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See Global Voices special coverage page on the South Ossetia crisis.
With local and international media outlets reporting that fighting is spilling over into Georgia proper, the latest military confrontation with Russia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia looks increasingly like war. Wu Wei reports from Tbilisi that the Vaziani military base just outside the Georgian capital has been bombed. The signs look very ominous indeed.
Reports say Russians have damaged the runway at the Marneuli airport near Tbilisi.
We are wondering what the Georgian airforce is doing.
Nobody has declared war yet, and the Russians are hedging, but when you put it all together, it looks pretty much like it.
It seems some dignitaries are on their way, like President Adamkas from Lithuania. They better land quick.
The same blog says that Embassies are now preparing for the possibility that their citizens will have to be evacuated. However, it is not yet certain whether such a move will be necessary.
It seems in case of an evacuation it will be through Armenia. Our Greek has been told the same. This seems to be a plan agreed at a meeting of all the embassies earlier in the week.
But nobody is expecting this to be necessary. I'm leaving for Lithuania next Thursday anyway, for a long weekend.
A new meeting of diplomats has been called this afternoon which everybody but the Russians have gone to.
A Fistful of Euros examines the situation from Georgia, but also questions whether Russia will risk war over South Ossetia. It also wonders whether Tbilisi received tacit approval for military operations from the U.S. and Europe.
First, what will Russia’s leadership do? It was willing to have Russian planes violate Georgian airspace last week during the escalation, and reports have it that one bomb each fell near the Georgian cities of Gori and Kartveli. On the other hand, this looks like a gesture — if the Russians wanted to have bombs fall on Gori and Kartveli, they jolly well would have. Escalation by the Russian side is of course possible, but Saakashvili’s government has bet that Russia won’t be all that put out about 70,000 South Ossetians. The ruble and the Russian stock market, however, both had big drops today, apparently on the theory that you never know about escalation.
Second, what will the Americans and EU do? A senior State Department figure was here in Tbilisi last week, and I would expect that the Georgian side at least hinted very broadly about what was up. He would have to deny that, of course, in the way of these things. We can assume that the Americans did not warn them off. The German foreign minister was also here, with a plan for Abkhazia. It’s slightly less likely that he was clued in, but the topic of his visit points to the next item on the reintegration agenda.
The same blog also reports that while Russian jets have bombed targets close to the Georgian capital, there has only been sporadic outages in terms of electricity, Internet access and cell phone communication. Meanwhile, other blogs, such as one from Reuters, examine the possibility that Georgian military action is directly related to Kosovo.
Is Kosovo to blame for the fighting in South Ossetia?
When the Serbian province seceded from Belgrade in February, South Ossetia was quick to reassert its own claim to international recognition.
As a spokeswoman for separatist leader Eduard Kokoity told Reuters at the time: “The Kosovo precedent has driven us to more actively seek our rights.”
Those remarks will not have gone unheard in Tblisi and could well have added some urgency to Georgia’s desire to impose its rule over breakaway South Ossetia.
the will to exist also comes to the same conclusion, but says the situation is not the same.
South Ossetia is another Kosovo in the works. 98-99% of Ossetians want independence if you believe the results of their referendum. Unfortunately, that’s not the reality of the world. Independence for South Ossetia is no more likely than say, Vermont seceding from the United States. Either Georgia or Russia will dominate the territory for the foreseeable future.
Writing on Outside the Beltway, James Joyner again draws parallels with Kosovo and is concerned about the situation, wondering if NATO will have no choice but to intervene.
This is still a holdover from the breakup of the Soviet Union. South Ossetia declared its independence from Georgia in the early 1990s and has de facto sovereignty over large parts of its territory. While neither Georgia nor the international community recognizes the secession as legitimate, Russia has been sympathetic.
Tensions came to a head with Kosovo’s declaration of independence and the push to offer Georgia a membership action plan and eventual inclusion into NATO. Russia immediately began throwing its weight around in both South Ossetia and another breakaway province, Abkhazia. It appears that Russia is now making its play.
Given that NATO all but promised Georgia eventual membership at its Bucharest summit mere months ago, ignoring Russia’s move here is unthinkable.
[…]
This is getting ugly, fast.
Dear Anna, I am from Singapore, the far east. I AM NEUTRAL. MY OWN NEUTRAL OPINION. I AM NOT RUSSIAN!!!! So, you see, the whole world sees GEORGIA AS THE AGGRESSOR!! You MURDERERS!!
For whatever reasons, when you pick up military weapons to kill innocent civilians, you are murderers! Murderers need to be punished!!
Your president has fallen into a trap, I may feel sorry for your Georgian plight, but with blood on your hands, the neutrals are now against you!!
Dear Anna and Anouk, I am Alvin and I AM NOT RUSSIAN.
I am a neutral voice from the far east. For whatever Georgeans say and do, Georgia has blood on her hands after using weapons on thousands of innocent civilians. Georgia has to be punished. Russia may have an ulterior motive, but Georgia deserves punishment for her brutality. One with blood on his hands, should not expect too much help from others!!
Andy, Alvin and Natalyia:
You raise an interesting and valid question, which I address on my blog. Andy, besides the Iraq war, another parallel seems to be the Tibet uprisings. I explain why I think the Western media actually had a better justification in the latter case.
Anna, please check out my historical timeline. It looks to me as if Stalin actually *betrayed* the South Ossetians, which had been faithfully allied to the Bolshevik cause, in contrast to largely Menshevik Georgia.
Hello.
I’m sorry for my bad english. My education about it was so far…
I the Russian, but in Russia we not completely trust the government. We have a famous phrase: “if government tell you any number about something – 1/3 of that number a lie.” At the same time it’s mean that 2/3 is true.
I would like to tell you about real situation in South Ossetia, because you don’t know it. And nobody say you truth. Our TV shows, that your mass-media speak to you. I saw reportings CNN and Sky News. Saw on the TV and read on the Internet. I write this message because you have been deceived. I write this message because saw that speak your mass-media.
The truth is:
South Ossetia isn’t a part of Georgia. About 14 years it’s not! South Ossetia have it’s own government. Have own nation – Ossetins. And all of 14 years Georgians try to attack Ossetins. This is silent GENOCIDE.
So on August, 8th Georgia has started to fire at Ossetia by heavy artillery. It’s 00:06 at clock(Georgia time).
At 01:38, South Ossetian capital(Tskhinvali) is attacked by system of cover fire “GRAD”. Zone of destruction – 10 square kilometers for 1 volley. SO Georgia destroying peaceful city. You hear a number – 2000 peaceful civilian are dead? They have been killed by the Georgian military when slept in the houses. It’s genocide.
There were 2 emergency sessions of the United Nations. The first was called by Russia, for condemnation of actions of Georgia. If to trust your mass-media the full idiocy turns out: Russia has attacked and has demanded condemnation of aggression defenders. This variant could be funny, if was not absolutely silly. But you mass-media say that. And you have believed.
95 % Ossetins have Russian passports. They citizens of Russia. You trust, what Russia has intruded in Georgia and has destroyed 2000 they own citizens? Your mass-media speak it.
In South Ossetia there were peace-making missions. Russian and Georgian. 15 Russian peacemakers are killed and 70 is wounded. The Georgian peacemakers have not suffered. You trust, what Russia has killed own peacemakers?
Georgia has forbidden Russians telechannels and Russian Internet sites. What for? Freely to say lies. To say lies to the citizens and you.Your reporters are in Tbilisi. Up to a zone of the conflict approximately 150 kilometers. They show you that Georgia wants.
You may see a picture “Bombed out building in Gori, Georgia”. Gori – one of the locations of army of Georgia. It’s not civilian city. Victims are not present. It’s response for genocide. And i’m don’t sure it’s bombed building. If building is bombed then it’s crashed. There isn’t crashed. It most likely simply fire.
Certainly you did not see ossetic refugees who begged “Rescue us, russians!”. To you them will not show.
Following data are taken from a site of the Russian opposition. They oppose the Russian authority and it is the solid data:
On August, 8th, 2008:
00:06 Georgia has begun intensive bombardment of Tskhinvali.
Shortly before midnight Moscow time from the Georgian villages Nikozi and Ergnety bombardment from large-caliber instruments of capital of South Ossetia Tskhinvali, and also South Ossetia’s villages has begun. Representatives of not recognized republic have declared that the Georgian armies have actually begun war and storm Tskhinvali.
00:42 Georgia has promised to guide a constitutional order in South Ossetia.
Ordering the Georgian peacemakers Mamuka Kurashvili has named military operation in a zone of the georgia-ossetic conflict “prompting of a constitutional order in South Ossetia”. It also has called the Russian peacemakers deployed in a zone of the conflict, to not interfere with a situation.
01:38 Storm of Tskhinvali is conducted in all directions.
Authority of South Ossetia have declared, that the Georgian party fires at Tskhinvali from installations “Hailstones”, howitzers and large-caliber mortars.
02:08 Georgia has declared the beginning of war with South Ossetia.
Georgia has notified peacemakers in a zone of the conflict, on the beginning of war in South Ossetia.
02:37 Abkhazia directs one thousand volunteers to South Ossetia.
The president of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh on the night of Friday has called an emergency meeting of Secutiry council; under messages of mass-media, Abkhazia will send to the aid of South Ossetia about thousand volunteers.
03:46 Georgia has begun tank attack to southern surburbs Tskhinvalis.
The Georgian army has started tank attack to southern surburbs Tskhinvalis, the president of South Ossetia Edward Kokojty has declared. South Ossetian forces, it has emphasized, show resistance. State minister of Georgia Temur Yakobashvili, in turn, has declared, that Tskhinvali is in a ring of the Georgian armies.
04:20 On storm of Tskhinvali the infantry has gone.
04:33 Russia has demanded convocation of session of Secutiry council of the United Nations on a situation in South Ossetia.
04:48 To Tskhinvali there has arrived a reinforcement from Northern Ossetia.
06:49 Abkhazia moves armies to border with Georgia.
07:12 the Georgian mass-media have informed on an appeal of spare militarians.
07:23 the Georgian aircraft has struck across South Ossetia.
08:56 the Georgian armies have begun bombardment of the Russian peacemakers.
09:23 the Georgian mass-media have declared a capture of Tskhinvali.
09:36 Georgia has opened the mediacenter for illumination of war in South Ossetia.
09:44 In South Ossetia are wounded three Russian peacemakers.
10:09 the Security Council of the United Nations has refused to condemn Georgia.
The secutiry council of the United Nations on Friday has refused to accept the offer of Russia and to condemn use of force in the georgia-ossetic conflict. The Security Council has only expressed anxiety in occasion of growth of intensity in a zone of the conflict.
10:21 Mamsurov and Kokoyti have denied messages on a capture of Tskhinvali.
Presidents Northern both South Ossetia Mamsurov and Kokoyti have denied messages on capture of Tskhinvali and have declared, that will organize joint defense of not recognized republic.
10:58 Georgia has called Russia to interfere with the conflict to South Ossetia.
Official Tbilisi has called Russia for intervention in the conflict. According to minister of reintegration Georgia Temur Yakobashvili, the Russian party “should interfere, as the present peacemaker, and it is able to do it”.
11:10 Command of peacemakers: at bombardment of positions of the Russian peacemakers in Tskhinvali is killed and wounded men. The exact death-roll and wounded men does not refer to; earlier it was informed that at bombardment of positions of the Russian peacemakers wounds three military men have received.
11:38 the Representative of South Ossetia in the Russian Federation: Georgia plans ethnic cleanings in a zone of the conflict.
“The purpose of the Georgian political elite today is ethnic cleaning, they wish to clear territory of South Ossetia from the osset, than and armed forces of Georgia” are engaged right now, – the representative of not recognized republic in the Russian Federation has declared Dmitry Medoev.
11:48 Саакашвили has demanded from Russia to stop bombardments of the Georgian cities.
That the Russian Federation has ostensibly put a number of aviaimpacts on the Georgian settlements inform the Georgian mass-media.
11:48 Saakahvili has demanded from Russia to stop bombardments of the Georgian cities. That the Russian Federation has ostensibly put a number of aviaimpacts on the Georgian settlements inform the Georgian mass-media.
12:20 the USA have demanded to stop bloodshed in a zone of the conflict. The white house has called the contradictory parties to return for negotiations.
12:36 Peacemakers: on positions of the Russian militarians aim fire is conducted. “Command of the Russian peacemakers confirms, that purposeful fire on destruction in a place of a disposition of peacemakers in Tskhinvali” is conducted, the representative of command has declared.
12:37 the Parliament of Northern Ossetia has called Russia to help Southern
12:37 Georgia has denied the information on an attack on the Russian peacemakers.
The assistant to the chapter of Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs Eka Zguladze has declared, that the Georgian divisions try to protect representatives of a peace-making contingent in a zone of the conflict.
12:55 Southern Ossetic republican clinical hospital is destroyed by artillery fire, burns university. Fire of the Georgian artillery destroys Southern Ossetic republican clinical hospital in Tskhinvali. Burns the building of university which is being in immediate proximity from a staff of peacemakers. Intensive street fights proceed.
13:07 Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation: Russia will protect peacemakers and citizens of the Russian Federation in a zone of the conflict. “The Georgian management has untied dirty adventure. The blood spilled in South Ossetia, will be on conscience of these people and their environments. We in insult shall not give the peacemakers and citizens of the Russian Federation”, – is spoken in the message of the Ministry of Defence of Russia.
13:12 the Secretary general of NATO has called to stop fire in a zone of the georgia-ossetic conflict and to begin negotiations.
The Secretary general of NATO Jaap de Hoop Sheffer has called authorities of Georgia and South Ossetia to stop fights and to return to peace talks. Authorities of Georgia, we shall remind, the introduction of the country into structure of the North Atlantic alliance want.
13:32 the Red Cross has called to give a humanitarian corridor for granting the help to inhabitants of South Ossetia.
13:42 the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called to stop immediately operations in South Ossetia.
13:45 Tbilisi has directed two battalions of a reserve to South Ossetia.
Two battalions of a reserve of the Georgian armed forces have directed to a zone of the georgia-ossetic conflict from base to Kutaisi. In the same place the third battalion is formed. A reserve and volunteers gather on bases in Vaziani, GORI, Batumi and Senaki.
14:30 Mayor of Tbilisi: Georgia has promised to stop fire in South Ossetia on three hours.
From 15:00 till in South Ossetia the moratorium on operations that refugees could leave a zone of the conflict through a corridor created in village Ergneti (border between South Ossetia and Georgia) will be declared. As a source of this information mayor of capital of Georgia of city Tbilisi acts.
14:31 Peacemakers have named lies of a word of mayor of Tbilisi about cease-fire.
The commander of Russian peacemakers Marat Kulahmetov has declared, that words about creation of a humanitarian corridor – “this next lies of the Georgian party”.
14:36 Putin is afraid of inflow of the Russian volunteers to South Ossetia.
The prime minister of Russia Vladimir Putin has declared the president of the USA Georges Bush, that wishing to help inhabitants of not recognized republic it will be “hard to keep” from a trip to South Ossetia.
14:59 the President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev has promised to protect the Russian citizens in a zone of the conflict.
15:01 Medvedev has accused Georgia of the roughest infringement of international law.
15:06 To Tskhinvali the column of the Russian tanks moves.
The correspondent of the First channel in South Ossetia has informed on the air referring to authorities of not recognized republic, that southern ossetic armies send to counterattack and have unblocked the road Zarskuju connecting republic with Russia. On its data, on this road the column of the Russian armies moves.
15:33 the Georgian mass-media: the Russian planes bomb positions of the Georgian armies. The Russian planes bomb positions of the Georgian armies in South Ossetia, inform the Georgian mass-media. At least five Georgian militarians have received wounds. On victims it is not informed.
16:00 Georgia has threatened Russia with war. The Security Council of Georgia has declared, that will declare war of Russia if the information on input of the Russian tanks to South Ossetia will prove to be true.
16:11 Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation: the reinforcement is directed to the help in South Ossetia to the Russian peacemakers. Ministry of Defence has reacted to news about a tank column the application in which has informed, that the help is directed to the Russian peacemakers.
16:20 Georgia has accused the Air Forces of Russia of impacts on military base with the American instructors. The Georgian party assures, that the Russian military plane on Friday has made bombing attack on territory вазианской military base in vicinities of Tbilisi in the afternoon. There are deployed including the American instructors.
16:40 In Tskhinvali fights have stopped. City the electricity practically is completely destroyed, disconnected and there is a sharp shortage of water, stationary telecommunication does not work. Mobile communication also will soon stop work as to charge cellular telephones there is no place.
16:58 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has asked the world community to rescue the country from Russia. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia Eka Tkeshelashvili has called foreign countries to put pressure upon Moscow to stop “direct military aggression” in the Georgian territory. Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov has reminded, that Georgia even in the morning on Friday called Russia to act in a role of the peacemaker. “We also do it”, – has told Lavrov.
17:26 Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation: the Georgian armies shoot peacemakers and local residents on the grasped observant posts.
The assistant to the commander-in-chief of the Land forces colonel Igor Konashenkov has declared, that the Georgian tanks in an emphasis shoot a staff and camp of peacemakers; the Georgian armies, as he said, do not allow medical services to take out wounded men from a zone of fights to Tskhinvali.
17:26 Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation: about ten Russian peacemakers were lost, 30 are wounded in a zone of the georgia-ossetic conflict.
17:34 In Tskhinvali have estimated number of victims in “thousand person”. Representatives of South Ossetia estimate a death-roll during bombardment by the Georgian artillery and the Air Forces of Tskhinvali in thousand person. According to the chapter of an information department of southern ossetic part of the mixed supervisory commission on settlement of conflict Inal Pliev, victims “probably, thousand because all is destroyed absolutely”.
17:53 Sergey Lavrov: In South Ossetia the Georgian party conducts ethnic cleanings, humanitarian accident becomes ripe.
17:55 the Air Forces of Russia have struck on the Georgian military air station. The Russian bomber has dumped a bomb on military air station in Marneuli in a southwest of Georgia, having damaged a runway. Earlier it was informed, that bombs have been dumped on military base in Vaziani, and also on cities Gori and Kareli.
18:06 ” the First channel “: 58-th army has begun bombardment of the Georgian armies in Tskhinvali.
Two tank columns of 58-th army of the Russian Federation have rounded Tskhinvali on road Zarskoj and have begun bombardment of positions of the Georgian militarians.
18:58 Civil.ge: Saakashvili deduces the Georgian contingent from Iraq. The president of Georgia Michael Saakashvili has declared a conclusion of the armies from Iraq because of “the Russian aggression”.
19:07 the Georgian mass-media: three person were lost at bombardment of military air station in Marnueli. To Troy the person five were lost also are wounded as a result of today’s bombardment of military air station in Marnueli.
19:37 Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation: Divisions of 58-th Russian army have suppressed Georgian fire points, where Georgian forces fired city and positions of the Russian peacemakers.
Divisions of 58-th Russian army which are near Tskhinvali in territory of South Ossetia, have suppressed Georgian fire points, where Georgian forces fired capital of not recognized republic and the Russian peacemakers. The assistant to the commander-in-chief of the Land forces of the Russian Federation has told about it colonel Igor Konashenkov.
22:51 In South Ossetia 12 Russian volunteers were lost, yet less than 50 person have received wounds. Command of the Russian peace-making forces in a zone of the georgia-ossetic conflict has informed new data on losses.
23:16 From Batumi aside Tskhinvali have gone 20 lorries with the Georgian militarians. According to eyewitnesses, from Batumi in South Ossetia are directed not less than 200 military men.
On August, 9th, 2008:
00:19 condoleezza Rice has called Russia to disengage armies from South Ossetia. “The Russian armies should leave the Georgian territory”, – is spoken in the application of the chapter of the Department of state of the USA.
00:57 Planes of the Air Forces of Russia have struck on port Poti and military base in Senaki. The Georgian party informs, that as a result of bombardment there are victims and wounded men.
02:10 About two one o’clock in the morning the Georgian artillery has opened fire on positions of the Russian peacemakers.
03:27 the Security Council of the United Nations again could not make a decision on a situation in South Ossetia. The session of Security Council of the United Nations second for a day has again ended without acceptance of any decisions.
08:39 Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation: Georgia has opened fire on an escort with wounded men. The Georgian militarians, under statements of the Russian militarians, have opened fire on an escort with the wounded men, followed of South Ossetia to Russia; the attack on an escort is accomplished around of the arrangements reached at intermediary of OSCE.
10:14 Ministry of Defence of Georgia has declared success of approach in South Ossetia. The Ministry of Defence of Georgia approves, that the Georgian divisions successfully continue approach in South Ossetia. According to department head David Kezerashvili, not only has not conceded any before a taken position, but also continues to borrow new.
10:50 BBC the Russian Federation have struck artilleries near Gori.
11:01 Russia has accepted more than 30 thousand refugees from South Ossetia.
12:10 To Tskhinvali and Tbilisi have counted the “brought down” planes. Georgians approve, that they ostensibly managed to bring down 10 Russian planes; representatives of South Ossetia speak, that they have brought down two Georgian planes.
13:55 the Georgian artillery has renewed bombardment of a staff of the Russian peacemakers.
14:27 South Ossetia has asked for Russia the help in a recognition of independence. The committee according to and press of South Ossetia has addressed to “to people and a management of Russia” with the request to help with a recognition of independence of not recognized republic. “To live in structure of the fascist state Georgia it is not obviously possible. We ask legal, legal aid in a recognition of independence of Republic South Ossetia”, – the text of the committee of the message placed on a site says.
17:08 Moscow plans to address to the Hague and Strasbourg for investigation of circumstances of destruction of the Russian peacemakers.
17:44 the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Georgia: At storm of Tskhinvali 2000 peace inhabitants were lost. Victims of shellings, aviaimpacts and storm of Tskhinvali became at least two thousand peace inhabitants of capital of South Ossetia.
20:38 Putin has demanded to stop aggression in South Ossetia. Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin has addressed to the Georgian authorities with an appeal immediately to stop aggression against South Ossetia and yours faithfully to concern to the rights of other people.
Refugees words:
“I saw, how the Georgian tank has moved the grandmother with 2 grandsons”
“I saw, how my family have tired out in the house and burn them”
The Georgian propagandists behind work. You saw this staff:
photo #1
http://k.img.com.ua/img/gallery/756/8fbdf560b7f5dfb5d1305d32f0d5392a.jpg
The corpse lays on a back.
Photo #2
http://k.img.com.ua/img/gallery/756/3150ab36819655b61a5a4036c3f46b1c.jpg
The corpse is tired and has turned over on a stomach.
Photo #3
http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20080809&t=2&i=5508259&w=&r=2008-08-09T135819Z_01_L7680404_RTRUKOP_0_PICTURE7
The citizen has changed clothes for new shooting. But cries so well…
Interesting pictures:
The Georgian artillery shoots across Tskhinvali
http://img.lenta.ru/articles/2008/08/08/ossetia/picture.jpg
The refugee from South Ossetia
http://kp.ru/upimg/photo/133233.jpg
Positions of the incorporated peace-making forces after a mortar of attack.
http://pravda.ru/photo/report/ossetia-7267/4/
The house in Tskhinvali
http://pravda.ru/photo/report/ossetia-7267/7/
The Russian armies bear wounded of under bombardment
http://pics.vesti.ru/p/b_261126.jpg
Wall of the house in Tskhinvali
http://pics.vesti.ru/p/b_261094.jpg
Tskhinvali street
http://pics.vesti.ru/p/b_260899.jpg
On the Internet there was new staff, but I can write any more.
Ask questions. I shall necessarily answer. ardat@mail.ru
I would restrain from aggressive verbal attacks, dear ladies and gentlemen. I am half American, but it does not mean that I’m supposed to support the policy of the government. I welcome critical reasoning and not emotional outbursts.
First of all, if Georgia had not been a part of USSR throughout the XX century, God knows whether that country would have still existed. I’m not necessarily too fond of all the deeds of USSR, but this country was a guarantee of stability in the world for as long as it existed.
Now there is only one superpower that feels free to impose its principles onto the rest of the world. I’m not so sure that the United States are interested in the well-being of Georgian citizens.
When they say that Russia was the first one to spark up the war and overlook the fact that there were certain events preceding it, I’m sorry, but I lose any hope in objectivity of the mass media. It’s like in Orvell’s “1984″ where two and two makes five, war is peace and ignorance is strength. Read that book I advise you. My personal opinion is that ignorance is bliss for all parties concerned.
All I can do at this point is wait and see how the situation is going to turn out. Too many of my close friends had to go through Iraq already. Some go to that sandbox for the second and third trip. Iraq happenned because of oil, Georgia is happening because of the desire to weaken the potential enemy. Whatever the sitation may be, America is not acting in the interest of its own people, but in the interest of a small group of politicians.
So before you take any side in this conflict, please make sure you have good background knowledge of history and situation at hand.
This is again to claim that Georgian is responsible for Stalin’s act. This is not the fault of Georgia. This is a formal unrecogization of *Soviet* that Ossetian is not a republic.
South Ossetia is effective an puppet under Russia. The world see
South Ossetia aggressor. I will not call for punishment to those civilian just like Alvin called for. This is reprisal. This is famous Russian tactic – disrepect to civilian lives and cries “oh, we are peacekeeping”.
Stalin is the Georgian!
The US-Government is to blame for what is happening right now in the caucasus. They installed Sakashvili, they supplied him with military equipment and training, they encouraged and bolstered his ego, and then he went mad and got out of control, trying to invade South Ossetia and fight off Russia, while bombarding and killing hundreds or thousands of civilians.
TTO, I am an american and I completely agree with you. This entire thing is the US governments fault. During WWI and WWII we were on the “good” side because of who are allies are. But since georgia is one of our allies, we will refuse to acknowledge the fact that they are the aggressors in this war. Russia, although I am not entirely convinced of their motivation, is doing the best they can to maintain peace. And I do not believe the media here in the States. It doesn’t make ANY sense for russia to bomb georgia and then for georgia to attack South Ossetia instead of retaliating against Russia. So I do not believe Russia attacked Georgia first. It was Georgia who provoked South Ossetia in the first place. It doesn’t help that the media in the States is saying that Georgia is the “good” side, and that Russia is “bad”. Apparently we did not learn our lesson when the Media started the Spanish-American War in the early 1900s.