EU Likely to Shy From Sanctions on Russia, Sarkozy Aide Says

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: Bloomber

Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- European Union leaders probably won't penalize Russia with sanctions for its invasion of Georgia when they gather Sept. 1 for summit on the crisis, a French official said, signaling the West's limited ability to back condemnations with substantive action.

France doesn't foresee imposing barriers or restrictions at the meeting being convened by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss relations with Russia in light of the Georgian conflict, a presidential aide said. The aide briefed reporters at the Elysee Palace in Paris yesterday on condition he not be further identified. France holds the EU's rotating presidency.

``The Europeans are sort of trying to find a formula for their message which makes them look tough but without being too provocative,'' said Reginald Dale, a senior fellow in the Europe program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. ``They're bound to do something pretty cautious and rather feeble.''

EU inaction would reflect a response from the U.S. and Europe built largely on public condemnations. Relations with Russia, the world's largest energy supplier, reached a post-Cold War low after the military conflict started in Georgia on Aug. 7. Russia four days ago recognized two breakaway Georgian regions as independent states, ignoring U.S. and European objections.



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aet...

[Muttocracy]

1. hey! real news! thanks! nt

[bemildred]

2. So, "I fart in your general direction" is the sum of it. nt

[BunkerHill24]

3. "They're bound to do something pretty cautious and rather feeble.''

It's no secret Europeans are being forced to do something by the Bush administration, but they have almost no leverage over Russia.

[Igel]

4. They have leverage.

But "pretty cautious" and "rather feeble" is about the best they can summon the will to do.

In other words, great talk, but when it comes to actually doing things about their stated ideals, it's Bosnia and Kosovo time.

Sorry: Their ideals aren't reflected in words, but in their actions. The rest is blather, often hypocritical.

[JVS]

5. what leverage?

[WriteDown]

6. Kind of reminds you of right before....

WWII, doesn't it? If we just allow Hitler to have one more country....

[pampango]

8. A lot of things are different now, but the sentiment that Georgia (next Ukraine, then Poland?)

are not worth fighting for is reminiscent of the "peace in our time" handing over of Czechoslovakia to Hitler, because it was not worth fighting for.

Enough things are different that the parallels are not perfect, but it is worth remembering history in case future events make it more relevant than I think it is today.

I wouldn't blame Georgia, Ukraine and Poland, as well as the Baltic countries, if they thought that their best defense was to keep Russia happy at all costs, but they seem to still be relying on Europe and the US to protect them if worst comes to worst. I'm not so sure that is a wise strategy, but they have the right to go that route if they think it is best for them.

[AlphaCentauri]

12. we can't compare South Ossetia to Czechoslovakia

Hitler was expanding his empire at the time. What we have today is a US foreign policy of expanding influence and policing the world while Russia has been retreating letting states and countries become independent. NATO and it's allies are moving forward to the Russian and Chinese borders.

Hitler did not have a Germany retreating from other countries not even defensive missile systems around the German border he just wanted to expand his empire invading other countries to appropriate land just like the US did with Mexico or what England did in the middle east with India.

Today events are just results of NATOS post cold war roll has been, inconsistent and full of hypocrisy. While the russians abandon most of their military bases around the world NATO and it's allies are building more bases, securing natural resources and invading countries. There is no surprise that countries with monarchies in the middle east are the incubators of new terrorist waves, NATO after the cold war has lost its way, instead of promoting democracy they promote an economic system and the expansion of a world policing agenda.
NATO needs to reinvent its self to find their new roll in the world stage.

[WriteDown]

13. So you basically ignore the fact that....

Russia is expanding ITS empire. Given recent statements from the Kremlin, you may want to reconsider.

[AlphaCentauri]

15. I don't ignore any detail, I'm looking at the real facts in the last 20 years

A skirmish in a Russian border state won't change 20 year of history. Russia gave many states it's Independence allowing them to exercise their freedom of choice true referendums, we may not have that freedom to secession.

Russia has close most of their bases around the world, while we are constructing more.

Russia has changed it's economic system, something we could not do as a free nation.

We just have to admitted they had gone true real changes while we are static in the cold war.

[High Plains]

11. Maybe they need some macho Americans to show 'em how to kick ass?

Lead the way, macho man.

[reorg]

7. So much for the American bluster, LOL

Only those who haven't been paying attention would have expected anything else.

It will not detract from the self image of the Masters of the Universe, though - everyone who dares to have a nuanced opinion or musters a little measured resistance against their full spectrum dominance must be condemned ... feeble. Can we get back to business now? Who can spot the next new Hitler?

[Karenina]

9. Good. n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

10. Not surprised

Relations with Russia, the world's largest energy supplier, reached a post-Cold War low after the military conflict started in Georgia on Aug. 7. Russia four days ago recognized two breakaway Georgian regions as independent states, ignoring U.S. and European objections.

We went into Iraq to get a direct line to the gravy train. That destroyed access to oil by several EU countries (including France which ignored the sanctions of the rest of the world and went ahead and egaged with Iraq.) If members of the EU are dependent upon the oil in Russia - well. They have to look the other way.

They are protecting their own interests.

[lovuian]

14. France never does anything ...Putin can do whatever he wants

if he wanted to roll in Poland with Tanks nobody would stop him

[Flagg]

17. France is supposed to unilaterally impose sanctions on Russia ?

What will that accomplish ? Especially when Georgia is far from being blameless for the whole thing.

Get out of that WWII anti-French mentality bullshit already.

[JonQ]

16. Way to go guys

You know, when the US bends over backwards for some middle eastern state the mantra is that we're doing it for oil, most likely true. And yet when europe bends over backwards for Russia (their largest oil supplier) the mantra is that it's all Americas fault.

It's lame when we do it, and equally lame when they do it, can't have it both ways.