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	<title>Comments on: Georgia: War in South Ossetia</title>
	<atom:link href="http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/</link>
	<description>The world is talking. Are you listening?</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 17:49:45 -0400</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>By: Almut Berger</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-25/#comment-1616934</link>
		<dc:creator>Almut Berger</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:29:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1616934</guid>
		<description>http://www.russia.ru/video/war080808en/ 

This is a Video  when Russians start to attack.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.russia.ru/video/war080808en/" rel="nofollow">http://www.russia.ru/video/war080808en/</a> </p>
<p>This is a Video  when Russians start to attack.</p>
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		<title>By: Harry fergiunson</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-25/#comment-1616808</link>
		<dc:creator>Harry fergiunson</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:54:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1616808</guid>
		<description>Mike Kot - have you been in Georgia? how did you got information about Georgian and Russian war? 

I want to tell you - you are not right, because you doesn&#039;t have any (really) information about Georgia and about Georgians. 

So, Georgian is independance country, there is really good democratic, Georgia is centre of Caucasus, one of the oldest country and very very hospitable, also, Georgians are traditional Europeans and if you want really i like Georgia and I like Georgians. 

So, now about war: Everybody knows who start war, everybody knows why and everybody knows for what.  &quot;RUSSIANS START WAR IN GEORGIA&quot; and if you want details about this war - i am ready and i can tell you.  

&quot;Georgia is one of nice country in the world&quot;

PS: 8 August - i went in Georgia
PS-1: Europeans are afraid to help Georgians, because then Russians will stop to transfer their gas in west Europe.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mike Kot &#8211; have you been in Georgia? how did you got information about Georgian and Russian war? </p>
<p>I want to tell you &#8211; you are not right, because you doesn&#8217;t have any (really) information about Georgia and about Georgians. </p>
<p>So, Georgian is independance country, there is really good democratic, Georgia is centre of Caucasus, one of the oldest country and very very hospitable, also, Georgians are traditional Europeans and if you want really i like Georgia and I like Georgians. </p>
<p>So, now about war: Everybody knows who start war, everybody knows why and everybody knows for what.  &#8220;RUSSIANS START WAR IN GEORGIA&#8221; and if you want details about this war &#8211; i am ready and i can tell you.  </p>
<p>&#8220;Georgia is one of nice country in the world&#8221;</p>
<p>PS: 8 August &#8211; i went in Georgia<br />
PS-1: Europeans are afraid to help Georgians, because then Russians will stop to transfer their gas in west Europe.</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: sibeco</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-25/#comment-1547554</link>
		<dc:creator>sibeco</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:49:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1547554</guid>
		<description>US forced Georgia!

--
http://www.sibecolog.ru/</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>US forced Georgia!</p>
<p>&#8211;<br />
<a href="http://www.sibecolog.ru/" rel="nofollow">http://www.sibecolog.ru/</a></p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: Global Voices Online &#187; A Review of Global Voices in 2008</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-25/#comment-1541975</link>
		<dc:creator>Global Voices Online &#187; A Review of Global Voices in 2008</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:38:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1541975</guid>
		<description>[...] erupted between Georgia and Russia in August over South Ossetia. On Global Voices, Onnik Krikorian reported quickly from blogs of the region before most journalists had even made their way there, earning links and [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] erupted between Georgia and Russia in August over South Ossetia. On Global Voices, Onnik Krikorian reported quickly from blogs of the region before most journalists had even made their way there, earning links and [...]</p>
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		<title>By: John</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-25/#comment-1541078</link>
		<dc:creator>John</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:51:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1541078</guid>
		<description>Just Have a look!!! Oh mine God!!!

http://www.russia.ru/video/war080808en/</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Just Have a look!!! Oh mine God!!!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.russia.ru/video/war080808en/" rel="nofollow">http://www.russia.ru/video/war080808en/</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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	<item>
		<title>By: Pam</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-25/#comment-1515579</link>
		<dc:creator>Pam</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:41:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1515579</guid>
		<description>To Dan
&quot;We were bombed 9/11 and we had to retaliate on the best target possible.&quot;
This is an interesting statement! We were not bombed on 9/11. Two planes crashed into the Twins but who did this and why? That is still an open question! For sure it was not Iraq! But USA choosed to invade the sovereign country of Iraq by using 9/11 as an excuse. In reality it was a fight for oil recourses. You saying &quot;best target&quot;? Do you know how many civilians were killed in Iraq? Does it even matter to you? Your statement sounds like a pure fascistic idiom.
Saddam was hanged for torturing 10 shiite villages. Saakashvilly in one day killed 2000 people in SO, including civilians, who lived in villages near Tshenval.
“bragging to all the world of his weapons of mass destruction and rattling his sword”.  Who in the world found the weapon of mass destruction in Iraq? There was no such thing in Iraq. USA government lied about it. 
“We took him out and in the process brought Alquida into a trap where we could destroy them.” You took him out but did it make the world better and safer? I think the World became more fragile. Who knows what USA going to do next time? In my view the real monsters are not in Muslim world! 
OBL will never be cut. USA used him as symbol.  He was not behind the 9/11 other than the fact that he belonged to AlQuida organization. And for your knowledge AlQuida is the US creation. This translates as a “data ”. In reality it is a data base of muslim operatives, who were trained by USA. USA used them , for example, in Serbia. Than the question: who is that USA fighting? It comes back to the question about 9/11. Who really did that? 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7BSt9jhxPQ&amp;NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd8B-8Au-Wk&amp;feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VSqhNm9pME&amp;feature=related

You are talking about devil? Very funny.  Devil is much closer to you than you think.

To come back to the Georgian invasion of SO. I believe Russia did what it has to do to protect the civilians of SO and its own citizens. I hope that Russia will grow strong and will balance the US superpower. This will prevent any new horror such as 9/11, it will prevent the future attacks on civilians and any wars for oil.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>To Dan<br />
&#8220;We were bombed 9/11 and we had to retaliate on the best target possible.&#8221;<br />
This is an interesting statement! We were not bombed on 9/11. Two planes crashed into the Twins but who did this and why? That is still an open question! For sure it was not Iraq! But USA choosed to invade the sovereign country of Iraq by using 9/11 as an excuse. In reality it was a fight for oil recourses. You saying &#8220;best target&#8221;? Do you know how many civilians were killed in Iraq? Does it even matter to you? Your statement sounds like a pure fascistic idiom.<br />
Saddam was hanged for torturing 10 shiite villages. Saakashvilly in one day killed 2000 people in SO, including civilians, who lived in villages near Tshenval.<br />
“bragging to all the world of his weapons of mass destruction and rattling his sword”.  Who in the world found the weapon of mass destruction in Iraq? There was no such thing in Iraq. USA government lied about it.<br />
“We took him out and in the process brought Alquida into a trap where we could destroy them.” You took him out but did it make the world better and safer? I think the World became more fragile. Who knows what USA going to do next time? In my view the real monsters are not in Muslim world!<br />
OBL will never be cut. USA used him as symbol.  He was not behind the 9/11 other than the fact that he belonged to AlQuida organization. And for your knowledge AlQuida is the US creation. This translates as a “data ”. In reality it is a data base of muslim operatives, who were trained by USA. USA used them , for example, in Serbia. Than the question: who is that USA fighting? It comes back to the question about 9/11. Who really did that?<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7BSt9jhxPQ&#038;NR=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7BSt9jhxPQ&#038;NR=1</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd8B-8Au-Wk&#038;feature=related" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd8B-8Au-Wk&#038;feature=related</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VSqhNm9pME&#038;feature=related" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VSqhNm9pME&#038;feature=related</a></p>
<p>You are talking about devil? Very funny.  Devil is much closer to you than you think.</p>
<p>To come back to the Georgian invasion of SO. I believe Russia did what it has to do to protect the civilians of SO and its own citizens. I hope that Russia will grow strong and will balance the US superpower. This will prevent any new horror such as 9/11, it will prevent the future attacks on civilians and any wars for oil.</p>
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		<title>By: Dan</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-24/#comment-1514575</link>
		<dc:creator>Dan</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:53:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1514575</guid>
		<description>Interesting reading all the comments after being out of the country for a week.To Yuriy I say,what are you talking about ,the US bombed Iraq?We were bombed 9/11 and we had to retaliate on the best target possible.Saddam had 12 years to respond and he responded by torturing his people and bragging to all the world of his weapons of mass destruction and rattling his sword.We took him out and in the process brought Alquida into a trap where we could destoy them.
  Until good Muslim people raise up and take control from the &quot;monsters&quot;,the world will never be totally at peace,but the US has given Iraq the best chance it&#039;s got for such to happen.
 Now,Islamic Muslim radicals will probably never leave freedom loving people alone ,and the best we can hope for is to contain them through power and force,we in the US would prefer to educate them,but&quot;good luck&quot;!
  WE don&#039;t steal oil,we pay for it &quot;dearly&quot;!
 We will go after OBL in his cave if we have to and if the radicals would quit using human shields,may-be no civilians would be killed,but war is hell,especially when you&#039;re dealing with the &quot;devil&quot;.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Interesting reading all the comments after being out of the country for a week.To Yuriy I say,what are you talking about ,the US bombed Iraq?We were bombed 9/11 and we had to retaliate on the best target possible.Saddam had 12 years to respond and he responded by torturing his people and bragging to all the world of his weapons of mass destruction and rattling his sword.We took him out and in the process brought Alquida into a trap where we could destoy them.<br />
  Until good Muslim people raise up and take control from the &#8220;monsters&#8221;,the world will never be totally at peace,but the US has given Iraq the best chance it&#8217;s got for such to happen.<br />
 Now,Islamic Muslim radicals will probably never leave freedom loving people alone ,and the best we can hope for is to contain them through power and force,we in the US would prefer to educate them,but&#8221;good luck&#8221;!<br />
  WE don&#8217;t steal oil,we pay for it &#8220;dearly&#8221;!<br />
 We will go after OBL in his cave if we have to and if the radicals would quit using human shields,may-be no civilians would be killed,but war is hell,especially when you&#8217;re dealing with the &#8220;devil&#8221;.</p>
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		<title>By: kenigsberg</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-24/#comment-1513448</link>
		<dc:creator>kenigsberg</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:31:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1513448</guid>
		<description>To Gizo Ujarmeli: excuse for my comment concerning you. I was mistaken in translation from English. Excuse</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>To Gizo Ujarmeli: excuse for my comment concerning you. I was mistaken in translation from English. Excuse</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: kenigsberg</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-24/#comment-1513445</link>
		<dc:creator>kenigsberg</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:21:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1513445</guid>
		<description>To David Dzidzikashvili:
As you have bothered... Russia began by first. Who to you it has said? Except for the Georgian TV anybody does not speak already about it. Even the monsters in USA recognize it. Also recognize participation in an attack on SO. In georgian, as against Russia, the state control on TV is established. You the next victim of washing of brains. What losses Georgian in this war? At you about it speak or hide? You are ready to go in army and to kill children and old men, how it was made by(with) the Georgian soldiers? Also it is not necessary to doubt of they was they it did(made). It is the Georgian authorities have arranged war. And those the soldier, which have refused to kill (there were also such) peace people, now judge those who gave back the orders to kill. Be typed(collected) of boldness - admit that Georgia began to kill by first.
You ask about a detachment Chechnya. Why with it is concerned? Say what you about it know? Know, instead of think or dream. And at what here Daghestan!!!! From Russia try to make the monster only those who looks a lot of western TV (or Georgian undeveloped TV)
И вообще, почему здесь все пишут на хреновом английском?</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>To David Dzidzikashvili:<br />
As you have bothered&#8230; Russia began by first. Who to you it has said? Except for the Georgian TV anybody does not speak already about it. Even the monsters in USA recognize it. Also recognize participation in an attack on SO. In georgian, as against Russia, the state control on TV is established. You the next victim of washing of brains. What losses Georgian in this war? At you about it speak or hide? You are ready to go in army and to kill children and old men, how it was made by(with) the Georgian soldiers? Also it is not necessary to doubt of they was they it did(made). It is the Georgian authorities have arranged war. And those the soldier, which have refused to kill (there were also such) peace people, now judge those who gave back the orders to kill. Be typed(collected) of boldness &#8211; admit that Georgia began to kill by first.<br />
You ask about a detachment Chechnya. Why with it is concerned? Say what you about it know? Know, instead of think or dream. And at what here Daghestan!!!! From Russia try to make the monster only those who looks a lot of western TV (or Georgian undeveloped TV)<br />
И вообще, почему здесь все пишут на хреновом английском?</p>
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		<title>By: kenigsberg</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-24/#comment-1513437</link>
		<dc:creator>kenigsberg</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:35:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1513437</guid>
		<description>To Gizo Ujarmeli:
You do not understand about what there is a speech. Georgia has attacked on SO. And you are ready to dismember Russia!!! Come to Tatarstan and tell there about a partition of Russia - itself will be dismembered! You think as zombi. It you do not have democracy and you garbage news on tv.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>To Gizo Ujarmeli:<br />
You do not understand about what there is a speech. Georgia has attacked on SO. And you are ready to dismember Russia!!! Come to Tatarstan and tell there about a partition of Russia &#8211; itself will be dismembered! You think as zombi. It you do not have democracy and you garbage news on tv.</p>
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		<title>By: Pam</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-24/#comment-1513162</link>
		<dc:creator>Pam</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:37:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1513162</guid>
		<description>David,

There won&#039;t be any georgian flags in SO or Abkazia! And these people are not your brothers and sisters! Your government has killed many of them and many of their children. So, please, stop teling lies, and face the reality. 

Russia is going to grow strong, and this is the security for the World peice in the future. So no jerks like Saakashvilly will conduct the combat against the civilians. Even if they are suppoted by USA.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>David,</p>
<p>There won&#8217;t be any georgian flags in SO or Abkazia! And these people are not your brothers and sisters! Your government has killed many of them and many of their children. So, please, stop teling lies, and face the reality. </p>
<p>Russia is going to grow strong, and this is the security for the World peice in the future. So no jerks like Saakashvilly will conduct the combat against the civilians. Even if they are suppoted by USA.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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	<item>
		<title>By: Yuriy</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-24/#comment-1513061</link>
		<dc:creator>Yuriy</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:35:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1513061</guid>
		<description>&gt;Russia is evil and only real future for civilized world, 
&gt;is when Russia is not strong.

I think USA is evil... USA army bombed Iraq... Now it is bombing Pakistan... killing civilians...

Let&#039;s punish USA... :)</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&gt;Russia is evil and only real future for civilized world,<br />
&gt;is when Russia is not strong.</p>
<p>I think USA is evil&#8230; USA army bombed Iraq&#8230; Now it is bombing Pakistan&#8230; killing civilians&#8230;</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s punish USA&#8230; :)</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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	<item>
		<title>By: David Dzidzikashvili</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-24/#comment-1513057</link>
		<dc:creator>David Dzidzikashvili</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:26:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1513057</guid>
		<description>Georgians Did Not Start the War: The Russians did!

Since beginning of August 2008, the Russian “Peacekeepers” together with Ossetian illegal militia have been ethnically cleansing Georgian villages and killing innocent civilians! Just think about this…

Many experts and diplomats wondered whether the Russian government is sick with xenophobia and with the nostalgia of &quot;good, old Soviet Union&quot; is trying to revive the forgotten empire. Or maybe they are just playing a very stupid game that will have extremely severe consequences to the future of Russia and its citizens.

It is not a new fact that the people from Caucasus republics are constantly being discriminated in Russia, are targets of Russian neo-Nazi groups and live second class citizens lives. The Russian government never tried to understand the mentality, culture and social norms of the people from the Caucasus region. Throughout history the Russian empire or the Soviets or Putin&#039;s regime have been applying one rule to the Caucasus region in order to maintain control over it: divide and conquer! Putin successfully fueled ethnic tensions between various Caucasus nationalities, so they all had to look up to the Russians for help and the roots of this policy date back to Tsar&#039;s Russian Empire, when the Russians were only able to take control over Caucasus with the help of Caucasus nations, primarily the Georgians. The Georgians thought they were doing a favor and Tsar would leave them alone to govern their own lives, but the Georgians were wrong.

After the collapse of Soviet Union the Russian government successfully fueled ethnic tensions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, Georgians and Ossetians, Georgians and Abkhazians, Ingushis and Ossetians, etc… This was the only strategy and the only game the Russian rulers played by: fuel hatred, divide the territories, resettle and arm the people so there will be no peace until the Russian soldier places his foot in the region. And of course, the Russian army is known for their outstanding performance in &quot;peacekeeping&quot; missions that have carried out, being involved in genocide, ethnic cleansing (Georgians in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Chechen civilians), rape, murder, torture and the list goes on. At the end it seems that the Russian &quot;peacekeeping mission&quot; is not that peaceful at all. 

It is evident that the Russian political system always been in shape of a Pyramid, where all the political and economic control spheres of country is divided between a leader (Czar, or Secretary General or Prime Minister) at the top, who has a direct control and right hand support of secret service at one angle and military at the other. This is the heart of the Russian political life and everything else develops around it. With a strong propaganda machine, complete control over Russian citizens is assured, as well as &quot;democratic&quot; elections where one candidate always receives the vast majority (if not all) of the votes and there never seems to be opposition to the candidate. And what about the President Medvedev? He is just another toy in Putin&#039;s closet…

Putin decided to send a strong signal to the world and wished to overthrow the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, but he failed. He strongly believes that the fate of the Georgian people depends on his wishes and is determine to shape the borders of another sovereign country. This move directly threatens the World Order established after World War II. The current World Order is not perfect, but so far, with its deficiencies it is working. 

After the brief war with Georgia, the Russian government tried to justify its move by saying that the Georgians started the war. Here is the first lie! The Georgian government has been saying since beginning of August 2008 that the situation in South Ossetia is escalating and the Russian &quot;peacekeepers&quot; are staging provocations together with illegal armed forces of South Ossetian separatist regime. They started killing Georgian police officers and firing artillery shells at the Georgian villages located in South Ossetia, but the world was preoccupied with getting ready for the opening ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympics.

When the Georgian government officials told the Europeans in Brussels that we were at the brink of war, the Europeans politely warned the Georgians not to use the word &quot;war&quot; in the city of Brussels, because they do not like the word &quot;war.&quot; It seems that old Europe is getting older each day and with the age, because numerous warnings and cries by the Georgian officials fell on the deaf ears of old Europe. Never mind the fact that it took Hitler conquering Poland and Czechoslovakia, before the Western Europe realized this was a war. 

And what about the Americans? The American society is in the midst of elections, the Democrats want to see Europe take more responsibility for security in Caucasus region, the Republicans are divided and worried about gay marriage and abortion rights… The friends of Georgia in new Europe are trying everything to force the old Europe take harsher approach towards Russia, but Europe is dependent on Russian natural gas and oil.
Giving up on a young democracy does not seem plausible for the Europeans, but the old Europe is scared of the new Russian bear. The new Russia is controlled by a xenophobic psychopath who has decided to break all the rules of the game, in order to change those rules. And the question comes: how can you stop a bully? Everyone can keep condemning the Russian government, but that paper will wind up in Putin&#039;s toilet again… The only way to stop a bully is bully up against the bully – simple rule of life. 

With the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the Russian government has proven the world that they will violate international laws whenever they feel like it and they will use aggression in the name of peace as they did in Prague 1968. If the world would not stand up for Georgia, who will be the next prey of the hungry Russian bear? Maybe Ukraine? Or Moldova? Or who knows… The Russian government is as unpredictable as the weather in England…

The Georgian people are united and stand united, we have survived the onslaught by Mongols, Persians, Arabs, Turk-Seljuks throughout the history and we have still survived and we are not scared of the Russian bear either. 

Just last question to Mr. Putin. Mr. Putin, if you are so concerned about the freedom of small minorities, why not recognize the independence of Chechnya? Then Daghestan? Then Ingushetia? And then all the other autonomous republics where the citizens do not even speak Russian? Think about that at first and then lets discuss the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, after 300,000 Georgian refugees return to their own homes. 
And to my fellow Abkhazian and South Ossetian brothers and sisters. Yes, there will be dancing and celebration in Sokhumi and Tskinvali. Yes, you will be smiling and waving flags - Georgian flags of course….</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Georgians Did Not Start the War: The Russians did!</p>
<p>Since beginning of August 2008, the Russian “Peacekeepers” together with Ossetian illegal militia have been ethnically cleansing Georgian villages and killing innocent civilians! Just think about this…</p>
<p>Many experts and diplomats wondered whether the Russian government is sick with xenophobia and with the nostalgia of &#8220;good, old Soviet Union&#8221; is trying to revive the forgotten empire. Or maybe they are just playing a very stupid game that will have extremely severe consequences to the future of Russia and its citizens.</p>
<p>It is not a new fact that the people from Caucasus republics are constantly being discriminated in Russia, are targets of Russian neo-Nazi groups and live second class citizens lives. The Russian government never tried to understand the mentality, culture and social norms of the people from the Caucasus region. Throughout history the Russian empire or the Soviets or Putin&#8217;s regime have been applying one rule to the Caucasus region in order to maintain control over it: divide and conquer! Putin successfully fueled ethnic tensions between various Caucasus nationalities, so they all had to look up to the Russians for help and the roots of this policy date back to Tsar&#8217;s Russian Empire, when the Russians were only able to take control over Caucasus with the help of Caucasus nations, primarily the Georgians. The Georgians thought they were doing a favor and Tsar would leave them alone to govern their own lives, but the Georgians were wrong.</p>
<p>After the collapse of Soviet Union the Russian government successfully fueled ethnic tensions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, Georgians and Ossetians, Georgians and Abkhazians, Ingushis and Ossetians, etc… This was the only strategy and the only game the Russian rulers played by: fuel hatred, divide the territories, resettle and arm the people so there will be no peace until the Russian soldier places his foot in the region. And of course, the Russian army is known for their outstanding performance in &#8220;peacekeeping&#8221; missions that have carried out, being involved in genocide, ethnic cleansing (Georgians in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Chechen civilians), rape, murder, torture and the list goes on. At the end it seems that the Russian &#8220;peacekeeping mission&#8221; is not that peaceful at all. </p>
<p>It is evident that the Russian political system always been in shape of a Pyramid, where all the political and economic control spheres of country is divided between a leader (Czar, or Secretary General or Prime Minister) at the top, who has a direct control and right hand support of secret service at one angle and military at the other. This is the heart of the Russian political life and everything else develops around it. With a strong propaganda machine, complete control over Russian citizens is assured, as well as &#8220;democratic&#8221; elections where one candidate always receives the vast majority (if not all) of the votes and there never seems to be opposition to the candidate. And what about the President Medvedev? He is just another toy in Putin&#8217;s closet…</p>
<p>Putin decided to send a strong signal to the world and wished to overthrow the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, but he failed. He strongly believes that the fate of the Georgian people depends on his wishes and is determine to shape the borders of another sovereign country. This move directly threatens the World Order established after World War II. The current World Order is not perfect, but so far, with its deficiencies it is working. </p>
<p>After the brief war with Georgia, the Russian government tried to justify its move by saying that the Georgians started the war. Here is the first lie! The Georgian government has been saying since beginning of August 2008 that the situation in South Ossetia is escalating and the Russian &#8220;peacekeepers&#8221; are staging provocations together with illegal armed forces of South Ossetian separatist regime. They started killing Georgian police officers and firing artillery shells at the Georgian villages located in South Ossetia, but the world was preoccupied with getting ready for the opening ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympics.</p>
<p>When the Georgian government officials told the Europeans in Brussels that we were at the brink of war, the Europeans politely warned the Georgians not to use the word &#8220;war&#8221; in the city of Brussels, because they do not like the word &#8220;war.&#8221; It seems that old Europe is getting older each day and with the age, because numerous warnings and cries by the Georgian officials fell on the deaf ears of old Europe. Never mind the fact that it took Hitler conquering Poland and Czechoslovakia, before the Western Europe realized this was a war. </p>
<p>And what about the Americans? The American society is in the midst of elections, the Democrats want to see Europe take more responsibility for security in Caucasus region, the Republicans are divided and worried about gay marriage and abortion rights… The friends of Georgia in new Europe are trying everything to force the old Europe take harsher approach towards Russia, but Europe is dependent on Russian natural gas and oil.<br />
Giving up on a young democracy does not seem plausible for the Europeans, but the old Europe is scared of the new Russian bear. The new Russia is controlled by a xenophobic psychopath who has decided to break all the rules of the game, in order to change those rules. And the question comes: how can you stop a bully? Everyone can keep condemning the Russian government, but that paper will wind up in Putin&#8217;s toilet again… The only way to stop a bully is bully up against the bully – simple rule of life. </p>
<p>With the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the Russian government has proven the world that they will violate international laws whenever they feel like it and they will use aggression in the name of peace as they did in Prague 1968. If the world would not stand up for Georgia, who will be the next prey of the hungry Russian bear? Maybe Ukraine? Or Moldova? Or who knows… The Russian government is as unpredictable as the weather in England…</p>
<p>The Georgian people are united and stand united, we have survived the onslaught by Mongols, Persians, Arabs, Turk-Seljuks throughout the history and we have still survived and we are not scared of the Russian bear either. </p>
<p>Just last question to Mr. Putin. Mr. Putin, if you are so concerned about the freedom of small minorities, why not recognize the independence of Chechnya? Then Daghestan? Then Ingushetia? And then all the other autonomous republics where the citizens do not even speak Russian? Think about that at first and then lets discuss the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, after 300,000 Georgian refugees return to their own homes.<br />
And to my fellow Abkhazian and South Ossetian brothers and sisters. Yes, there will be dancing and celebration in Sokhumi and Tskinvali. Yes, you will be smiling and waving flags &#8211; Georgian flags of course….</p>
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		<title>By: Andrey</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-24/#comment-1512992</link>
		<dc:creator>Andrey</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:58:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1512992</guid>
		<description>Gallup data on Georgia and Russia (www.gallup.com):

1)	Facts about “free speech” in Georgia and Lithuania. In your opinion, how many people in your country, if any, ARE AFRAIED to openly express their political views?
Ukraine: 30% in 2007, 35% in 2008 
Russia: 30% in 2007, 40% in 2008
Lithuania (UN and NATO member): 30% in 2007, 55% in 2008
Georgia: 25% in 2007, 55% in 2008

2)	Facts about Georgian/Sukashvili’s government “caring” about people. Have there been times in the past 12 months when you or your family have gone hungry?
1.	Russia: 3%
2.	Armenia: 4%
3.	Belarus: 4%
…
10. Georgia: 18%

3)	Facts about “democracy” in Georgia and Ukraine. 
3.1)	How satisfied are you with the way democracy works in your country?
Georgia 2007: Satisfied 14%, Dissatisfied 37%, Neither 47
Ukraine 2007: Satisfied 15%

3.2)	In Ukraine, do you have confidence in the following?
National government: 10% Yes, 80% No
Judicial system and courts: 10% Yes, 75% No
Honesty of elections: 10% Yes, 70% No

4)	Facts about ordinary Ukrainians “striving” for NATO and western “democracy” and “hating” for Russia. 
4.1) Do you approve or disapprove the job performance of the leadership of the following countries? 
   	Ukrainians about Ukrainian leadership: 7% approve, 73% disapprove
   	Ukrainians about US leadership: 16% approve, 51% disapprove
   	Ukrainians about Russian leadership: 53% approve, 24% disapprove

4.2) Is it more important for Ukraine to have close relations with Russia or with the United States?
46% of Ukrainians say it is more important to have close relations with Russia even if it might hurt relations with the USA
10% of Ukrainians say it is more important to have close relations with USA even if it might hurt relations with the Russia</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Gallup data on Georgia and Russia (www.gallup.com):</p>
<p>1)	Facts about “free speech” in Georgia and Lithuania. In your opinion, how many people in your country, if any, ARE AFRAIED to openly express their political views?<br />
Ukraine: 30% in 2007, 35% in 2008<br />
Russia: 30% in 2007, 40% in 2008<br />
Lithuania (UN and NATO member): 30% in 2007, 55% in 2008<br />
Georgia: 25% in 2007, 55% in 2008</p>
<p>2)	Facts about Georgian/Sukashvili’s government “caring” about people. Have there been times in the past 12 months when you or your family have gone hungry?<br />
1.	Russia: 3%<br />
2.	Armenia: 4%<br />
3.	Belarus: 4%<br />
…<br />
10. Georgia: 18%</p>
<p>3)	Facts about “democracy” in Georgia and Ukraine.<br />
3.1)	How satisfied are you with the way democracy works in your country?<br />
Georgia 2007: Satisfied 14%, Dissatisfied 37%, Neither 47<br />
Ukraine 2007: Satisfied 15%</p>
<p>3.2)	In Ukraine, do you have confidence in the following?<br />
National government: 10% Yes, 80% No<br />
Judicial system and courts: 10% Yes, 75% No<br />
Honesty of elections: 10% Yes, 70% No</p>
<p>4)	Facts about ordinary Ukrainians “striving” for NATO and western “democracy” and “hating” for Russia.<br />
4.1) Do you approve or disapprove the job performance of the leadership of the following countries?<br />
   	Ukrainians about Ukrainian leadership: 7% approve, 73% disapprove<br />
   	Ukrainians about US leadership: 16% approve, 51% disapprove<br />
   	Ukrainians about Russian leadership: 53% approve, 24% disapprove</p>
<p>4.2) Is it more important for Ukraine to have close relations with Russia or with the United States?<br />
46% of Ukrainians say it is more important to have close relations with Russia even if it might hurt relations with the USA<br />
10% of Ukrainians say it is more important to have close relations with USA even if it might hurt relations with the Russia</p>
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		<title>By: Jorg</title>
		<link>http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/08/08/georgia-war-in-south-ossetia/comment-page-24/#comment-1512018</link>
		<dc:creator>Jorg</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:41:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://globalvoicesonline.org/?p=48005#comment-1512018</guid>
		<description>ES: &quot;We shouldn’t just let them do as they please in Georgia!&quot;

If Russia, indeed, did what it wanted in Georgia, Saakashvili&#039;s government would have fallen by now. The fact that he is still in place (at least, until the next election, when I hope the Georgian people bid him a not-so-fond adieu) indicates that the Russian goals and policies are somewhat different from what every Russophobe on the globe imagines them to be.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>ES: &#8220;We shouldn’t just let them do as they please in Georgia!&#8221;</p>
<p>If Russia, indeed, did what it wanted in Georgia, Saakashvili&#8217;s government would have fallen by now. The fact that he is still in place (at least, until the next election, when I hope the Georgian people bid him a not-so-fond adieu) indicates that the Russian goals and policies are somewhat different from what every Russophobe on the globe imagines them to be.</p>
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