Georgian/Russian conflict

It appears that both nations claim to be doing the right thing, and that the other is in the wrong. Then again, isn't that how it goes in all wars?Georgia claims that it wants to join NATO and the European Union. Be that as it may, there is a strip of northern Georgia known as Ossetia. Ossetian citizens are not happy about the resolution, and most of its citizens align themselves with Russia. They even consider themselves Russian citizens. (Remember, places like Georgia, Ukraine, etc, used to be part of the Soviet Union prior to its dissolution).The Ossetians either want to become a part of Russia, or at least to secede from Georgia and become a sovereign nation. During a referendum held in 2007, a vote of approximately 98% of Ossetia agreed. Part of the problem is North Ossetia is actually a part of Russia. So part of Ossetia is Russian territory, and the other portions are Georgian territory, but they are all ethnically the same.This has lead to considerable tension between Georgia and Russia. Russian military aircraft have been seen inside Georgian airspace and even destroyed an Georgian drone. After some time, Georgia invaded Ossetia, purportedly to stop them from gaining their independence. In response to this, Russia claims to view Ossetia not as allies, but as its own citizens. They have now responded by pummeling Georgia. Georgia claims this is an elaborate rouse, and that the only real one's trying to stop anyone's independence is Russia, who is furious at the prospect of Georgia allying with NATO.Georgia and the Russian Federation had reached an accord and terms of agreement for a cease fire. Georgia allegedly complied with the demands while Russian allegedly has continued on with its invasion.Georgians claim that Ossetians paramilitary started the conflict. Russia claims that Georgians invaded Ossetia.Clearly someone is the aggressor, and at least one country is in the wrong. Which one is principally at fault, or do both countries share blame?

---

“Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito"

As in most situations there is probably plenty of blame on both sides. And the question of who started it is moot since all we can do about it is stand on the sidelines and bluster.

Does Russia have thier own version of the Monroe Doctrine? ours is from 1823 and everyone should know about it by now.also sometimes Russia and USSR are synonymus, if you are speaking about the cold war though in relation to the present day Russian Federation, I don't think they are. to send a peacekeeping force to the region and protect the Georgians from further Russian attacks? It sounds like the right idea to me. It sounds like if Russia had sent a Peace keeping force to protect the Ossetians, rather than pushing into Georgia after a ceasefire, then this thing could have been avoided.As fare as McCain's blunder on nations invading each other, yeah that is messed up, what a dumb thing to say. He should have know his strategery would have been all over the internets. one of them deserved it. the 2nd one we should have just taken out the leader and the Ba'th party.

Russia already had sent peacekeepers in! They were bombed to death by the Georgians last week.

quote:

---

Did you completely and totally miss the point that we, the US, have invaded 2 countries in the 21st century?

---

oh, that's ok then! I mean, if you say so.

---

"We must respect the law, not let it blind us away from the basic principles of fairness, justice and freedom"

So you want US troops standing in the way of Russian forces a few hundred miles off their border?Where are you gonna get the troops from?WoW! Have fun in fantasy land.Edited by Jazzns, : No reason given.

---

Of course, biblical creationists are committed to belief in God's written Word, the Bible, which forbids bearing false witness; --AIG (lest they forget)

None of your quoted segments come from nem's post, and none are cited so that we can track down just what was said. so my question stands--just who are you conversing with? Because it's clear it's not anyone from this board.

This invasion is Russia's grab for power and control of the oil the West desperately needs via the strategic pipeline running through Georgia. Russia wants to get a corner on the oil of the Middle East which determines who calls the shots in the region.Georgia is pro-West and pro democracy. It is unique in the it's economy has advanced beyond that of the nations. This tiny nation has even won three gold medals in the Olympics so far. This is a nation which is asserting itself and Russis's looser despotic pro-KGB regime does not want that in the region.

---

BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW.
The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.

This is the crux of the matter. Superimposition almost always result in "internal" conflicts such as this.

Some real photos from Georgia
Flickr

These photos seem to suggest that Tskhinvali, South Ossetia was basically destroyed. My question is, which side destroyed it and why?

You probably didn't notice....but you spelled 'US' with 'Russia' There you go again, lose the first 'R' and the 'si'.Mis-spellings aside, everyone agrees with you but this thread isn't about Iraq it's about Georgia! So let's get back on topic.

---

"We must respect the law, not let it blind us away from the basic principles of fairness, justice and freedom"

Tskhinvali was destroyed mainly as a result of the Georgian shelling which reportedly killed thousands of civilians (most of them Russian citizens) and some Russian peacekeepers.As for the reasons, I'm quoting from the linked article:

quote:

---

He [strategic analyst] described Georgia's decision to shell Tskhinvali as a brazen effort to humiliate the Russians.
"It is clearly a calculated gamble by the Georgians," he said.
"If they manage to overrun South Ossetia, where there are probably only around 1,000 Russian troops at the moment, they will have humiliated Russia and would have created a triumph for themselves.
"They will also have propelled the west into a diplomatic involvement on the ground."
"Possibly the Georgians calculated that, with Putin in Beijing, they could recapture the capital in two days and then defend it over the next two months.....

---

---

"We must respect the law, not let it blind us away from the basic principles of fairness, justice and freedom"

We have plently of troops, not all are consentrated in the war effort.I am not in fantasy land, though I am begining to think you are retarded.Edited by Artemis Entreri, : No reason given.

whoa...man. like this thread is totally created from another thread, where this not so rightous dude came in and thread jacked the thread, and so this other like total rad dude made this trhead so we can, like discuss it and stuff.

Absolutely.Though I thought everybody knew that.