Voices Rise in Georgian Opposition
By Sean at 9 September, 2008, 12:08 pm
The Georgia opposition and Saakashvili supporters “are calling for investigations into what they call failures in diplomacy and warfare, and some are predicting Saakashvili will be forced from office by a war they say he hoped would earn him a place in history,” reports the Washington Post. David Usupashvili, the leader of the Republican Party, and David Gamkrelidze of the New Rights Party, both tell the Post that Saakashvili needs to explain what he was thinking by invading South Ossetia. One unnamed Georgian official suggests that the reason might have Saak’s own ego and myopia. “He has no communication with anybody except this small circle, which is a serious reason why he decided to go to South Ossetia,” the official said. “[Saakashvili] “wants to be a hero, not a normal president who increases the taxes, et cetera.”
The Georgian oppositon is afriad their criticism will get them labeled as “traitors and Russian agents.” They have good reason to be worried. On 29 August, Saakashvili said that he planned to propose “a patriot act” to the Georgian Parliament. This call for a “patriot act” was reiterated by Nika Gvaramia of the ruling National Movement Party. “I will definitely propose that the Parliamentary Committee for Legal Affairs develop a legislature similar to the one which is in the United States, I mean the Patriot Act… which will be directed against treacherous statements against the motherland,” she said.
Statements like these speak volumes when you put them alongside the new report from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights on Georgia’s 21 May Parliamentary elections. The report chronicles a number of electoral violations, ballot box stuffing, and opposition intimidation. Yet, in the eyes of the US government Georgia remains a “courageous young democracy.” After all, the democracy fetishists will tell us, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
The US Department of Defense is apparently committed to Georgia for the long haul. The DoD is sending an assessment team to the “courageous young democracy” this week to “review how the United States will be able to support the reconstruction of Georgia’s economy, infrastructure, and armed forces,” says Eric Edelman, under secretary of DoD defense policy. “These steps will be sequenced and will continue to show U.S. support for Georgia’s security, independence, and territorial integrity.” The DoD still denies arming the Georgians to fight the Russians. “The Georgian armed forces were never trained and or equipped by the U.S. to fight the Russians,” Edelman stressed. No? If not the Russians, then who?
The Russians say, why “us” obviously. Anatolii Nogoitsyn, Deputy of the Russian Joint Chiefs of Staff, says that the transportation of Georgian troops on American military planes amounts to American participation in the war.
The Russia v. Georgia battle continues by other means. The Georgian government has updated its casualty figures. A total of 295 citizens were killed, 186 were military and 109 civilians, 14 soldiers. Readers can access the full report, Russian Invasion of Georgia, which details on injuries, ethnic cleansing, refugees and displaced persons, Russian military presence, location of Russian checkpoints, infrastructure and environmental damage, impact on education, and attacks on the Baku-Supsa pipeline.
The Hague is holding hearings on claims that each side committed war crimes. Kommersant already has a rundown of the six hour proceedings. Georgia’s 33-page lawsuit accuses Russia of “discriminating against the population of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the form of murders, assaults on civilians, tortures, rapes, kidnapping and seizing hostages”. “Russia unleashed the aggression against Georgia to deprive Georgian refugees of the right to return and deprive the people of Georgia the right to self-identification.” There is speculation that Russia will soon retaliate with its own suit.
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“If not the Russians, then who?”
The Chechens and the Iraqis.
“If not the Russians, then who?”
The Chechens and the Iraqis.
Oh yeah them. You think the Georgians really believed this?
Btw, do you ever sleep?
Btw, do you ever sleep?
Inquiring minds want to know!
“Moscow never sleeps”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPRxoncWiSA
Enjoy!
“‘Btw, do you ever sleep?’
Inquiring minds want to know!”
Oh, great, now you forced poor Chris to go to bed…
Sean,
“courageous new democracy” is not the same as “we love Saakashvilli”. In fact, one of true acts of democratic courage right now would be for Georgians to consider replacing Saak with some opposition leader.
I also like civil.ge, Sean
Good sample of good reporting. Just information. No bullshit, no “opinions”.
PS. For some reason they are hosting their site … in Estonia not Georgia.
PS. For some reason they are hosting their site … in Estonia not Georgia.
civil.ge is a good source for info. I learned of it from a list I’m on. Estonia, huh. Really? For some reason I thought it was a Georgian government outfit. But I didn’t look to closely to know for sure.
I wonder who’s behind them.
Civil Georgia is a daily news online service devoted to delivering quality news and analysis about Georgia. Civil.Ge is run by The UN Association of Georgia, a Georgian non-governmental organization, in frames of ‘National Integration and Tolerance in Georgia’ Program financed by USAID. Civil Georgia is also supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, German Foundation and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
http://civil.ge/eng/category.php?id=84
No Civil.ru though.
I just thought of something. If Ukraine and Georgia joined the EU or NATO, I wonder if the US government would pull its Title VI funding for research grants. This is what happened to Eastern European countries that joined the EU. What a disaster it would be for Americans who want to do research in Ukraine and Georgia!
“Btw, do you ever sleep?”
My workday starts at noon. I’m dropping off in about 5 minutes. (It’s 5 am)
I’m dropping off in about 5 minutes. (It’s 5 am)
If Saakashvili is a political corpse, perhaps our beloved Chrisius is a political vampire!
Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius is Dead
White on white translucent black cords
tacked along the wall
Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius’s dead
The drunks have left the courtyard
The internet victims have been bled
Red velvet lines the computer chair
Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius’s dead
Undead undead undead
The virginal brides file past his screen
Strewn with time’s dead flowers
Bereft in deathly bloom
Alone in a darkened room
The count
Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius’s dead
Undead undead undead
Аднака не Пушкин….
Ps. what about kasparov.ru?
I love that song!
Sounds pretty good on my acoustic guitar too. All three chords of it.
(No Stigmata Martyr?)
“The virginal brides file past his screen”
Where, exactly? I’m so lonely.
(No Stigmata Martyr?)
My favorite is Rose Garden Funeral of Sores, live version only.
Kremlin money flows to Georgian opposition. Like in Ukraine, Russia is working hard externally and internally to overthrown democratically elected governments and install little Lukashenkos in the ex Soviet Republics. As long as Georgia follows the rule of law and maintains justice, then moves like the Patriot Act may in fact save the country from the Russian onslaught. The per capita income in Georgia is $1,500. Russia’s per capita income is ten times that. The point is that Russia has the money to influence the opposition and there are many Georgians willing to take the hand outs.
Kolchak,
Be careful what you are saying.
Georgia is a democratic state, right? Every true democratic must have a respectable opposition, right? To apply pressure on the party and power and so on, right? So, if Georgia is indeed a democracy, Georgian opposition deserves to be treated with respect.
Because if Georgian opposition is only supported by Kremlin, then Georgia is not really a democracy, can’t you see?
“My favorite is Rose Garden Funeral of Sores, live version only.”
Check out the recent live John Cale CD. He does this very well. It’s his song.
He also covers Pablo Picasso.
CIA money flows to Venezuela opposition. Like in Cuba, Russia is working hard externally and internally to overthrown democratically elected governments and install little Batistas in Lativ America. As long as Venezuela follows the rule of law and maintains justice, then moves like the Patriot Act may in fact save the country from the American onslaught. The per capita income in Venezuela is $1,500. America’s per capita income is twenty times that. The point is that America has the money to influence the opposition and there are many Venezuelans willing to take the hand outs.
Darn. I thought I was being all clever, but forget to replace “Russia” with “US”.
Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius seems to have Stalin’s sleep patterns.
Re Russia funding Georgia’s opposition:I bet the CIA is doing the same in Bolivia at this moment.Of course oil and gas are involved here too.
“Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius seems to have Stalin’s sleep patterns.”
How do you think I became Vozhd, and may have passed Averko on the SRB Frequent Posters List of Glory?
I’m sure the Georgians are smart enough to realise there is a middle ground which involves not fighting wars with Russia, but also not being pushed around by Russia too. If I was Georgia, I’d be looking towards a Swiss-style army and air defence system.
“I’m sure the Georgians are smart enough”
Don’t hold your breath.
Tim, could you remind me Swiss Army achievements?
PS. If I was Georgia I would be concerned about … but hell with them. There is no such things as brain transplants anyway…
“Tim, could you remind me Swiss Army achievements?”
Their reputation is extremely good.
Reputation of Red Army is VERY bad
Tim, could you remind me Swiss Army achievements?
Keeping their country free from invasion from any of the huge powers around them whilst their neighbours fell like dominos. Even Hitler, not one to shy from a bout of territorial adventurism, gave the Swiss a miss.
Plus, they have awesome pocket knives. The Russian Army version is here.
Tim, are serious about terrible Swiss army that scared Hitler? Or is this kind of “high-end” joke?
Don’t hold your breath.
The Georgians might be an odd bunch to some, but I wouldn’t call them stupid. They managed to secure material goods during the USSR which the Russians could only dream about. Read Colin Thubron’s book Among the Russians for a description of the difference in living standards of the Georgians and Armenians compared with the Russians.
They armed exclusively with incredibly deadly pocket knives capable of dismembering a main battle tank. Plus, they accidentally invaded Luxembourg a year or so ago.
Tim, are serious about terrible Swiss army that scared Hitler?
I doubt they scared him, but they ensured that Switzerland was not a place worth invading. Given Hitler invaded places like Luxembourg, his standards for conquest were not set very high.
Well, the Swiss Army plus the Swiss Alps.
plus the swiss BANKS
Well, the Swiss Army plus the Swiss Alps.
Hitler’s fear of mountains was legendary.
plus the swiss BANKS
I can see your point. By the time he’s waited in line and got to the counter, the girl will probably be on lunch and the allies will have reorganised.
And the Gnomes of Zurich.
Knife-wielding Ninja Gnomes.
“Hitler’s fear of mountains was legendary.”
It’s cold up there. He was a little guy, might have gotten sick.
And the Canton-appointed not-so-German-friendly cuckoo clocks
When they chime midnight, a German dies.
”Well, the Swiss Army plus the Swiss Alps.
Hitler’s fear of mountains was legendary.”
My parents were in Switzerland years ago. They said its incredible – they have something of a talent for boring through rocks and mountains and that they can launch figher jets almost literally out of the mountains they’ve dug into. Sounds like Thunderbirds I know. The parents brought me back one of the knives – they’re cool and really hard, though I havent used it for anything. They brought out a Swiss Army knife a few years ago with attachments for doing maintenance to Agilent/Hewlett Packard instruments, and fellow chemists have allegedly commited murder to get hold of one.
Was Hitler afraid of mountains???
“The virginal brides file past his screen”
Where, exactly? I’m so lonely.”
Lonely? You, with your linguistic skills, in Moskva, aka ”Land of Fanny”??
Get out more often. You could be in a rut, which can happen to even the best womanisers
“Was Hitler afraid of mountains???”
I would imagine he was probably more afraid of his soldiers being ambushed bu snipers while working through a mountain pass.
“You could be in a rut, which can happen to even the best womanisers”
I have no desire to be a womanizer, and a vampire has higher standards than mere mortal women anyway. They are merely a foodstuff.
”I have no desire to be a womanizer, and a vampire has higher standards than mere mortal women anyway. They are merely a foodstuff.”
Yes definitely a sustained rut there
Rationalization FTW!
”Rationalization FTW!”
What does FTW mean??
I’m not telling.
I’ll comment on the first word. Stop rationalising.
If I was a single man in Moscow they’d better lock up their daughters! There has to be few places in Europe like Moscow, where you can actually chat up birds on public transport and get phone numbers.
An oasis of talent it has to be said.
I don’t like birds. Feathers and beaks and not being human, you know. Plus I think the genitalia are incompatible and any offspring unviable. Not to mention the size difference.
In not too long besides their army issued rifle every Swiss will also a rocket at home. Flying Swiss Ninjas. Every Swiss will be an Air Dragoon, qualifying as both infantryman and jet fighter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-66AcTo9TU&feature=related
Swiss soldiers with Power Armor! A whole country of Iron Men! Sweet!
I think we should make teams to play KаBээH
”I don’t like birds. Feathers and beaks and not being human, you know. Plus I think the genitalia are incompatible and any offspring unviable. Not to mention the size difference.”
The offspring unviable bit I could live with. The rest could be gotten over with a bit of understanding by everyone concerned
Grumpy old bollocks!
There was a tv listing a few years back for a program on Britain’s Channel 4. It said it was about zoophilia.
I honestly thought it was about people who are addicted to going to zoos. I even said to the wife ”thats a strange thing to have a documentary about”. She was not amused to have definitive evidence that her husband is indeed a pleb.
“I honestly thought it was about people who are addicted to going to zoos.”
“Zoo” = “harem”
“There was a tv listing a few years back for a program on Britain’s Channel 4. It said it was about zoophilia.”
“Tune in to your animal porn, on… Channel 4!”
”There was a tv listing a few years back for a program on Britain’s Channel 4. It said it was about zoophilia.”
“Tune in to your animal porn, on… Channel 4!””
Channel 4 used to be conroversial and was the first to have all sorts of shit, eg. lesbian kisses, Life Of Brian, A Clockwork Orange – all pretty mild stuff now but new and trouble-causing at the time. Sadly the channel has gone totally downhill and is full of celebrity chef, reality show and home improvement/property programs these days. Even Jon Snow is badly off form on the news.
The zoophilia program was freaky. There was a guy in the Midwest USA who wanted to marry his horse and was having sex with it (thankfully we were spared that).There were plenty of ‘dog lovers’ too. But far freakier was another show about guys buying dolls (life size, custom made ones) and living with them like a couple. The dolls were incredibly life-like (in a corpse sort of way) and even had real pubic hair(!) donated by Swedes for a few quid! FREAKY.
By the way readers with Setanta Sports can watch Russia v Wales which is on live at 4pm GMT. Verdict: Russia 2 Wales 0
Do you want to say, that Saakashvili is a doll with Sweden donated hair?
”Do you want to say, that Saakashvili is a doll with Sweden donated hair?”
That’s an awful lot Swedish women out with the shaver ivanov
Irishman’s right, Chris. What’s your excuse? You could be out with a lovely Russian girl at 4am instead of being on facebook, trying to impress American hippies with your Baudelaire.
Russia 1 Wales 0 (Pavlyuchenko 22′, pen) after 35 minutes
Don’t knock Baudelaire, Poemless. Nature is a forest of pillars and all that, mon hypocrite lecteur, mon semblable,mon frere.
Oh, I love Baudelaire…
“dolls (life size, custom made ones)”
Please, please, Ger, send me the name of the company and the URL. Thanks.
http://www.realdoll.com/cgi-bin/snav.rd
Kolya, you asked for it!
What does FTW mean??
It means Fuck the Welsh. He’s been out on the piss with the Russian football fans all day.
Howard Stern used to have a real doll in his studio. Great laughs. I also remember seeing a great segment on HBO’s Real Sex that profiled the real doll and those who fetishized them. I also highly recommend the film Lars and the Real Girl. Strange but very sweet movie.
Please, please, Ger, send me the name of the company and the URL.
Me too.
Thanks, Ger! Prices are kind of high, though. I think I can only afford a torso. I’m glad that their Labia Repair Kit is in stock.
(I also liked “Lars and the Real Girl.”)
”It means Fuck the Welsh. He’s been out on the piss with the Russian football fans all day.”
Russia beat Wales 2-1. Wales very unfortunate. Missed a penalty in the first half, then Russia scored one of their own and took control. Second half Wales came out, gave as good as they got and equalised only to be pipped right at the end. Poor enough match in driving rain at Cherkizovskaya.
”Please, please, Ger, send me the name of the company and the URL.”
Mikes Mom, please inform your son that the double-headed radioactive eagle on the Sbornaya jersey is now jumbo sized, as Mike had previously been moaning that it wasnt big enough. Clearly the Rossiskii Futbolnii Soyuz took his comments on board, and I have no doubt this jersey improvement will help no end in their quest for a decent goalkeeper.
”Thanks, Ger! Prices are kind of high, though. I think I can only afford a torso. I’m glad that their Labia Repair Kit is in stock.”
Kolya, its an investment. And the best thing is you dont have to listen to any guff or hand over your wages. Sounds like a win/win to me!:-)
”I also highly recommend the film Lars and the Real Girl. Strange but very sweet movie.”
In the docu I saw some guys were genuinely in love with their dolls and handled them really carefully. It was sweet in a weird way – some of the guys couldnt score in a whorehouse obviously – but freaky at the same time.
Forgive the ignorance of a member of the lumpenproletariat;but who wrote the original version of this parody below.Pretty cool!
Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius is Dead
White on white translucent black cords
tacked along the wall
Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius’s dead
The drunks have left the courtyard
The internet victims have been bled
Red velvet lines the computer chair
“Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius’s dead
Undead undead undead
The virginal brides file past his screen
Strewn with time’s dead flowers
Bereft in deathly bloom
Alone in a darkened room
The count
Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius’s dead
Undead undead undead”
“who wrote the original version of this parody below.”
Bauhaus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqoZeLVZwrM
To: Chrisius Courtappointedrussiafriendlius
Spasiba
The only good goth band ever!
Well Christian Death wasn’t bad even if their symbol looked like the NY Yankees logo. Sisters of Mercy? Blech.
And here was I thinking it was some poetic masterpiece from a long dead Russian poet!
An undead Hugarian actor.
Poor Bela. Bela’s undead.
Saakashvili has just joined the serried ranks of the undead. The heart stake awaits.
[Ras]Putin raises the hammer aloft….