Delusional Saakashvili

Saakashvili is now reaping the civil society whirlwind. Perhaps he now regrets all those civil society NGOs set up by USAID. Nevertheless, he must go and the organizers of the protests should understand this is not the Rose, Orange, Chestnut or whatever color one chooses, revolution. They too, had better have a plan beyond the resignation of Saakashvili - unless they actually are intent on the disintigration of Georgia.

Saakashvili, for his part, should begin by being less delusional. His interview with Newsweek, is short of understanding, long on self-pity and is not helpful. On the delusional front, there is this:

Who are your supporters in the U.S. today?
I have quite a few good contacts. Of course, my best friend was John McCain. You can say he is Georgian already. We expect McCain to come and visit us in a week or so. I have good relationships with Hillary Clinton, Joseph Biden and especially Richard Holbrooke—he is my teacher. I learned a lot of great things from him.

and this...


Do you feel that the West is disappointed with you? Have you been in touch with President Obama yet?
Oh, yes, I have talked to him on the phone. The problem is not about us—the problem is about their own internal politics. We have integrated into U.S. internal politics. So during the change of power, there was some sort of vacuum in America. Nobody knew what to do with us. Everybody, including France, was waiting for Obama's guideline on what to do about Georgia. I admire American ideas. I used to idealize America under Bush, when ideas were above pragmatic politics. Now it is a new time, when pragmatic politics are in charge of ideas. That might spoil the America I know.

He cannot really believe that 1) McCain has any power or credibility or leverage or 2) that Georgia has integrated into U.S. internal politics or 3) there was "some sort of vacuum in America" during the transition. France was certainly not waiting for Obama's guidleline on what to do about Georgia. He idealized America under Bush? Is this a joke? Where pragmatic politics are in charge of ideas now? Is that bad - especially in this case?

This man needs to go for the sake of Georgian independence. Now. It is time for the US to engage with the oposition.