Obama and co-Kaine

VA Governor and Democratic VP hopeful Tim Kaine credit's Obama's "tough words" and "smart approach" with Russia agreeing to a ceasefire, according to ABC News Senior Correspondent, Jake Trapper.

Somebody get that guy's nose some powder. (No...not the blow Senator Obama toyed around with to ease the pain of being a biracial kid.)

Here's what Obama said:

"Now is the time for Georgia and Russia to show restraint, and to avoid an escalation to full scale war... All sides should enter into direct talks on behalf of stability in Georgia" (8/8/08)

Notice who he starts off condemning? Yeah, Obama. Restraint is so necessary when your country is being invaded by a foreign aggressor. Those Georgians wouldn't be in this mess if they didn't insist on fending off invaders. Heck...Obama doesn't even think we should do that.

His second try shows that Georgia's ability to fend for itself is not wanted, but instead more centralized UN directed forces as peacekeepers:

"The current escalation of military conflict resulted in part from the lack of a neutral and effective peacekeeping force operating under an appropriate UN mandate. Russia cannot play a constructive role as peacekeeper." (08/09/08)

He goes on to reiterate something he's saying for the first time (check that 8/8/08 post again and see if he asked Russia to back down - or just "show restraint" - same as he asked Georgia).

I reiterate my call for Russia to stop its bombing campaign, to stop flights of Russian aircraft in Georgian airspace, and to withdraw its ground forces from Georgia. (08/09/08)

His third time around finally ends up blaming the Russian aggressors, but do notice how he starts things off:

"No matter how this conflict started, Russia has escalated it well beyond the dispute over South Ossetia and invaded another country. Russia has escalated its military campaign through strategic bombing and the movement of its ground forces into the heart of Georgia. There is no possible justification for these attacks.

"I reiterate my call for Russia to stop its bombing campaign, to stop flights of Russian aircraft in Georgian airspace, and to withdraw its ground forces from Georgia." (08/11/08)

It took Obama three tries to get to some form of real censure of Russia. McCain got it right the first time. In fact, Obama picked up his language. Here's what McCain said immediately upon learning of the debacle.

"Today, news reports indicate that Russian military forces crossed an internationally-recognized border into the sovereign territory of Georgia. Russia should immediately and unconditionally cease its military operations and withdraw all forces from sovereign Georgian territory. What is most critical now is to avoid further confrontation between Russian and Georgian military forces." (08/08/08)

If Obama is elected, it will be this kind of rookie inexperience that costs us big in the coming four years. Dick Morris is doing a fantastic job of reminding us just how much this looks like 70 years ago.