US Involvement, Georgian-Russian conflict

Russian officials attempt to corner the US into a ‘With us or against us' line of reasoning in the statement, "We understand that this current Georgian leadership is a special project of the United States, but one day the United States will have to choose between defending its prestige over a virtual project or real partnership which requires joint action,"[1]. I intend to show that the correct response for Washington should be full backing for Georgia. Since it's declaration of independence in 1991 from the Soviet Union, the U.S. has remained very much involved in Georgia. "Evolving U.S.-Georgia partnerships include the Georgia Train and Equip Program, intended to enhance Georgia's military capability and stimulate military reform, …"[2]. This flirting with Georgian security has lead both parties down a path of strong understanding and trust. In recent years, Georgia has maintained their stance as a strong US ally and has been intensely lobbying to enter the US headed NATO. As a state fully recognized by the U.N. Georgia has the right to autonomy. This includes, the right to self-govern and to move freely within and defend their established boarders. Both of which are threatened by Russian involvement. As a sitting U.N. member, the United States, and all other member states for that matter, have a responsibility to enforce these laws. Inaction will discredit the U.N. Security Council and world laws in general. Washington is even more obligated towards backing Georgia as, "Promoting freedom and democracy and protecting human rights around the world are central to U.S. foreign policy."[3]. As the self-proclaimed leader in these affairs, not taking the appropriate steps would weaken U.S. influence worldwide and thusly U.S. security in general. Many also speculate turning a blind-eye would atrophy a centuries long push towards universal democracy. Ultimately, the United States have a personal interest in the stability of the caucuses. Georgia is home to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, "which transports 1% of the world's oil needs". Even before it's creation Moscow has seen the pipeline as a threat to their own monopoly on Black Sea crude, no doubt fueling Russia interests in the region. Highlighting the issue, "Russian jets targeted a key oil pipeline in Georgia yesterday with more than 50 missiles in a raid" hinting at a motive for intense Russian aggression. "I have no doubt they wanted to target the pipeline, there is nothing else here,"[4] local police report. These and several other reports indicate an agenda by Russia to disrupt neighboring economies and governments so that it may itself capitalize on higher gas prices and expand it‘s borders. Georgians are the final victims of Russian Imperialism, and have been so since before and after its own independence from them. Russia itself helped to fuel a civil war after Georgian succession in 1991 by, "providing armored personnel carriers, tanks, other military equipment, fuel, and training by Russian army officers … allowing up to 1,000 Russian mercenaries"[5], and even charged with ethnic cleansing; forcing many Georgian families to relocate in the now breakaway regions of South Ossetia, and Abkhazia. "Russia's extensive involvement in the Abkhazia conflict brought with it certain responsibilities for the human rights and humanitarian law violations that occurred there. Russia was in various ways responsible for escalating human rights abuse: members of its armed forces made available weapons to groups or individuals known or likely to use them to commit atrocities, and members of its forces indeed carried out a large number of attacks against Georgian targets, which resulted in civilian Casualties" [6]. No doubt; how the U.S. will weigh in will be a determining factor in whether Georgia will have justice or the start of a new cold war. [1]-http://abcnews.go.com... [2]-http://www.globalsecurity.org... [3]-http://www.state.gov... [4]-http://www.nysun.com... [5]-http://unpan1.un.org... [6]-http://www.hrw.org...