Tuesday, August 12, 2008

[south ossetia] not straightforward

This is my post some time back on the matter.

If you have a long border and if on your doorstep is a tinpot demagogue shoring up his own position and gladly accepting largesse from a traditional enemy by oppressing the people loyal to your country, what do you do?

Tell me any country which does not protect its own interests. This is far more complex than is being presented.

9 comments:

  1. This was supposed to be about South Ossetian independence and interests. The Russian actions are those of a country determined to control its satellites and impose its will on a sovereign state - Georgia.

    I wonder how long will it be before the South Ossetians realise they have managed to break away from Georgia only to become part of Mother Russia and start questioning that outcome. The problems for that country will be long and complicated.

    Regardless, what we have is Putinism laid bare. Overseas political assassinations, using energy supplies as a strategic weapon to achieve its aims and now showing a willingness to engage in military action in the internal dispute of another country.

    Whatever the rights and wrongs of Georgia's position, Russia has taken advantage of them. Where next? Ukraine?

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  2. There's an interesting idea out that the Russians are being allowed to do this so that they won't get involved in any conflict between America + allies and Iran.

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  3. James - You wrote your previous post on this issue whilst Putin was still president. He is now more dangerous as the back seat driver. Surely this is Putin longing for the Soviet era again. He has managed to turn Russia into a form of dictatorship, making sure his puppet became president and now he wants Georgia under his control. As Tony said; where will it all end?

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  4. Ellee has a really interesting post on this!

    I agree with Andrew, I feel Russia is slipping back into it's communist ways...

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  5. I think I need to do a post on this. Thanks, people.

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  6. "Complexity" is the issue? Ethnic cleansing is ithe issue. Displacing 100,000 people is the issue. C'mon!

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  7. I said almost exactly the same to the voice on BBC Radio Scotland promoting a phone in programme to discuss "what Russia is doing to Georgia." Nothing can be quite that simple.

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  8. Go Vladimir! Thankfully Georgia isn't on our doorstep or we'd dither until everyone was dead.

    Naturally I've posted my thoughts.

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