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RedditIf there's any comic relief in the war between Russia and Georgia, it's this statement from Randy Scheunemann, John McCain's top foreign policy adviser: "In the twenty-first century, nations don't invade other nations." Coming from America's No. 1 advocate for invading Iraq -- Scheunemann headed the neocon-inspired Committee for the Liberation of Iraq in 2002 -- that's rich. Or perhaps Scheunemann thinks the US invasion of Iraq happened in an earlier century.
What's not funny, though, is Scheunemann's ties to Georgia. Where's the outrage? Why isn't there a congressional investigation of the McCain's adviser's entanglements?
It's no laughing matter that McCain's top adviser is multiply connected to Georgia, whose ill-advised assault on Russian positions in South Ossetia fully qualifies it as the first, overtly American-allied "rogue nation." Most important, Scheunemann's former lobbying firm, Orion Strategies, received at lest $800,000 from the government of Georgia between 2004 and May 15, 2008, when Scheunemann finally severed his ties -- officially, at least -- to the firm. Before that, between January 1, 2007, and May 15, 2008, Scheunemann was officially on the payroll as both Georgia's lobbyist and McCain's top adviser, during which time Georgia paid Orion and $290,000 and McCain paid him $70,000.
Indeed, there's a nice Iraq-Georgia connection through Scheunemann: the offices of Orion Strategies shared the same address as the neocon-inspired Iraqi National Congress, founded by charlatan Ahmed Chalabi, who was personally close to both McCain and Scheunemann, and the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq. They were all located on one, big, war-starting location.
Scheunemann tied it all up in one big bundle when his Orion Strategies helped organize ten members of the former Soviet bloc to support the invasion of Iraq. As Ken Silverstein reported in the Los Angeles Times, Orion "scored its biggest success last year when 10 Eastern European countries endorsed the U.S. invasion. Known as the 'Vilnius 10,' they showed that 'Europe is united by a commitment to end Saddam's bloody regime,' Scheunemann said at the time." According to US News and World Report, Orion also represented Latvia, Macedonia, and Romania.
Last April 17, Scheunemann's business partner, Michael Mitchell, signed another $200,000 contract to represent Georgia, on the very same day that McCain says that he had a telephone conversation with Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili. Did McCain urge Saakashvili to sign the contract? Did Scheunemann and Mitchell urge Saakashvili to lobby McCain to support Georgia? The Post reported that Scheunemann "prepped" McCain for the call to Saakashvili. It's a blindingly obvious conflict of interest, and frighteningly it's one that conceivably could drag the United States into yet another war in that unstable part of the world.
Not only has McCain defended Scheunemann's ties to the rogue republic, but McCain's campaign charged "that the Scheunemann-Georgia lobbying link had been brought to reporters' attention by a public relations firm working for Russia," according to the Times. McCain said valiantly, "Today we are all Georgians." But not all of us actually get paid for it.
So far, both the Democratic National Committee and the Obama campaign have criticized McCain for his ties to Scheunemann. But there doesn't seem to be any momentum either for a direct legal challenge or a congressional investigation, which could subpoena the players and get sworn testimony.
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Robert Dreyfuss
A chronicle of America's adventures in foreign policy and national security.
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Happy-Obama hasn't gone downhill in the polls,but I've noticed that you dittoheads keep repeating that and I'm wondering if you know why?I found that one house was sufficient since I found it difficult to be in more than one place at a time,but I'm not surprised that you would try to out do McCain and brag that you owned more than him..Of course,it's his wife's money that buys most everything.You guys claim to only respect the self made,but then nominate people,like Bush and McCain, who got everything through family connections.
Posted by i'm nobody at 08/21/2008 @ 11:51am
This is complete nonsense. The last time I checked South Ossetia was part of Georgian territory - not Russia's (at least until they made their latest land grab).
So trying to assert control over a part of their own territory makes them a "rogue nation"?! By what tortured logic is this possibily true?
Useful idiots that beleive this sort of drivel are the same ones who would be screaming their heads off if the U.S. attempted to, for example, stop the Chinese from asserting control over Taiwan
The double-standard is simply spectacular!
Posted by vertigoskippy at 08/21/2008 @ 12:11pm
Hey, HAPP...want you to spin this one-
"...it's this statement from Randy Scheunemann, John McCain's top foreign policy adviser: "In the twenty-first century, nations don't invade other nations."
Or admit that was the DOPEIEST thing that McCain's people could EVER say.
heheh
Posted by Maskdelta at 08/21/2008 @ 12:15pm
Posted by vertigoskippy at 08/21/2008 @ 12:11pm |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Ossetia
I don't know if you noticed. But South Ossetia declared independence a while ago. The Georgians haven't fought it till now when they tried to retake South Ossetia. JUST because the west doesn't acknowledge their independence doesn't mean it ain't so. Russia obviously acknowledges South Ossetias independence and has since the 1990s.
De facto independence from Georgia - Declared November 28, 1991
Look at that part. They declared it in 1991. Just because people choose not to recognize doesn't mean it isn't so. What if the world said they didn't recognize American independence from Britain. South Ossetia has it's own military, prime minister and central government. What else do you guys require for a country to be considered independent?
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 1:14pm
I mean hell South Ossetia even uses a different currency than Georgia. What do you guys need for the country to be considered independent? Just because you guys shake your heads and say no that makes it so? South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia which means they are no longer Georgian territory because the Georgians never fought it. They established their regional government, changed their currency, established their own military and now have alliances with Russia. Those are the facts. Whether you choose to acknowledge their independence or not doesn't matter because it was declared and never contested.
That means the Georgians are invading a soverign territory and South Ossetia's Russian allies are stepping into defend. It doesn't matter how much you try to twist this to look like big bad Russia is picking on little old Georgia. If a country is independent and is invaded by another country that independent country has a right to call on alliances in order to defend themselves.
I would like to see how you guys manage to say that South Ossetia is not independent when they declared their independence 17 years ago and in the meantime have established all the things that a country needs to function and have separated themselves entirely from Georgia. Why is it they are not considered independence if they have met every standard of being independent including having their own standing military.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 1:21pm
Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/21/2008 @ 12:39pm
Last I checked South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia 17 years ago. So it wasn't Georgia asserting control over it's territory it was Georgia invading an independent country. I like how we seem to think only the west gets to determine who is independent and who isn't. We get to step into regions and draw maps and say this belongs to you and that doesn't. Just because you want to think that because the WEST chooses to ignore South Ossetian independence doesn't make it so.
I don't know about you but I am from a country that around 200 years ago declared it's independence and fought and died for it. After years of war they managed to separate from their controlling nation. Why are we considered independent if the South Ossetians are not?
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 1:25pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysoOB9w0tF4
No wonder Bill O' Reilly is so up in arms about a darky becoming President.
"They want to break down the White Christian Male power structure."
I guess Bill O'Reilly doesn't like the thought of anyone but white people being in power?
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 1:33pm
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 1:33pm
I've seen that video before. O'Reilly is such an idiot...and I don't mean just because he's a bigot.
He was TRYING to use that to attack the Left by saying what HE thought THEY opposed "the White, Christian, Male power structure", but all it ended up doing was showing what HE supported ...that being "the White, Christian, Male power structure"!
Of course, half his audience (I hope) missed that point...the other half merely AGREED with it!
Posted by Maskdelta at 08/21/2008 @ 1:38pm
Posted by Maskdelta at 08/21/2008 @ 1:38pm
It's sad these are the types of people that large groups follow in this country. It can't be any more obvious but I am sure many of his viewers including the ones on here would jump to defend him saying "that's not bigoted it's just fact."
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 1:45pm
"We can't let the brown people take power. The white man must rule."
But that's not bigotry that's just preserving what is good and true about America.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 1:48pm
many of his viewers including the ones on here would jump to defend him saying "that's not bigoted it's just fact."----Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 1:45pm
They'd tread VERY dangerous ground in doing so, CCC. What could they say, except things that would REINFORCE a view that most of the power in the country is in the hands of "white, Christian males"?
And then how do they say "We oppose libs who want to overturn that"...without admitting that they want to keep WCMs (aka themselves) in power regardless of non-whites, non-Christians, and women?
Frnakly, any O'Reilly fan is likely to be a hypocrite as much as he is. Same types who would rail against "liberal sexual immorality"...and then excuse Bill for his "loufa" comments to Andrea Mackris.
Posted by Maskdelta at 08/21/2008 @ 1:52pm
Posted by Maskdelta at 08/21/2008 @ 1:52pm
Gotta love the WASP's.
"We aren't racist, we just don't want anyone that isn't the right kind of white in power."
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 2:32pm
From Mideast Times....
Israel has been involved in both training and arming the Georgian military for a number of years and the fears within Israel's military establishment was that Russia, which already supplies arms to both Syria and Iran, could well decide to increase the quantity and quality of these supplies.
Israel's immediate concern is that Russia will proceed with the sale of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Iran, which would help Iran defend its nuclear installations from aerial attack.
This would be particularly problematic if Israel decides to carry out a preemptive raid on Iran's nuclear facilities as it has been threatening to do for months now.
Israel's military complex has supplied Georgia with some $200 million worth of equipment since 2000. This has comprised rockets, night-vision communications and intelligence surveillance equipment, including Skylark mini-drones and Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicles. Israel also upgraded Georgia's Su-25 ground attack fighters.
A Russian jet shot down an Israeli-made drone being operated by the Georgians earlier this year.
The mayor of Tel Aviv, Ronnie Milo and his brother Shlomo (a former director-general of Israel Military Industries), were key players in the Georgian arms sales while senior IDF officers, including Maj. Gen. Israel Ziv and Brig. Gen. Gal Hirsch, were directly involved in training Georgian army infantry battalions.
Hirsch, who was a senior commander in the 2006 Lebanon war, served in an advisory capacity.
One of the Israeli advisers to the Georgian military, who wished to remain anonymous, had befriended some of the Georgian soldiers during his time there and was invited to some of their homes for dinner.
Posted by Metteyya at 08/21/2008 @ 2:58pm
He told the Israeli daily Haaretz: "We have their phone numbers, but we haven't been able to reach them. These are people we know and we are all hoping for their success,"
Meanwhile, other Israeli trainers are trying to glean from news reports on the movements of the Georgian army whether their trainees succeeded in internalizing Israeli military techniques.
Two key Georgian ministers are Jewish and fluent in Hebrew. The Georgian Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili, 30, once lived in Israel after he immigrated to the country as a boy before eventually returning to Georgia.
Georgian Minister of Reintegration Temur Yakobashvili praised the Israel Defense Forces for its role in training Georgian troops and said Israel should be pleased with its military might, during an interview with Israeli Army Radio.
"Israel should be proud of its military which trained Georgian soldiers," Yakobashvili stated in fluent Hebrew.
He added that this training provided Georgia with the know-how needed to defend itself against Russian forces as he explained how a small group of Georgian soldiers had been able to wipe out an entire Russian military division due to the training, despite the inferiority of Georgia's defense forces when compared to Russia's.
"We killed 60 Russian soldiers," said Yakobashvili last week. "The Russians have lost more than 50 tanks, and we have shot down 11 of their planes. They have sustained enormous damage in terms of manpower."
However, Israeli ties to Georgia go further than the arms trade and military training business. Another Israeli interest in Georgia has revolved around the rich oil and gas deposits in the region.
Jerusalem is keen to see the Caspian oil and gas pipelines reach the Turkish terminal port of Ceyhan, rather than the Russian network
Posted by Metteyya at 08/21/2008 @ 2:58pm
after Russia turned down a previous Israeli request.
To this end intense negotiations are currently underway between Israel, Turkey, Georgia, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan for pipelines to reach Turkey and onward to Israel's oil terminal at Ashkelon and to its Red Sea port of Eilat. From there, supertankers can carry the gas and oil to the Far East through the Indian Ocean.
Finally, Israel works hard to increase the number of Jews immigrating to the country in an effort to lessen the "threat" of a demographic time-bomb which sees Israeli-Arabs and Palestinians in East Jerusalem with their higher birth rate as a possible threat to Jewish majority.
To this end the Jewish Agency, which arranges immigration, has organized flights into Georgia to evacuate Jews trapped in the cities as fighting intensifies. Indeed, Israel's national airline El Al was practically the only airline to fly into Georgia's capital Tbilisi after other flights were suspended or grounded.
Several hundred Jews were subsequently evacuated to Israel as new immigrants.
Posted by Metteyya at 08/21/2008 @ 2:58pm
I think this right-wing AIPAC Jewish influence in Georgia helps explain why the mainstream press in in lock-step in their misrepresentation of how the conflict started and what the solution should be.
Whys is there no diversity of opinion on the Georgia conflict in the mainstream American press?
All of these editors who made the call that Russia was the instigator rather than being provoked by Georgia's massacre of South Ossetia citizens the day before need to be investigated and exposed as shills for the American and British (BP) oil and defense companies and the Israeli lobby.
Their extraordinarily biased coverage of the Georgia conflict reminds me of 9/11 coverage and coverage leading up to the invasion of Iraq.
Third-rate journalism in which ignoring the truth is considered "patriotic"!
Posted by Metteyya at 08/21/2008 @ 3:07pm
devote less to time to these people Posted by Zero at 08/21/2008 @ 2:26pm
You make a good point. They have proven a lack of care about the facts. I just always carry a hope than sane logical thinking will get through to them.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 3:17pm
You make a good point. They have proven a lack of care about the facts. I just always carry a hope than sane logical thinking will get through to them.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 3:17pm
In about eight years of reading this blog, I have not seen one, not one, heart, mind, or opinion changed from the set original, relative to political orientation.
They are all set in stone, and immune to consultation.
Posted by Benchrest at 08/21/2008 @ 3:31pm
And I discount FG, who went off the deep end.
He drinks bud anyway, which proves his insanity, so he doesn't count.
Posted by Benchrest at 08/21/2008 @ 3:35pm
Posted by Benchrest at 08/21/2008 @ 3:35pm
That's why arguments about politics are worthless. In the end no one is going to be proven wrong because in the end no one cares about demonstrable fact. They care about opinion. My comments to Jom about economics are proof of that. I showed up what the actual economic history of the world and current tax estimates based on economies of scale in other countries. I showed him what has worked and what hasn't worked. I showed him which economies are doing well and the tax codes that they follow. He then ignored it all and said that he knows what works for his business therefore it must work for a country. Completely ignoring the fact that running a country is not like running one business. Macro-economics does not work like micro-economics. Your businesses do not run like a government.
Demonstrable facts were ignored for unproven, untested and frankly blind opinion because talking about buisness and government is like talking about apples and oranges.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 3:41pm
My worry about this whole mess is that it shifts the focus away from the struggling US economy, which will mean the election season is about McCain's perceived strengths rather than Obama's. Think about it: Obama's much talked-about rock star status abroad means that no matter who his VP choice is, world leaders are going to fall all over themselves getting in line to talk with someone who is obviously intelligent, humane and seems to be thinking long-term. If Obama chooses one of the "foreign-policy" superfolks as VP, the narrative becomes about how he knows he needs help with national security, consequently taking the pressure off McCain by allowing him to do his chest-thumping and NOT address what he's NOT gonna do about the worsening economy. I just hope Obama's VP choice shows that he hasn't fallen for it.
Posted by klean2 at 08/21/2008 @ 3:42pm
Posted by Benchrest at 08/21/2008 @ 3:35pm
I bet he enjoys a Pabst Blue Ribbon every once in a while too or a Miller High Life. Probably even a Steel Reserve.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 3:42pm
I bet he enjoys a Pabst Blue Ribbon every once in a while too or a Miller High Life. Probably even a Steel Reserve.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 3:42pm |
Oh, that is cold CCC. Way to twist the blade!
Remind me to never piss you off.
Posted by Benchrest at 08/21/2008 @ 3:48pm
Ok, I am going to attempt a logical, sane argument (it probably won't change anyone's mind but, what the hell)
Let's say that one of the Mexican states declares itself "independent" from Mexico. It historically has been part of Mexico but now declares it no longer is. Now let's also assume that the rest of the world refuses to recognize this state's "independence" but the United States, for geopolitical reasons (oil, etc.), decides it will recognize them because of the foothold it would provide into Mexico's territory.
Now let's say Mexico puts up with this and shows restraint for quite awhile but finally decides action must be taken to reassert it's control over what it (and most of the world) consider to be it's territory. With that "provocation" the United States pours a large military force into Mexico - almost reaching the gates of Mexico City - and then declares that it will pull it's troops out when its good and ready.
Do you really think the U.S. would be the good guys in this scenario? Come on! Don't piss on my leg and tell me its raining!
Posted by vertigoskippy at 08/21/2008 @ 3:49pm
Posted by Benchrest at 08/21/2008 @ 3:48pm
Haha. Tie you down and feed you caguama.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 4:09pm
Posted by vertigoskippy at 08/21/2008 @ 3:49pm | ignore this person | warn this person
yeah - after russia's work in chechnya it seems rather hypocritical of them to support seccesionist efforts in georgia.
Posted by ibbleblibble at 08/21/2008 @ 8:12pm
Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/21/2008 @ 8:02pm
Did ol' Vic offer up any solutions????
Posted by Maskdelta at 08/21/2008 @ 8:17pm
Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/21/2008 @ 8:39pm
Why does a country have to be recognized by the EU or UN? You guys always talk about how the UN is worthless and should be dissolved so why now does it matter? The way I look at, if you declare independence and your host country can't stop you then you are independent. The rest of the world will catch up when they feel like it. They have their own governing body and their own military. Whether Georgia wants to keep claiming they are apart of Georgie or not they declared independence and were not stopped.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 8:46pm
Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/21/2008 @ 8:30pm
"Look, look! Look at Obama!"
Yeah, HAPP, that's a good answer for just about everything, isn't it?
LOL
Posted by Maskdelta at 08/21/2008 @ 8:46pm
Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/21/2008 @ 8:39pm
Also my observations weren't inaccurate I pointed out everything you said EXCEPT the part about no ethnic difference. And in the end what does Ethnic difference matter when you are talking about countries. Countries are lines and borders. There will be no ethnic differences in any country when everyone becomes mixed.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/21/2008 @ 8:47pm
>>>This is simply a power play by Russia to regain control over former members of the Soviet Empire and defuse NATO expansion
Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/21/2008 @ 8:39pm<<<
No, it is Russia recognizing that our so-called foreign policy advisers are stuck in the past, and want to squander the peace dividend of ending the Cold War by starting another Cold War on terms thought to be more favorable to the West.
We could have truly included Russia as partner, but simply don't have the IQ to make it happen.
Posted by Metteyya at 08/21/2008 @ 9:12pm
In about eight years of reading this blog, I have not seen one, not one, heart, mind, or opinion changed from the set original, relative to political orientation.
They are all set in stone, and immune to consultation.
Posted by Benchrest at 08/21/2008 @ 3:31pm
MCCAIN '08
Only a hero like that can keep us safe from the terrorist threat.
Posted by frosty zoom at 08/21/2008 @ 9:39pm
My worry about this whole mess is that it shifts the focus away from the struggling US economy, which will mean the election season is about McCain's perceived strengths rather than Obama's.
Posted by klean2 at 08/21/2008 @ 3:42pm
Posted by frosty zoom at 08/21/2008 @ 9:40pm
My worry about this whole mess is that it shifts the focus away from the struggling US economy, which will mean the election season is about McCain's perceived strengths rather than Obama's.
Posted by klean2 at 08/21/2008 @ 3:42pm
Posted by frosty zoom at 08/21/2008 @ 9:40pm
My worry about this whole mess is that it shifts the focus away from the struggling US economy, which will mean the election season is about McCain's perceived strengths rather than Obama's.
Posted by klean2 at 08/21/2008 @ 3:42pm
WHY
DO
YOU
THINK
THIS
HAPPENED
DURING
OBAMA'S
VACATION?
Posted by frosty zoom at 08/21/2008 @ 9:41pm
as a side note the ossetians, ethnically and linguistically are a fascinating people - descendants of the original scythian/sarmatian/roxolani/alan branch of the iranian language group of the indo europeans. the only surviving group, in fact.
but anyhoos both russia and most of her former soviet colonies are riddled with ethnic enclaves of folks who might like to have a crack at independance and although i empathize with them i'm not sure i support them all - such could truly result in chaos and widespread bloodshed if unleashed.
remember what started WWI...many old soviet wtchers liked to compare the former USSR to the austro-hungarian empire and not without good reason.
Posted by ibbleblibble at 08/21/2008 @ 9:41pm
This is simply a power play by Russia to regain control over former members of the Soviet Empire and defuse NATO expansion
Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/21/2008 @ 8:39pm
that, too.
Posted by frosty zoom at 08/21/2008 @ 9:42pm
this is way better than any little ol' terror threat.......
and it's only august.
such spectacle.
oooh, the russian bear is gonna eat your kids!
we better elect the white guy with a normal name.
make things safe again........
Posted by frosty zoom at 08/21/2008 @ 9:44pm
damn!
not again.
we've got mr. missle tongue vs. mr. focusedgrouped.
can't there be candidates with intelligence, good judgement and fortitude?
please.
why can't the president actually have some idea what he's talking about?
can't you give these guys a test at least?
HEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!
Posted by frosty zoom at 08/21/2008 @ 9:47pm
can't you give these guys a test at least?
Posted by frosty zoom at 08/21/2008 @ 9:47pm
You mean like a breathalizer?
Posted by Benchrest at 08/21/2008 @ 10:44pm
We would, but our machine is busted.
Made in China.
Posted by Benchrest at 08/21/2008 @ 10:47pm
Pat Buchanan seems to agree:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=73068
McCain's neocon warmonger
Who is Randy Scheunemann?
He is the principal foreign policy adviser to John McCain and potential successor to Henry Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzezinski as national security adviser to the president of the United States.
But Randy Scheunemann has another identity, another role.
He is a dual loyalist, a foreign agent whose assignment is to get America committed to spilling the blood of her sons for client regimes who have made this moral mercenary a rich man.
From January 2007 to March 2008, the McCain campaign paid Scheunemann $70,000 – pocket change compared to the $290,000 his Orion Strategies banked in those same 15 months from the Georgian regime of Mikheil Saakashvili.
What were Mikheil's marching orders to Tbilisi's man in Washington? Get Georgia a NATO war guarantee. Get America committed to fight Russia, if necessary, on behalf of Georgia.
Scheunemann came close to succeeding. . . .
Posted by client 10 at 08/22/2008 @ 3:59pm
> 9/11 War Games: The Air Force was running multiple war games on the morning of 9/11 simulating hijackings over the continental United States
You might want to check that story again once more:
http://911myths.com/html/war_games_cover_for_9-11.html
Posted by PatrickSMcNally at 08/23/2008 @ 4:31pm
> Let's say that one of the Mexican states declares itself "independent" from Mexico. It historically has been part of Mexico but now declares it no longer is. Now let's also assume that the rest of the world refuses to recognize this state's "independence" but the United States, for geopolitical reasons (oil, etc.), decides it will recognize them because of the foothold it would provide into Mexico's territory.
Something very much like that actually did occur over Bosnia.
Posted by PatrickSMcNally at 08/23/2008 @ 5:22pm
Let's say that one of the Mexican states declares itself "independent" from Mexico.
Posted by PatrickSMcNally at 08/23/2008
you mean like texas, for example?
Posted by frosty zoom at 08/24/2008 @ 01:29am