[XR7]

All is not as it seems.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

All is not as it seems.

It never is.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Creating nations based primarily on ethnicity is a recipe for disaster.

Merging with Georgia seems to me to be a wiser policy then merging back with Russia.

Expecting that Russia will somehow support an independent Abkhazia is a pipe dream.

The Abkhazians should have worked with the Georgians to create an autonomous region with strong ties to the Georgian government.

The Abkhazians got greedy and are reaping the whirlwind.

[cornelis]

When my two boys fight, they are both right—in part.

[Dawnsblood]

I do not see how his family, which is at least 100 miles from the war zone, is getting it's unbiased info. I suspect that they get their news from the Russian media, which is far from unbiased. I wish his family peace and security but doubt they know anymore then their Russian rulers allow. It will be a long while before we truthfully know exactly what happened.

[Canedawg]

Why am I writing this? I do not know what else I can do. I must speak the truth.”

When I first processed and digested what happened there, my instincts told me that Georgia was the initial aggressor, but then Russia became embroiled in response to that. It is the conflict withing the conflict.

But as another Freeper mentioned yesterday, Georgia can not win a conventional war with Russia, and should avoid being drawn into a military conflict with them, for its own sake and survival.

[Lilith Incubus]

Of course you are correct that Georgia's aggression against South Ossetia ignited this whole issue, anyone who cannot see this must have blinkered vision. The 95%+ Russian population in south Ossetia were under threat from Saakashvili and his troops.

Conversely, this was the perfect excuse for Putin to get his troops into Georgia, along with his drilling in the Arctic, it's linked to his plan to dictate energy supply throughout Europe.

[Revolting cat!]

If Russia did not step in, Georgians would further the attack and take over Abkhazia; my family would be slaughtered by now.

And the author is certain that his family would have been slaughtered, how?

[Paleo Conservative]

Georgia attacked South Ossetia, destroying its capital Tskhinvali, killing innocent people; Russia came in to protect the Ossetians.

And we know this how? I seem to recall that when the Germans started WWII, they dressed up some concentration camp inmates as Polish soldiers, shot them, then claimed that Polish soldiers had attacked Germans. Don't think for a minute that Putin wouldn't copy this deceit from the Nazi playbook.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

photodu@gmail.com

Does the du stand for Democratic Underground?

[dirtboy]

Oh, yeah, this is a REALLY unbiased source:

http://www.topix.com/forum/world/T4OVJ4DEMS67TBE7I

Daniel Usenko
Everett, WA

I am myself Russian, and I grew up in Abkhazia (the other break-away region of Georgia). I currently live in the United States.

[dirtboy]

All is not as it seems.

Very true. The author neglected to mention he is Russian.

As Orwell once said, omission is the most powerful form of lie.

[Locomotive Breath]

And if New Mexico decides to become part of old Mexico, your solution is what?

[Revolting cat!]

The following was taken verbatim from the author's personal website:

About me

body piercing has saved my life     i try 
to hide the marks to help them 
understand but they doubt that i am
of course i must and if i'm wrong then i
must be     i see and they dont see and
then again they see im blind     we
think we know yet we do not    the
truth itself will show the truth it shows
today     captives are we and it is key

[throwback]

Okay, the Georgians are the bad guys, and this is exactly identical with Kosovo, since the Georgians were herding people into the streets and murdering them right. So then the Russians are like the U.S. and NATO and have only intruded into the conflict area and stopped the fighting there right? Uh, but wait a minute. Seems they're continuing on into Georgia and proceeding to destroy all of the military hardware, personnel, and infrastructure that they feel like. And NATO did that in Serbia right? I'm sure the Georgians aren't saints, but I think Saakashvili is more unwise than evil.

[MarMema]

Russia came in to protect the Ossetians.

So what are they doing in Poti?

[Dead Dog]

How about a brief history of the area? Who are the South Ossetians? Why did Georgia shell them? What are each groups interests that are in conflict?

We appreciate your perspective on this.

[Fichori]

“All is not as it seems.”

You mean like the part about the Russian backed [and armed] terrorists in South Ossetia shelling Georgian cities?

Russia was well prepared in advance of this and they were baiting Georgia.


I smell communist troll.

[throwback]

You know, this guy reminds of another more famous communist that has chosen to live in the U.S. The other day my local paper put Gorbachev’s latest apologetic for this war on the editorial page. Why is it that these communists that so love their country can't bring themselves to live among the ashes of their beloved motherland, and stay the h_ll out of our country. It was your bed Gorbi, go sleep in it.

[Sundog]

Thank you for your insight. I appreciate the background information.

[uscabjd]

So, the Georgians hate the Ossetians so much that that there is wanton slaughter unless the Ossetians are protested by the Russians. I’ve seen these people on TV, and, seriously, how do they tell each other apart? They all look alike to me. How do they know who to kill?