>Late Breaking News: Obama Urges Constraint?

>Looks like there is a Barack Obama, afterall. The latest news had Republican John McCain saying Russia should withdraw its forces. While Democrat Barack Obama condemned the violence and urged the two sides to show restraint.

I can see him now as president: “Now, you naughty boys, just stop that fighting immediately. Fighting is wrong, show some constraint, for the love of heaven, please.”

I’m not sure he would have used the word “heaven.”

But “restraint” will not bring this matter to a satisfactory resolution. A show of power will, as I explained in the previous article. Bush should get personally involved in Beijing by getting in Putin’s face.

“Show restraint?” That was pretty weak, Barak. I thought I taught you better in Europe two weeks ago. Go in with power. Hit them with warnings. America has as much right–even more–to be in Georgia as Russia. After all, we are Georgia’s allies, right? Russia is the enemy. The Russians hate the Georgians and vice versa. Drop some stern warnings now if you expect to get elected, which I hope you aren’t. This flighty little diplomatic stance will get you nowhere. Show some teeth!

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has long pledged to take back control of South Ossetia, which battled Georgia for de facto independence in fighting that ended in 1992. On Friday, Moscow sent tanks into the region when Georgia launched a major military offensive to retake the breakaway province. And these tanks were staged on the border for a week waiting for word from Russia’s spies inside Georgia. Yes, Russia still has spies. They knew every move Saakashvili was going to make before he made it. They are diabolical. Their plan all along was to take back Georgia and now they’re doing it under diplomatic cover and the ruse that Georgia started the war and the Russians are just protecting Russians living there. Baloney!

Campaigning in Iowa, McCain told reporters that the U.S. should convene an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council to resolve the crisis.

“What’s most critical now is to avoid further confrontation between Russian and Georgian military forces,” McCain said.

The U.S. should work with the European Union to put diplomatic pressure on Russia and help establish an independent peacekeeping force in South Ossetia, McCain said.

Obama, speaking to reporters during a flight to Hawaii for a vacation, said he’s getting regular updates on the violence. He said it’s important for the United States to work with international partners to end the conflict.

“I wholeheartedly condemn the violation of Georgia’s sovereignty. I think it is important at this point for all sides to show restraint and to stop this arms conflict. Georgia’s territorial integrity needs to be preserved and now is the time for direct talks,” he said during a refueling stop in Sacramento, Calif.

I do like that part about “direct talks.”