Comments on: I realize this isn’t a sexy topic, but…

By: Merit-bound Alley » Comment rescue: S. Ossetia

Merit-bound Alley » Comment rescue: S. Ossetia — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:37:18 +0000

[...] Liberal has a thread going where some of the commenters seemed to be laboring under the misconception that Russia [...]

By: Joe M

Joe M — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:35:11 +0000

I think that some people are forgetting that Georgia started the aggression on the 8th by moving troops and armor into areas controlled by S. Ossetia. Wait, but isn’t S. Ossetia part o Georgia?

No, not really. South Ossetia declared themselves a sovereign Soviet Democratic Republic in 1990 and even held their own elections. The Georgian government didn’t allow the secession and declared S. Ossetia’s elections invalid.

After more violence in 1992 between Georgia and S. Ossetian separatists escalated, a cease fire was declared with the separatists retaining control of some areas and the separatists others.

A peacekeeping force of S. Ossetian, Russian and Georgian forces has been present in the region, but Georgia escalated their presence on the 8th to clear the area of separatists. It was this that caused Russia to move troops into S. Ossetia. It must be kept in mind that the majority of S. Ossetians are in favor of separation and identify more with Russia, using Russian as a primary language and Russian currency. If not for Georgia’s denial, there would be no conflict.

By: nemski

nemski — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:08:16 +0000

You know what a sexy topic is . . . . Grandpa Simpson offering his bikini-clad wife to parade in front of 50,000 bikers and eat a banana slowly. Now, that’s sexy.

By: cassandra_m

cassandra_m — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:33:07 +0000

Russia is not testing us, they are attempting to put Mr. Saakashvili back in his place. The Russians also know that we don’t have much in our arsenal to punish them with — even if we wanted to. The Russians have become increasingly authoritarian for all of the Bush years and we’ve done little except lecture them. The Russians are quite free to make this play, and in the end Mr. Saakashvili will be (at least publicly) more beholden to Russia and Dick Cheney and John McCain will continue to rattle their very blunted sabers.

Which is really a shame for the Democratic process in that part of the world.

By: pandora

pandora — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:06:05 +0000

Who is giving Russia a pass?

By: Mike Protack

Mike Protack — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:02:03 +0000

Georgia is on track to become part of NATO and 77% of its residents support that concept.

This incident has strong implications for who is up to being President.

A cautiously balanced diplomatic statement is not what we need from a President. It is funny how some will condemn our own country for invading Iraq but will give Russia a pass.

Russia is testing us and the new President to be.

By: Steve Newton

Steve Newton — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:15:32 +0000

And we have 1,600-2,000 American troops in Georgia on various missions…

By: miscreant

miscreant — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:12:30 +0000

“A President skilled in diplomacy would be a huge asset right now.”

Not to worry, Pandora, GWB is already working his magic.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/beijing_olympics/story/0,27313,24156469-5014197,00.html

By: Joe M

Joe M — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:20:20 +0000

http://www.meritboundalley.net/2008/08/08/conflict-in-south-ossetia/
http://www.meritboundalley.net/2008/08/09/update-on-family-in-georgia/

Yes, I care very much.

By: benjamin

benjamin — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:14:29 +0000

And if you look at the journalists who are now celebrating McCain as “prescient” because he rushed to condemn Russia and attack it with tough words right off the bat while Obama issued a cautious diplomatically balanced statement (that now has been toughened as Russia goes much beyond South Ossetia) I am afraid we are not going to be able to get that point across one more time Pandora.
Talking tough (even when it is clearly counterproductive like when mcCain promises to boot Russia out of the G8 which he cannot do and therefore only serves to fuel Russia’s paranoia and resentment) is going to be celebrated by the media as McCain being Presidential while being cautious and balanced (to preserve future effectiveness when trying to draw this war down) is going to be deemed a failure (read Ben Smith to see the seeds of that).
It is just pathetic. I am at the point where I would rather hear TV idiots say stupid things about a stupid story like Edwards than hear them say stupid things about a majorly grave story like this one.

By: pandora

pandora — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:06:23 +0000

Thank you, Tom. This strikes me as a bit more important than who had sex with who.

And you’re right… this is delicate situation that must not be allowed to escalate. A President skilled in diplomacy would be a huge asset right now.

By: Tom S.

Tom S. — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:46:19 +0000

This is tricky one – we need to buddy up to Russia but at the same time we can’t appear weak to the Eastern European countries that depend on us as an ally (and to the Russians who want to dominate them)

We need to pressure Russia into accepting the proposed Georgian cease-fire – it would cover most of our essential diplomatic bases and probably save a few lives. In return, we need to be prepared to give the Russians something, maybe Abkhazia.