Well, as seems to be usual now on the list, I have a slightly different perspective.
Georgia was granted autonomy from Russia after the breakup of the Soviet Union. They applied for sovereign status and was recognised by the US, the UN and the EU. South Ossetia was also a former part of the Soviet Union. It's people were ethnically distinct from the rest of Georgia. They have their own culture, and their own identity. They have also sought autonomy and sovereignty. However, they have been denied by the Western countries, and the UN. The United States has heavily funded Georgia, supplying it with money, weapons and military training. Georgia had one of the largest contingents of a foreign country in Iraq up to a few months ago. The US was also instrumental in pushing for NATO membership for Georgia.This would allow them to plant Anti Missile batteries, ICBM batteries and other military facilities, radars and what not in Georgia. It would take completely inept, and incompetent foreign policy makers in the US to not realise that this would anger the Russians, and that the Russians would see this as Interference and a threat. This should have been doubly evident as NATO has done exactly that in other territories surrounding Russia. Russia has been protesting Georgia's inclusion into NATO, and also the US support of Georgia.US Pundits and analyst act surprised. NATO claims that Russia is being irrational. Go figure. In fighting in 1990 over 100,000 South Ossetians were displaced. As compared to 23,000 Georgians living in South Ossetia who simply crossed the border into Georgia proper.After this fighting a peacekeeping force of Georgians, South Ossetians and Russians was established. There was relative peace after this. South Ossetia has been calling for Autonomy and Independence. It held a massive , democratic referendum vote. Over 90% of the population voted for Sovereignty. Georgia said that the voting was rigged, and that it would not accept the vote. The EU said it would not recognise the democratic vote. South Ossetia protested, was denied, and then decided to have the vote again. This time with UN, and other Democratic watchgroups overseeing the voting. This time over 98% of the population voted for Sovereignty. Georgia again resisted, I don't know under what grounds this time. The EU refused to recognise the referendum, instead directing South Ossetia to talk and negotiate with Georgia. The EU also said that it would not send any peacekeeping force to South Ossetia. In 2004 Georgian officials suddenly decided to combat 'Smuggling' in the region, for which they blamed the South Ossetians. This set the stage for hostilities, after what was relative peace with South Ossetia handling its affairs, and Georgia doing likewise between 1990 and 2004. Now one must understand, that South Ossetia is a poor, harsh region, and its population are mostly subsistence farmers. Georgia went so far as to cut off electricity to the region, forcing them to turn to Russia and North Ossetia for power and assistance. This is the context of the situation. It's interesting after Georgia (being supplied with arms, training and money by the US according to US reports) launched a surprise military attack against the *CIVILIAN* population of a neighboring territory when the world's attention was diverted by something like the Olympics (a symbol of peace and world unity),that *Russia* who are providing that territory's only real defence is seen as the aggressor, and as the side seeking to reopen cold war hostilities. It is also interesting that certain people have the completely wrong view as to who attacked first. "Georgian military commanders confirmed an invasion began in the early hours of Friday morning, raising fears of a serious diplomatic crisis between the country's western allies and Moscow. The United States swiftly called for calm, but appeared to apportion more blame on Moscow and the separatist forces it supports for taking the volatile region to the brink of war. "We're urging Moscow to press South Ossetia's de facto leaders to stop firing," a US State department official said. "We're urging Tbilisi to maintain restraint." Just hours after Mikheil Saaskashvili, Georgia's pro-western president, declared a unilateral ceasefire, his armed forces began an artillery barrage against Tskhinvali, the rebel capital. Military commanders indicated that a full-scale invasion was underway and would not stop until Georgia had regain control of the self-proclaimed republic, which attempted to secede in a bloody war that ended, unresolved in 1994." *GEORGIA* attacked South Ossetia.*GEORGIA* stated that the fighting would not stop until South Ossetia had been reclaimed. After *GEORGIA* attacked South Ossetia Civilian population without provocation, the US asked South Ossetia not to defend itself. Now of course, one is free to interpret, rationalise and skew the facts as one will, however one should be skillful enough with Spin and Propaganda to not overtly Alter facts that are so plainly stated in numerous International news reports straight from the mouths of Georgia's leadership itself. 2008/8/10 Robert Munn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > So what does everyone think of the situation in Gerogia? The Russians > appear to have completely thrown out the post-Cold War agenda and seem > to be intent on overthrowing the democratic government of Georgia. > > The Russians timed the invasion on purpose, as well. They waited until > the opening day of the Olympics to stage a massive assault. Who knows > where it ends at this point. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Adobe® ColdFusion® 8 software 8 is the most important and dramatic release to date Get the Free Trial http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;203748912;27390454;j Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/message.cfm/messageid:265699 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
