Matt Yglesias

Georgians for Appeasement

Not only does it seem to me that it would be dumb for the United States to ruin our relationship with Russia over issues related to Georgia, but it seems that the population of Georgia has no particular desire to align with the United States in a conflict with Russia:

The Gallup team cautions that “It remains to be seen how the 2008 South Ossetian War will change Georgians’ views of Russia and the United States and their perceptions of the importance of maintaining relations with either country.” Either way, though, it seems that Mikhail Saakashvili’s vision of strong Georgian nationalism in alignment with US neoconservatives and in conflict with Russia is not broadly popular in his country.

18 Responses to “Georgians for Appeasement”

1. Andrew Says:
   September 25th, 2008 at 5:14 pm

   I’m not sure that strong Georgian nationalism is not popular. Saakashvili has not been universally loved for some time, but that was not for his nationalism (believe it or not, he’s pretty centrist on that issue) but for his tendencies towards autocratic, or at least high-handed, rule. His alignment with neoconservatives, however is probably pretty unpopular. Georgians are strongly pro-Georgian, and many don’t like the Russians too much at all, but they know better than to poke the bear, and it is the very essence of nationalism not to want to become a pawn in super-power games, so I can see why they are tepid about Saakashvili’s aggressive US friends.

2. Glenn Says:
   September 25th, 2008 at 5:16 pm

   41% volunteered a response other than the choices given? That’s pretty unusual in a poll, isn’t it?

3. Colonel Danite Says:
   September 25th, 2008 at 5:28 pm

   Did they poll anyone here in the U.S.? It’s not a valid survey if they didn’t. After all, we are, according to John McCain, all Georgians now.

4. bdbd Says:
   September 25th, 2008 at 5:41 pm

   sounds like another one of those geography things — put Palin on the case!

5. Richard Steven Hack Says:
   September 25th, 2008 at 9:37 pm

   Just like in the US where the US electorate has NO say in how our government conducts relations with Iran, Pakistan, or Russia, so the people in Georgia have NO say in how their government conducts relations with Russia or the US. So the poll is irrelevant, just like all such polls in the US.

   And don’t bring any stupid crap up about “elections” giving the electorate in either country a “voice”. In foreign policy, there isn’t a penny’s worth of difference between Obama and Bush, let alone McCain. All three would start new wars against the US real interests.

6. rapier Says:
   September 25th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

   We’re all Georgians now, except the South Ossetians.

7. viagra Says:
   March 1st, 2009 at 6:04 am

   viagra
   Great site. Good info

8. levitra Says:
   March 2nd, 2009 at 5:35 am

   levitraIt is the coolest site,keep so!

9. viagra Says:
   March 11th, 2009 at 4:56 am

   I want to say – thank you for this!

10. zyban Says:
    March 12th, 2009 at 11:52 pm

    Great site. Good info

11. xanax Says:
    March 14th, 2009 at 5:39 am

    I bookmarked this site. Thank you for good job!
    xanax

12. tramadol Says:
    March 17th, 2009 at 2:32 am

    I want to say – thank you for this!
    tramadol

13. brand viagra Says:
    April 2nd, 2009 at 5:33 am

    Great site. Good info
    buy cheap viagra

14. Kazelwkr Says:
    April 8th, 2009 at 10:43 am

    Hi webmaster! lia

15. Kazelxcx Says:
    April 8th, 2009 at 10:43 am

    Hi!vrql! http://wfqanqns.com qfpgr xysdj

16. Ex Girlfiend Says:
    April 8th, 2009 at 8:16 pm

    This is very up-to-date information. I think I’ll share it on Twitter.

17. cheap viagra Says:
    April 9th, 2009 at 7:11 am

    Thanks for the review! viagra

18. Vince Delmonte Says:
    April 15th, 2009 at 5:42 am

    Not that I’m totally impressed, but this is a lot more than I expected when I stumpled upon a link on Digg telling that the info is quite decent. Thanks.