Relief agencies decry US military role in Georgia

News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:32 AM EDT

Article Source: The Baltimore Sun

world-news, us, georgia, humanitarian, aid-workers, aid-work

Non-governmental relief agencies working in Georgia are furious that President Bush has put the Pentagon in charge of the operation, charging that the "militarization" of the humanitarian operation puts them at risk.

"We are concerned about blurring the lines between who is an aid worker and who is a soldier," said Anne Richard, a vice president of the New York-based International Rescue Committee, a non-governmental organization working in Georgia and elsewhere.

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Groups: Activism, Anti-War, Humanitarian Crises, International Aid Workers, Left of Center, Newsvine International, Worldviews
Regions: Baltimore

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{"commentId":2618817,"authorDomain":"petercasier"}

petercasier

IRC commented:

"My sense is that the reason the military is there [in Georgia] is not because it was needed to stand up a humanitarian response, but for other reasons. We do not need the military to carry out the humanitarian operation in this particular instance."

{"commentId":2618817,"threadId":"342031","contentId":"1796143","authorDomain":"petercasier"}

#1 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:35 AM EDT

{"commentId":2628885,"authorDomain":"sedekka"}

Sedekka

I don't think Russia is even remotely nervous of the military might of America. In fact I believe it's the other way round. Russia has been in more skirmishes over the years to count. And forgive my ignorance here (I'm Australian and a little unfamilar with the pentagon). But isn't the pentagon a war room. You know where men sit around, drink coffee or whiskey then decide which country they are going to invade next. And Russians are not a dumb people. They have some of the most brilliant minds in the world. Oh and the best chess players. A game of stragedy. If the Americans want to pick a fight with Russia, they'll lose.

{"commentId":2628885,"threadId":"342031","contentId":"1796143","authorDomain":"sedekka"}

#1.1 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 11:45 PM EDT

{"commentId":2651497,"authorDomain":"darthmaulrob"}

Robert-Eglin AFB, FL

Doubt that very seriously....Funny how we have started sending ships to the area.. and Russia seems to be pulling out now.. I think it is the other way around.

{"commentId":2651497,"threadId":"342031","contentId":"1796143","authorDomain":"darthmaulrob"}

1 vote

#1.2 - Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:34 PM EDT

{"commentId":2656367,"authorDomain":"sedekka"}

Sedekka

Robert. Dont't count your chickens before they hatch. And as I said Russia is not afraid of America. And they have an added reason. China is now behind them. And I reckon America is just there to check on their oil and gas. They couldn't give a @!$%# about the people of Georgia. If they did. They would have been in there since day one.

{"commentId":2656367,"threadId":"342031","contentId":"1796143","authorDomain":"sedekka"}

1 vote

#1.3 - Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:09 AM EDT

{"commentId":2664306,"authorDomain":"darthmaulrob"}

Robert-Eglin AFB, FL

Well I would love to argue against that... but I sounds pretty damn logical!

{"commentId":2664306,"threadId":"342031","contentId":"1796143","authorDomain":"darthmaulrob"}

#1.4 - Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:59 PM EDT

{"commentId":2620585,"authorDomain":"darthmaulrob"}

Robert-Eglin AFB, FL

Ok so they need to make up their mind... they want help or they dont!! It they are going to whine about it we can let the Russian do what they want to then... Everything I have heard has been Georgia asking for military assistance as well... So I am not sure this is true about them being bent out of shape about the military aid. If anything the military presence helps deter the Russians....They are dumb but they do know when we get involved things will probably not go their way, at least not as easily as they thought. So if they want aid they can get over themselves...Or they can ask Russia for it..Lol

{"commentId":2620585,"threadId":"342031","contentId":"1796143","authorDomain":"darthmaulrob"}

1 vote

#2 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:15 PM EDT

{"commentId":2655845,"authorDomain":"petercasier"}

petercasier

The issue is not if the Georgians get aid. The issue is if the US military are the ones to deliver this aid as they have different objectives. The aid is just the excuse to move US military assets in the neighbourhood and to establish a military presence on the ground.

{"commentId":2655845,"threadId":"342031","contentId":"1796143","authorDomain":"petercasier"}

#2.1 - Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:15 AM EDT

{"commentId":2656373,"authorDomain":"sedekka"}

Sedekka

Exactly an excuse to put troops on the ground. Hey does anyone know if there are any troops left in America. Because they sure as hell are scattered all over the world.

{"commentId":2656373,"threadId":"342031","contentId":"1796143","authorDomain":"sedekka"}

#2.2 - Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:13 AM EDT

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PETERCASIER

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