Did the White House know Georgia planned to enter Ossetia?

August 11, 8:09 PMProgressive Politics ExaminerJay McDonough

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In a very comprehensive article on the current Georgia/Russia war, the Telegraph offers a startling charge: that the Bush Administration was made aware of Georgia's intention to act militarily on South Ossetia prior to the excursion.  That invasion into South Ossetia is what prompted Russia to react against Georgia.

(Georgia President Mikheil) Saakashvilli may also have banked on support from his closest ally, US president George W Bush, whose administration is said to have given tacit support for a Georgian assault on South Ossetia in the believe that the territory could be recaptured within 48 hours.

But as events have unfolded differently, Washington has offered Georgia - one of the largest contributors of troops in Iraq - little more than lukewarm vocal support.

In a demonstration of the fact that Georgia could be abandoned by its chief ally, President Bush warmly embraced Mr Putin at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing on Friday.

This may be reminiscent of the 2006 Lebanon War.  There were a number of reports the Bush White House had encouraged Israel to engage Hezbollah forces in Lebanon as a proxy U.S. war with Iran.  But the highly regarded Israeli Army proved unable to defeat the Lebanese Hezbollah forces and the conflict was ultimately ended in a UN sponsored truce.  It proved a humiliating defeat and  Israelis ultimately blamed Prime Minister Olmert for the debacle, though his government survived. 

Given the near zero chance the U.S. will now militarily aid the Georgians, and the lessons from the Lebanon War, you have to wonder how foreign Presidents will react the next time President Bush tells them; "Don't worry, we have your back".