Where is Bush while Georgia is Attached

[Packman]

I can't wait for a President that the world will be able to take seriously.  I'm for Obama but McCain would be an improvement.  Why didn't the guy fly back to Washington and take this seriously?  Instead....oh well just read...

Bush's Georgian Betrayal
   
By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Monday, August 11, 2008; 1:59 PM

Back in 2005, speaking before a crowd of more than 150,000 exuberant Georgians cheering "Bushi! Bushi!", President Bush made a promise to the people of that former Soviet republic: "The path of freedom you have chosen is not easy, but you will not travel it alone. Americans respect your courageous choice for liberty. And as you build a free and democratic Georgia, the American people will stand with you."

So where was Bush as Russia launched a major military attack against Georgia? Monkeying around with the U.S. women's volleyball players -- and otherwise amusing himself at the Beijing Olympics.

This is not to suggest that Bush should have sent in the Marines. But his impotence in the face of such a gravely destabilizing move highlights not only his personal loss of stature, but how deeply he has diminished American authority on the world stage generally and, particularly, in the eyes of Russia.

[MWDabbs]

Well...seems last time he attempted to take a country to task he got reamed by everyone, so this time he probably figured that the UN might respond.

Oh...but wait, Russia has veto power!   

Another case of damned if he does, damned if he doesn't and in that kind of scenario, maybe he's learned a lesson to play it safe. 

[Packman]

Well...seems last time he attempted to take a country to task he got reamed by everyone, so this time he probably figured that the UN might respond.

Oh...but wait, Russia has veto power!   

Another case of damned if he does, damned if he doesn't and in that kind of scenario, maybe he's learned a lesson to play it safe. 

Or maybe he might take a crisis seriously and fly back to Washington to consult with his advisers and not yukking it up with the American volleyball team.  The man is not the mascot of the US he's supposed to be president.

[MWDabbs]

We can be certain Bush has enough videoconferencing and electronic data capabilities to consult with his advisers wherever he or they might be.  They probably couldn't tell him any more in person than they could by videoconference, phone or e-mail. 

Putin was in Beijing at the time, and Bush did have a face to face with him:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/08/georgia.reax/?iref=hpmostpop

Secretary of State Rice (former National Security Adviser) was assigned to the situation.   He couldn't exactly send Cheney since the Russians believe he's behind the plot to make sure Obama doesn't get elected...ha. 

I don't see how Bush could have responded any more directly, or sternly short of starting mobilizations...and I'm absolutely certain that if he did anything other than what he's done, people would still be bashing him. 

In comparison to most things he has said and done, he's had a decent performance on this issue so far.   


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This administration is doing everything we can to end the stalemate in an efficient way. We're making the right decisions to bring the solution to an end. -- G.W. Bush

[rjm]

Just a pity he couldnt have shown a bit more restraint in previous situations then perhaps the world might not be such as dangerous place today as it is 

In any case I dont think Russia would be that bothered in any case as its obvious from their actions in the last 4 days they are just toying with Bush/Rice and NATO and dont seem overly concerned about reprisals!

[ecocks]

Wonder if they'll be bothered by all the hardware Ukraine is parading down the street this weekend?

Brings to mind the old days of May Day Parades and saber rattling in the bright sunshine...

[P-N]

Wonder if they'll be bothered by all the hardware Ukraine is parading down the street this weekend?

Brings to mind the old days of May Day Parades and saber rattling in the bright sunshine...

I would imagine they won't be anywhere near as bothered as the pro-Russia half of Ukraine will be. 

[Packman]

We can be certain Bush has enough videoconferencing and electronic data capabilities to consult with his advisers wherever he or they might be.  They probably couldn't tell him any more in person than they could by videoconference, phone or e-mail. 

Putin was in Beijing at the time, and Bush did have a face to face with him:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/08/georgia.reax/?iref=hpmostpop

Secretary of State Rice (former National Security Adviser) was assigned to the situation.   He couldn't exactly send Cheney since the Russians believe he's behind the plot to make sure Obama doesn't get elected...ha. 

I don't see how Bush could have responded any more directly, or sternly short of starting mobilizations...and I'm absolutely certain that if he did anything other than what he's done, people would still be bashing him. 

In comparison to most things he has said and done, he's had a decent performance on this issue so far.   


------

This administration is doing everything we can to end the stalemate in an efficient way. We're making the right decisions to bring the solution to an end. -- G.W. Bush

Just like he did during Katrina?

[MWDabbs]

It must be nice to be able to pin the blame on one person for every god forsaken ill that besets the world.  Pretty unbelievable.  I look at New Orleans and wonder...why were there 200 or so buses sitting in a parking lot up to the steering wheel in water...that maybe, kinda-sorta been used for...um...helping with the evacuation plan?  Or why did the Mayor Orleans have an evacuation plan, but not exercise it? 

The Federal Government is there to help the states deal with emergencies...but first, it is up to the governor of the state to request assistance.   It is the responsibility of local government to have a disaster preparedness program; it is FEMA's role to assist is to coordinate responses to disasters exceeding the  resources of local and state authorities.

The Governor of Louisiana was fully capable of calling up the National Guard; and did...though a significant portion of that Region's NG was serving in Iraq at the time.  Still, the Federal Government actually COULD NOT legally send in active duty forces from Fort Know/Hood or anywhere else because of...The Posse Comitatus Act.  That's a federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385) prohibiting federal uniformed services from serving in a state level law enforcement capacity. 

Considering the conspiracy theories from the left over the "mission of FEMA", I'd have thought every self-respecting liberal would do everything to avoid having FEMA involved on a local level...ha...

So...debate THAT.

[Packman]

OK Bill O'Reily

Bush walks on water and is always fully engaged!

[ecocks]

No Pack, BUT you cannot blame him for everything.  He didn't build the levies, predict the weather that week OR design a city BELOW sea level.  Hundreds of thousands of people whose families had lived there for up to 200 years were taken by surprise so you have to stop short of blaming him solely for Katrina.  As for FEMA, 2,500 employees plus a few thousand temps, don't go very far when an entire city is a disaster area.  The fact is that local authorities should have been more on the ball and simply failed.  It happens.  The mayor screwed up, the governor screwed up, the police screwed up and so on.  None of those people are under the control of the Presidency except the head of FEMA and he paid the price.

[Packman]

No Pack, BUT you cannot blame him for everything.  He didn't build the levies, predict the weather that week OR design a city BELOW sea level.  Hundreds of thousands of people whose families had lived there for up to 200 years were taken by surprise so you have to stop short of blaming him solely for Katrina.  As for FEMA, 2,500 employees plus a few thousand temps, don't go very far when an entire city is a disaster area.  The fact is that local authorities should have been more on the ball and simply failed.  It happens.  The mayor screwed up, the governor screwed up, the police screwed up and so on.  None of those people are under the control of the Presidency except the head of FEMA and he paid the price.

Ok, points taken BUT!  Look at Puty Put.  A complete buffoon but an engaged leader flying to Vladikavkaz to take charge.  Bush was not engaged during Katrina nor during the opening of the Georgian situation.  McCain at least unlike Bush realized the gravity of the situation (maybe because of the paid lobbyest on his payroll but nevermind about  that). 

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