[Fwd: [Marxism] Russia not aggressor: U.S. politician]

[Antid Oto]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[Marxism] Russia not aggressor: U.S. politician
Date: 	Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:04:40 -0700 (PDT)
From: 	Pat Costello <pt_costello at yahoo.com>
Reply-To: 	Activists and scholars in Marxist tradition
<marxism at lists.econ.utah.edu>
To: 	aorta <aorta at home.nl>



Has Ralph Nader made any statements about this situation? I can't find it.


http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/28933


Russia is not aggressor - US politician
While US presidential candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama, condemn
Russia's actions during Georgia’s offensive on South Ossetia, there are others
on the campaign trail who take a different stance on the conflict.

As world leaders looked for a solution to the crisis in South Ossetia, the U.S.
presidential candidates were eager to venture their opinions on what should be done.

Gloria La Riva is running on the Socialism and Liberation ticket. She's one of
several candidates unable to afford the multi-million dollar high profile of the
main two, and is little-known outside the U.S. She offered a different explanation
of U.S. interests in the region.

''There's a lot of oil in the Caspian Sea and the region and that's what the
U.S. is interested in. They don't want to see another country like Russia
be an economic or political power,'' said La Riva.

The conflict in South Ossetia continues to make headlines in the U.S.
with many of them blaming Russia. La Riva says this is not a coincidence:
''The media in the U.S. reflects the interests of the U.S. government and
U.S. imperialism. And therefore, they naturally portray Russia as the
aggressor, but we know that's not true''.

Meanwhile, both McCain and Obama have reportedly held conversations
with Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili over the matter. But they have
offered little sympathy or understanding of the peacekeeping work which
Russia has undertaken in the region for well over a decade.

Meanwhile, Obama has interrupted his holiday in Hawaii to issue this
statement: ''This is a clear violation of the sovereignty and international-recognised
borders of Georgia. The United States, Europe and all other concerned
countries must stand united in condemning this aggression and in
seeking a peaceful resolution to the crisis''.

Republican John McCain took it a step further. He wants to involve
NATO - the alliance Georgia's been trying to join for years.

He said: ''NATO'S North Atlantic Council should convene an
emergency session to demand a ceasefire and begin discussions on
both the deployment of an international peace keeping force to South
Ossetia and the implications for NATO's future relationship with Russia,
a Partnership for Peace nation.”

Despite their slight differences, both Obama and McCain took strikingly
similar positions, virtually in line with the White House.

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