Republic of Georgia Receives Support from John McCain

McCains Carry Lifeline To Republic of Georgia

The world waits while super-power Russia shatters cease-fire agreements, continuing to assault one of the oldest civilizations of the Western World. The two thousand year old Georgia, one of the very first nations to declare itself Christian, is in a desperate battle to retain the hard-fought democracy which they seized from a corrupt regime a mere five years ago. This time though, the threat isn't from corruption within, but from an assault by the communist Bear, Russia.

It was Georgia's beloved young President Mikkheil Saakashvili, who wrested power away from their previous corrupt government in the bloodless Rose Revolution of 2003. An attorney educated in the U.S., President Saakashvili's guidance has been well received and trusted by his people. Now he fears for his country and its fledgling democracy.

Russia threatens is what Richard Miles, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, refers to as "Paradise on earth." Georgia is indeed a country of breathtaking beauty, and a model for the western world. It also holds the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, providing petroleum to Europe. Her liberty is precious, but there is still far more on the line.

Russia hopes that beating Georgia into submission will squelch dreams of democracy rising in other nations, such as the Ukraine. Russia's warning is clear: align with the United States and the free world, and we will unleash our firepower upon you. The significance of these attacks is not lost on those who have been supporting Georgia's independence.


Video: Republic of Georgia vs. Russia

Enter John McCain, a career military aviator out of a military family, who was a prisoner of war for some five years during Vietnam before beginning a career of public service in both the U.S. House and Senate. His distinguished conservative career led him to become the presumptive Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2008. McCain, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, met Russia's invasion of the Republic of Georgia with fierce and unflinching opposition. A capable strategist, it didn't take him long to point out how much larger a threat Russia intended by entering Georgia in force. "Russian aggression against Georgia," McCain recently said, "is both a matter of urgent moral and strategic importance to the United States of America. Russian actions, in clear violation of international law, have no place in 21st century Europe.

Senator McCain was also swift to point out that "We have other important strategic interests at stake in Georgia, especially the continued flow of oil through the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which Russia attempted to bomb in recent days; the operation of a critical communication and trade route from Georgia through Azerbaijan and Central Asia; and the integrity and influence of NATO, whose members reaffirmed last April the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of Georgia."

The people of Georgia need a Lifeline, and John McCain was already there to bring it to them: "NATO's North Atlantic Council should convene in emergency session to demand a ceasefire and begin discussions on both the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to South Ossetia and the implications for NATO's future relationship with Russia, a Partnership for Peace nation." McCain expressed. " NATO's decision to withhold a Membership Action Plan for Georgia might have been viewed as a green light by Russia for its attacks on Georgia, and I urge the NATO allies to revisit the decision.

"The implications of Russian actions go beyond their threat to the territorial integrity and independence of a democratic Georgia. Russia is using violence against Georgia, in part, to intimidate other neighbors – such as Ukraine – for choosing to associate with the West and adhering to Western political and economic values. As such, the fate of Georgia should be of grave concern to Americans and all people who welcomed the end of a divided of Europe, and the independence of former Soviet republics. The international response to this crisis will determine how Russia manages its relationships with other neighbors."

McCain's Lifeline didn't stop there. His commitment brought him to send his wife to meet and monitor the tense situation, while he himself continued to focus on bringing Allied nations into the matter. He has steadfastly pushed for the entire free world to support this fledgling democracy, specifically offering to host parleys and calling upon our allies, suggesting that "the U.S. should immediately consult with the Ukrainian government and other concerned countries on steps to secure their continued independence." McCain cited that "This is particularly important, as a number of Russian Black Sea fleet vessels currently in Georgian territorial waters are stationed at Russia's base in the Ukrainian Crimea.

"The U.S. should work with Azerbaijan and Turkey, and other interested friends, to develop plans to strengthen the security of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline."

Democratic presidential candidate Barak Obama has not been silent or motionless on the Georgian situation either. On August 9th, 2008, Senator Obama broke from his vacation to address the matters with Secretary of State Rice and the Georgia president. Senator Obama's statement closed with the statement that "the situation in Georgia also requires the deployment of genuine international peacekeeping forces in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The current escalation of military conflict resulted in part from the lack of a neutral and effective peacekeeping force operating under an appropriate UN mandate. Russia cannot play a constructive role as peacekeeper. Instead, Russian actions in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia appear to be intended to preserve an unstable status quo."

Senator Obama sent his freshly tapped running mate, Senator Joseph Biden , Jr. to Georgia last week. Senator Biden is seen as a powerhouse in international affairs of this kind, and Georgia's President welcomed Senator Biden's visit.

Just on the shirttails of those visits, Mrs. McCain put herself into harms way as she flew into Tbilisi. Her mission remains humanitarian, but she's there for more than the World Food Program. Cindy McCain expressed her concern for those performing humanitarian aid missions: "There are landmines being laid as we speak," she said. "As we begin to move refugees from point A to point B or try to feed refugees who are stuck in pockets around the country, we're now running into the issue of the blowing up of humanitarian vehicles that are trying to get to the refugees."

On August 26th, Russia's President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia signed decrees recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia continues to try to paint themselves as liberators of these two breakaway regions, but their protests are seen as false. Russia appears to have been laying groundwork for this invasion well in advance. Amongst their methods was the issuing of Russian passports to Georgian citizens in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, so that they could then make false claim to be protecting their citizens in those two areas.

The McCains seem truly determined to bring a Lifeline to the Republic of Georgia – assistance that they so desperately need. Senator McCain summed it up well when he recently said "World history is often made in remote, obscure countries. It is being made in Georgia today. It is the responsibility of the leading nations of the world to ensure that history continues to be a record of humanity's progress toward respecting the values and security of free people."

News Requests, Interviews, and Video Request can be directed to Mark IV Harvest - We have boots on the ground, and a news / video crew on location in the Rebublic of Georgia

Map: Republic of Georgia

View Larger Map

Special Thanks to Writer/Editor John Taylor at SpectreWriter.com