Obama's terse statement on Friday called for peace without blaming Russia for the conflict in Georgia. Then on Saturday, Obama issued a second statement, which allegedly beefed up his criticism. But a close reading reveals Obama still doesn't blame Russia for the attacks. "The current escalation of military conflict," the statement read, "resulted in part from the lack of a neutral and effective peacekeeping force operating under an appropriate UN mandate." Put another way, the absence of the UN was responsible for Russian aggression. Only on Monday did Obama come out and criticize Russia, and even then, he prefaced his remarks with, "[n]o matter how this conflict started."
As several commentators have noted, Obama's response aligned closely with President Bush's. They both went easy on Russia, at first treading carefully, before toughening their stance against Putin. It's no wonder they're so soft. Bush and Obama aren't making decisions for themselves like McCain. Rather, Bush is relying on the advice of hundreds of know-nothings at the State Department, and Obama has 300 foreign advisers who comprise a "shadow state department."
Yes, Minister captured quite eloquently how these so-called experts respond to emergencies.
Standard Foreign Office response in a time of crisis. In Stage One we say that nothing is going to happen. Stage Two, we say something may be going to happen but we should do nothing about it. Stage Three, we say that maybe we should do something about it, but there's nothing we can do. Stage Four, we say maybe there is something we could have done, but it's too late now.
By my estimate, we are currently in Stage Three ("'We have no good options,' a US National Security Council official told The Daily Telegraph"), and about to enter Stage Four.
