Russia had never expressed any interest in Ossetian or Abkhazian micronationalisms, while Georgia was an integral part of the Soviet Union. It is thus impossible to avoid the suspicion that these small peoples are being used as "strategic minorities" to negate the independence of the larger Georgian republic and to warn all those with pro-Russian populations on their soil of what may, in turn, befall them.
and...
and hard on the heels of a Russian obstruction of any U.N. action in the case of Zimbabwe.
and...
If it matters, I agree with the critics who say that the Bush administration garnered the worst of both worlds by giving the Georgians the impression of U.S. support and then defaulting at the push-comes-to-shove moment.
Well, I don't agree. As I read hither and yon specifics about the agreement between US and Georgia, there was absolutely no reason for Georgia to stretch what was agreed to. I don't agree the US gave that "impression" as much as it was a case of GA "hoping" that when push might come to shove... This is a honest hope.
In this regard: My daughter in her car hit a tire rim lying on the highway. $2400 in damages. She was fine but shaken. Long story short, AFTERwards we learned that had the tire rim been THROWN at her car; coverage would have taken place. But running over it? Nope. And she gets negative points in her driving profile. She now just wishes she'd read the "nuances" in her insurance clauses aforehand.
No comparison between my daughter's "accident" and what is happening in Russia/GA - except by analogy in comprehending "finer details".
The Russian troops in South Ossetia and Abkzazia were there because of UN resolution. The Sochi Agreement was codified by the United Nations in August 1993 giving Russian peace keeping forces every right to be in both of the break away regions of Georgia. What are peace keepers to do when the area they are guarding is being invaded?