Bush Stands for Georgia

By "The Greek"

President Bush took a strong position for Georgia, offering Saakashvili action behind his words of support for democracy. As Russia gives the finger to the world, declaring truce, while raping Georgian cities at the same time, killing civilians indiscriminately, America stands up and says enough is enough!

Today, minutes ago, President Bush gave us reason to be proud again. Against the possibility of war with cold war rival Russia, George stood up for democracy and stood behind his word.

First a Little Background

Not long after Georgia declared its true independence from Russia, President Bush visited the Republic of Georgia. He declared his and America's support for this young democracy that sought to grow in the dark shadow of Russia. By the way, Georgia was part of a tour Bush took through the region and Europe, and it mostly included protests against America. Never during his entire presidency has he been welcomed with such passionate support from any foreign nation. This was clearly a democracy that understood the words of our forefathers, and looked forward to building a nation in our image.

Over the past few months, Russia has tested George's word, and underestimated the word of all Texans. When a Texan gives his word you see, we all know well, he'll die for it. Russia has criminally and illegally, not to mention immorally and unethically raped, pillaged and terrorized the Republic of Georgia ever since its independence movement began in the early '90s.

Russia has cut gas and electricity supply to Georgia every winter since its Rose Revolution a few years ago, putting the city into darkness and forcing families to huddle together for warmth. Russia, the most important purchaser of Georgian goods, especially wine and mineral water, suddenly declared these goods below Russian safety standards. "The Greek" believes Russia has even been behind supposed "separatist" terrorism against Georgian pipelines. Russia has certainly inspired political upheaval in Georgia, in its attempt to dethrone the American supported Saakashvili. God bless him for standing tall through it all.

"Wake up world! Russia is not protecting its citizens in Ossetia and Abkhazia; it is stealing Georgian history and erasing cultures."

When Georgia first declared independence, Russia supported gangs and criminals in ethnically diverse regions of the country. What happened in Abkhazia, however, was its most blatant violation of human rights. Russia helped criminal mafia organizations rule the region, and another two regions including Ossetia, aiding them to force the ethnic majority, some 70% of Abkhazian natives, out of their own homes. Those people, most of whom became refugees in the Georgian capital and some of which made their way to America, have suffered greatly. Then, to add insult to injury, Russia gave passports to the leftover criminals, and declared them protected as citizens. Wake up world! Russia is not protecting its citizens in Ossetia and Abkhazia; it is stealing Georgian history and erasing cultures.

An Aside on Georgians in America

I've personally broken bread with them in Brooklyn, where they have their only religious mission in America. That's a whole other story, but Georgians deserve a church to worship in, and I vow to create a bank account in escrow, in partnership with one Father Tandilashvili, to raise money for the purchase or construction of the first Georgian church in America, one I've promised should be named Saint Nino's. Keep looking in my sidebar, as I will soon post details of how you can contribute to the fund to help these people found a positive place within which they can gather. They currently meet in a rough neighborhood where none of them live, to congregate in a high school just once a week. They conduct baptisms, weddings, regular ceremonies and group project efforts all in one long day each week, but they push forward nonetheless. God bless that young American spirit still alive in new American minorities.

I ask one more thing, and of the Greek/American community and Greek Orthodox Church. I ask we/you help them, your Orthodox brothers. Our church is rich and successful, and we even have properties we could donate or offer for sale to them under generous terms and in faith; we have a church not far from me on East 103rd Street, where only a handful of the faithful still attend. That church would be full of Georgians, and I seek it for them.

Georgia Perseveres

Georgia, in the meanwhile, has expanded its export channels, strengthening relationships with the United States and Europe. Its young economy has grown at a remarkable rate as a result, and has attracted investment and tourism from Kazakhstan, Turkey, Greece, Israel and Armenia as well. It has been seeking entry into NATO and the European Union.

All these actions have irked their Russian masters of the past. Vladimir Putin views Georgia as a Russian village that he can set ablaze whenever he likes. He believes President Bush has given him the logical reasoning and right to do so through America's efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was grossly in error.

Moscow declared a truce just one hour before France's Sarkozy arrived to the Kremlin to secure one. This way, Russia could preserve its powerful position, and declare the move its decision, not one forced by the west. Meanwhile, on the ground, Russian forces have free reign to treat Georgians like their livestock to be slaughtered at will. Even reporters have been murdered by marauding Russian jets that deliver evil fire indiscriminately.

Enough is enough! President Bush, who has the advantage of satellite intelligence, knows better than to believe Russian representatives at the UN. He knows Russia moved into Gori after they declared they were never there. He knows Russia pillaged the town, which by the way, does not resemble Beverly Hills in the least.

When I was there not three years ago, it was a sad gray place reminiscent of Soviet era architecture, devoid of any creativity or passion. The streets were full of holes, the homes were falling apart and the people were depressed. But things were changing. Gori looked to be on the way back to becoming a haven of industrial production, or should have been. What Russian military men could find in Gori to pillage I have no clue, but I know it will be a shame they will carry on their souls to the day of their judgment.

Well, George made me proud today. He understands Putin's diplomacy and is playing his game now. He is sending humanitarian aid via military delivery. In other words, American warships will land and make port in Georgian territory to deliver humanitarian aid to what would have been a starving Tbilisi otherwise. Russian illegal control of the East West Highway will be effectively muted. Give the finger to America, and you better mean it. Let a Russian bullet find an American truck, and watch how fast Abkhazia and Ossetia are Georgian again. America will enforce the terms of the truce. Borders will be restored to August 6 status.

"Georgia can exhale today, while the world holds its breath."

Putin figured America would be too concerned about its impending situation with Iran and its step up against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Russia assumed America would play diplomat and trade Georgia for Iran. No! America doesn't deal like that. We stand on values, and values are not negotiable. Georgia can exhale today, while the world holds its breath.

With American and Russian troops on opposite sides in a tinder box of a nation, world war is not impossible. Georgia has also rallied support from its brothers in the Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and other ex-Soviet slaves. Russia has severely underestimated American values and resolve this time, not to mention the word of one important Texan. We will stand for freedom and law every time and in every place, and we proved it again today. Thank you George for reinforcing American pride and passion.

See also our weekly video piece, "Georgia Russia War Overshadows Olympics"

Article interests AMEX: DIA, AMEX: SPY, AMEX: SDS, AMEX: DOG, AMEX: QLD, Nasdaq: QQQQ, NYSE: NYX, NYSE: LMT, NYSE: COL, NYSE: GD, NYSE: NOC, NYSE: ATK, NYSE: RTN. Please see our disclosure at the Wall Street Greek website.