Nevertheless, there is a high degree of hypocrisy in Russia’s actions. After championing the ethnic rights of Abkhaz (1992-1994) and Ossetians (1992) in Georgia, Russia then went on to fight two wars against an ethnic minority within its own boundaries the Chechens from 1994-1996 and again in 1999-2000.

Of course, after he mentioned the Iraq war might cost $200 billion, he was shown the door.

here’s a summary of the Powell Doctrine (which I know you’re ver familiar with Swopa)

Someone remembers! *sniff*

Hopefully the legacy media will ask McSane how effing serious he is. Will he re-institute the draft? Will he raise taxes to support armed conflict with Russia or does he expect the Chinese to buy more T-bills.

I also think McSane has left himself very vulnerable to Ronnie Raygun’s “no-nation building.” I hope Obama uses some form of that against him.

Also, it’s time for Democrats to start using military language so they don’t look quite so weak on “Defense.” What kind of deployments does McSane want to make to Georgia? What are the troop to task ratios and the force protection requirements?

OT FWIW, here’s a summary of the Powell Doctrine (which I know you’re ver familiar with Swopa)of overwhelming force. If the Democrats had used this, we wouldn’t still be bogged down in Iraq. They ought to use it now regarding Russia:

“1. Is a vital national security interest threatened?
2. Do we have a clear attainable objective?
3. Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed?
4. Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted?
5. Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement?
6. Have the consequences of our action been fully considered?
7. Is the action supported by the American people?
8. Do we have genuine broad international support?”

Those are serious, but long standing issues, and there will be plenty of time to solve them (there has to be, since there will be no short term solution to ethnic trouble there, whether Georgia or Russia gets its respective wish list)

But as for the politics being played: well that is just Duck Soup.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_Soup

BTW: Ossetia has a little Ossetia within it. Ingushitia, or something like that. I forget whether that is in N or S Ossetia, or straddles border. Anyone who says ethnic enclaves are not an intractable problem in the Caucasus is just spouting nonsense.

There should be a drumbeat about the whole WHIG which is still in full operating mode via the McCainBushCheney gang and their minions like Mary “a good piece of scholarship” Matalin who pimped the Corsi book.

Morally bankrupt, the lot of them.