They had a war against each other a few years ago as Georgia is beginning to open up its market to the west and may be involved in military ties with America (America is putting more missile bases in E Europe right now).
During the war, which lasted hours, the Russian hackers (thought to have government ties) basically shut down the entire state of Georgia. People couldn't bank, shop, anything. Stuff that required a computer or internet was totally down. Georgian hackers eventually thwarted the Russians, but never the less, very interesting situation.
The Russian state took a fairly large loss of face internationally after the cold war. They almost are referred to as a "former power".
If anything else, it is important to remember that Russia wants that international fear and respect back. I'm very interested in this situation and in other Eastern European states, although I can't imagine the Russian gvt doing anything that can be directly traced back to them. For all of their posturing, Russia still has a lot of internal problems. Not to say they wont strike anyone, more saying they are that much more unpredictable.
Russian forces are locked in fierce clashes with Georgia inside its breakaway South Ossetia region, reports say, amid fears of all-out war.
Moscow sent armoured units across the border after Georgia moved against Russian-backed separatists.
Russia says 12 of its soldiers are dead, and separatists estimate that 1,400 civilians have died.
Georgia accuses Russia of waging war, and says it has suffered heavy losses in bombing raids, which Russia denies.
Russian tanks have reportedly reached the northern suburbs of the regional capital, Tskhinvali, and there were conflicting claims about who was in control of the city.
"Now our peacekeepers are waging a fierce battle with regular forces from the Georgian army in the southern region of Tskhinvali," a Russian military official was quoted as saying by Moscow-based news agency, Interfax.
After days of exchanging heavy fire with the separatists, Georgian forces moved on Thursday night to regain control of the region, which has had de facto independence since a war against Georgia that ended in 1992.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said Russia was at war with his country.
Has western propaganda machine started working already! Oh those big bad genocidal Russians!! Sheesh!
Georgia (Gruzia) Attacked South Ossetia (which is by the way rightfuly Russian and has been so until communist revlution. Stalin completed the job by giving South Ossetia to Georgia, since he himself was Georgian) not Russia attacked Georgia.
Georgia wanted into NATO so bad because it had planned to attack South Ossetia for a long while and Saakashvili thought he can hide behind his NATO masters and 'scare' Russia.
This is a stuid move by Saakashvili (who by the way is bordering dictator there, up NATO's ass so much only his shoe laces are visible)
NATO summit in Bucharest in March, Germany and France denied stubbornly to accept Georgia as a NATO member. USA was pressuring hard, but simply they denied, because they KNEW what Georgia has been planning for ages.
It is audacity to even suggest that in this whole mess Russia is being ''agressive'' since Georgians took the privilage to attack South Ossetia, destroy part of it and kill civilians.
__________________
في هذا العالم ثلاثة أشخاص أفسدوا البشرية : راعي غنم , طبيب و راكب الجمال , و راكب الجمال هو أسوأ نشال و أسوأ مشعوذ بين الثلاثة
Interesting fact: In The disputed territory The majority of citizens are Russian.
South Ossetians are divided in opinion. a significant number like things and don't want anything to change. A significant number want the Territory to become a Republic
Georgia wants to expand its borders to swallow the territory
Russia wants the Citizens in the Territory to have the opportunity to Make the Descision on their own.
If Russia wanted to bitchslap Georgia it could But it's chosen not to.
The Georgians really should pick their battles Nato is not going to come to their aid
Russia has a stronger hand. it has more to offer to people living in that part of the world than Georgia.
1) I must have missed anyone who had that sentiment in the thread, why so sensitive?
2) of the 5 linked media reports, 2 are not about the issue and of the 3 that are, 2 are from the middle east, making them not western news agencies.
what, exactly, is it that you are talking about?
and thanks for the info
EDIT: Just to say, I'm with the citizens of South Ossetia, and personally am fairly sure there are better ways to solve disputes like this than through military power. Its hard to see a good solution if both sides are authoritarians using military force. Boo Russia and Georgia.
__________________ yes, a million times yes
Last edited by tsilamini on Aug 9th, 2008 at 09:30 PM
I'm sorry, you seem to not have read any of your 'news', as of late, have you.
Each source citing Russia as an agressor.
It wasn't directed at you personally or anyone else, but the news which are circulating.
Dictatorial lying news agencies spoon feeding bullshit.
Frankly, I am yet to read news where Russians are not a psychoathic civilian bombers.
This issue is so complex and it is coninuously being simplified in the news.
Here come random people from random places giving their views on the situation -
"They are killing civilians, women and children, with heavy artillery and rockets," Sarmat Laliyev, 28, told AP.
Georgia asks for help from America, as they are allies. USA would be wise to stay out of Russia's way and play this diplomatically for once.
__________________
في هذا العالم ثلاثة أشخاص أفسدوا البشرية : راعي غنم , طبيب و راكب الجمال , و راكب الجمال هو أسوأ نشال و أسوأ مشعوذ بين الثلاثة
I'm just reading up on some of this stuff. It seems like South Ossetia has been fighting for independence ever since Georgia broke off from the USSR, and according to the ever trustworthy Wiki, it goes back even to the early 20s.
What do you think the Russian angle is here? are they really supporting an independence movement or are they looking to consolidate power? It seems like such a small victory for them to win if all they want is power over the city, as they pretty much dominate the region anyways, but on the other hand, and this could be my western bias, Russia doesn't remind me of a pro-democratic independence supporting group, I mean, didn't they oppose the sovereignty of Kosovo?
Is this like the American funding of groups during the Red scare do you think, where they are willing to get into bed with anyone who hates the Americans like the Americans supported anti-democratic movements in latin America?
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Aug 9th, 2008 05:50 PM
