By Dmitry Rogozin for the International Herald Tribune
The U.S. administration is trying to stick the label of “bad guy” on Russia for exceeding the peacekeeping mandate and using “disproportionate force” in the peace-enforcement operation in Georgia.
Maybe our American friends have gone blind and deaf at the same time. Mikheil Saakashvili, the president of Georgia, is known as a tough nationalist who didn’t hide his intentions of forcing Ossetians and Abkhazians to live in his country.
We were hoping that the U.S. administration, which had displayed so much kindness and touching care for the Georgian leader, would be able to save him from the maniacal desire to deal with the small and disobedient peoples of the Caucasus.
But a terrible thing happened. The dog bit its master. Saakashvili gave an order to wipe Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, from the face of earth.
The Georgian air force and artillery struck the sleeping town at midnight. More than 1,500 civilians perished in the very first hours of the shelling. At the same time, Georgian special forces shot 10 Russian peacekeepers who didn’t expect such a betrayal from their Georgian colleagues.
The Kremlin attempted to reach Saakashvili, who was hiding, by phone. All this time the Russian Joint Staff forbid the surviving peacekeepers to open return fire. Finally our patience was exhausted. The Russian forces came to help Tskhinvali and its civilian population.
In reply to the insulting criticism by President Bush that Russia used “disproportionate force,” I’d like to cite some legal grounds for our response. Can shooting peacekeepers and the mass extermination of a civilian population – mainly Russian citizens – be regarded as hostile action against a state? Is it ground enough to use armed force in self-defense and to safeguard the security of these citizens?
Tbilisi concealed the scope of the humanitarian catastrophe in South Ossetia. Saakashvili’s constant lies about the true state of affairs in Georgia were attempts to lay the fault at somebody else’s door.
The Russian response is entirely justified and is consistent with both international law and the humanitarian goals of the peacekeeping operation conducted in South Ossetia. I will try to explain.
The Georgian aggression against South Ossetia, which came as a straightforward, wide-scale attack on the Russian peacekeeping contingent – Russian armed forces legally based on the territory of Georgia – should be classified as an armed attack on the Russian Federation, giving grounds to fulfill the right to self-defense – the right of every state according to Article 51 of the UN Charter.
As for the defense of our citizens outside the country, the use of force to defend one’s compatriots is traditionally regarded as a form of self-defense. Countries such as the United States, Britain, France and Israel have at numerous times resorted to the use of armed force to defend their citizens outside national borders.
Such incidents include the armed operation of Belgian paratroopers in 1965 to defend 2,000 foreigners in Zaire; the U.S. military intervention in Grenada in 1983 under the pretext of protecting thousands of American nationals, who found themselves in danger due to a coup d’êtat in this island state; the sending of American troops to Panama in 1989 to defend, among others, American nationals.
We also have to keep in mind the present-day military interventions by the U.S. and its allies in Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan. By the way, the last three cases are examples of tough American interventions when its own citizens did not need direct protection. But in spite of those countries’ massive civilian losses at the hands of American soldiers, no one blamed Washington for a “disproportionate use of force.”
Of course, the history of international relations is full of abuses committed under the pretext of defending citizens.
In order to draw a clear line between lawful and unlawful use of force, one can single out a number of objective criteria: first, the existence of a real threat to life or systematic and violations of human rights; second, the absence of other, peaceful means of resolving the conflict; third, a humanitarian aim for an armed operation; and four, proportionality – i.e., limitation on the time and means of rescue.
Russia’s actions were in full compliance with these criteria. In conducting its military action, Russian troops also strictly observed the requirements of international humanitarian law. The Russian military did not subject civil objects and civilians on the territory of Georgia to deliberate attacks.
It is hard to believe that in such a situation any other country would have remained idle. Let me quote two statements:
One: “We are against cruelty. We are against ethnic cleansing. A right to come back home should be guaranteed to the refugees. We all agree that murders, property destruction, annihilation of culture and religion are not to be tolerated. That is what we are fighting against. Bombardments of the aggressor will be mercilessly intensified.”
Two: “We appeal to all free countries to join us but our actions are not determined by others. I will defend the freedom and security of my citizens, whatever actions are needed for it. Our special forces have seized airports and bridges… air forces and missiles have struck essential targets.”
Who do you think is the author of these words? Medvedev? Putin? No. The first quote belongs to Bill Clinton, talking about NATO operation against Yugoslavia. The author of the second quote is the current resident of the White House, talking about the U.S. intervention in Iraq.
Does that mean that the United States and NATO can use brute force where they want to, and Russia has to abstain from it even if it has to look at thousands of its own citizens being shot? If it’s not hypocrisy, then what IS hypocrisy?
Dmitry Rogozin is Russia’s ambassador to NATO.
“Disproportionate force”???????
What’s that about? Did we use “proportionate” force in Iraq or Afghanistan? What kind of retarded argument is that? Wars are about winning, not about making it a fair fight. If they had dropped several nuclear bombs, then I may be able to accept an argument about “disproportionate” force.
I wonder where is that ‘inappropriate force’ ‘mighty Russian army’ overwhelming force’ and etc. coming from? How about some numbers:
Pentagon officials estimated 8000 – 10000 Russian troops entered SO and faced Georgian army. There were additional 6000-8000 paratroopers deployed in Abkhasia, but they weren’t engaged in direct combat.
Let’s compare:
Georgian army has/well I should say had/ about 30000 troops trained for 6 years, by American, Israeli, German, French, Turkish instructors. The army was equipped by the NATO standards.
Let’s talk equipment:
Tanks
Georgia – 240 /190 – T72, 150 – T55/
Russian regiment in SO – 150 – 200
Armoured vehicles and troop carriers
Georgia – 120
Russian reg. – 650 – 700
Artillery systems;
Georgia – 320
Russian reg. – 250 – 300
Air force:
Georgia – 12
Russian Reg – 150
Choppers:
Georgia – 40
Russ. Reg. – 30 – 40
Plus, Georgia had 50000 reservists ready to march according to Pres. Saakashvilly.
After 24 hours of fighting Georgian army got grinded, the WHOLE army ceased to exist.
Yes – Russians had way more troop carriers and aviation support. But the Russians were launching an offensive strike and the Georgians were in defence. According to the NATO standards the ratio attack/defence forces must be at least 6/1
And don’t you forget that the Georgians were defending their Motherland.
Now those instructors who trained Georgian army say – it was a good army but it wasn’t ready to fight. Not yet.
Well, good luck to them.
No wonder Georgia lost so badly:
http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=302938
@binh@ thanks for an *awesome* little article!! I really laughed my head off when I read all this and I will use this stuff for my upcoming article about the military lessons of this war. Thanks again!
The Saker
FYI–Turkey is preparing 5 armored Toyota v8 Landcruisers for Saakashvili as well as armoring his official Mercedes.
Turkish Red Crescent is also in Gori with “humanitarian” aid. This is the same Turkish Red Crescent that has been involved in arms shipments to other areas of the region.
You might find this endearing
http://ru.youtube.com/watch?v=qpUR1gHOt3k
The hipocrisy is overwhelming.
It irks even me, and brings bile to my throat – me, who hates Putin and the Russian government and considers Politovskaya a martyr for freedom, and Litvinenko a hero.
On this one though I am 110% on the side of Russian Federation.