S. seems to think it's okay to invade other countries on FALSE pretenses.
- Richard, USA
And why all this? Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea for NATO to support Georgia’s mass murder of 2100 Ossetian civilians and 8 Russian peacekeepers.
Looks like war crime doesn’t pay after all.
- Rob, Italy
I have to say its a dangerous game that Nato and America is playing. Russia is not stupid and dumb, they know what is really the motive behind the arming of Georgians. No wonder people call Bush as dumber as it can be. He is trying to wake the giant that was sleeping for the last 15 years.
- Chou, USA
"Could this be the reason why God gave us only 10% use of our brains..
We would have destroyed ourselfs long-ago."
No, only God's followers use only 10% of their brain. The rest of us live in the real world where the "10%" bit is actually only myth.
- James, Maryland
"I say Evil begets EVIL!" ummm.. 5th element? Shut the TV off, go outside.. Expose your skin to "the day star"!
- Joeblow, us
America can invade anyone and hold them forever, why can't Russia?
- Mark Godfrey, St Louis, MO
I will never understand what Russia thinks it will gain by its games of brinkmanship with the west.
"White Devils fighting for LAND or more territory. Just like the way they did centuries ago."
So which part of your comment is enlightened John? Sounds like the beginning of a racist propaganda speach to me!
- Toni, London, UK
We use more than 10% of our brains, that "fact" is a common misconception held by morons who want to justify their lack of intelligence.
- Duh, Charlie, Earth
The king of the north is on the rise.
- Jerry C., Dallas, USA
Basically sounds like their blackmail the west "If you get involved then a war will break out...your fault". With little difference to a bank robber with a hostage "if you come in here i'll shoot her"
- George Jones, Camden, Britain
Why is it, now that Russia becomes so sensitive to its own power, its so childish and basic, unbelieveable that world leaders act this way, risk peoples live for this kind of thing.
- Jeremy, london
If you think we only use 10% of our brains then you're a fool.
- Joel, New Iberia, La.
It is amazing how proficient Western media has been with the lies and propaganda on the Georgia debacle. Very well coordinated. I tip my hat the the intel people embedded in the few corporations controlling Western media. Of course, it is blatantly obvious that this entire miserable affair was planned well ahead of the war. And, it is also obvious that it is following the blue-print of a Soros/Brzezinski operation. If these two madmen don't drag the West into another world war, for personal gain and vendetta, we'll be lucky.
- Roland, US
"White Devils fighting for LAND or more territory"
Thanks for the racist insight there John, "the enlightened one" indeed!
- Andrew, London, UK
Could this be the reason why God gave us only 10% use of our brains..
We would have destroyed ourselfs long-ago.
- Albert Cruz, Arlington, Texas
ATTENTION:
Personally, the scenario in Georgia, and the breakaway states, and former Soviet States or colonies of The former Soviet Union, are all the same.
White Devils fighting for LAND or more territory. Just like the way they did centuries ago.
The only difference today is that, there is no more un-explored land or territory to plunder or claim.
So the new strategy among these vultures now is, to cause or create FEAR among those who are the weakest among themselves. So that in the final analysis, the weak shall fall victim to the stronger among you vultures.
I say Evil begets EVIL!
Peace.
The Enlightened one!
- John Dufuss, New Jersey
