I've got just the ship for him to take.
Posted on 08/10/2008 2:39:43 PM PDT by library user
As a Russian jet bombed fields around his village, Djimali Avago, a Georgian farmer, asked me: “Why won’t America and Nato help us? If they won’t help us now, why did we help them in Iraq?”
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
I think we could start by putting a bullet through Putin’s head.
No they do recognize their independence at least tacitly with the full expectation that the new independent states will be pro-Russian. Having independent states as Russian allies is not an oxymoron despite what some might think. That doesn’t preclude those new states from having ties with the west it only assures that Russia achieves its goal of having pro-Russian neighbor states.
That won't happen because when the dust settles there likely won't be a Georgia. There will only be a (larger) Russia. And nobody is going to do a thing about that.
Absolutely no good would come from GI Joe going toe to toe with Ivan.
No, it support the goal of the Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus to create a Caucasian caliphate stretching from the Black Sea to the Caspian. Then next place the “Kosovo Precedent” will be put into effect is Chechnya. The Chechens support the Abkhaz and South Ossetians and are eager to finish the job of exterminating the Christian people of Georgia which they started on Russia’s behalf in the early nineties.
Russia has had close ties with both regions since they declared their independence (and before) from Georgia in 1992. There are Russian populations in both ares, so I would not be surprised if they are given Russian passports.
There has been tension between Georgia and Russia for years. You would have to ask the Georgians why they decided to disrupt the status-qua that existed for the past sixteen years.
I haven't researched this yet for myself. But if this is true, this has the earmarks of an operation, by Russia, against Georgia.
Here's an article that has a some what different take on it...
Leaving aside the question of Russian interference (see below), the larger concern has been that Georgia might be tempted to use its newfound military prowess to resolve domestic conflicts by force.As Sergei Shamba, the foreign affairs minister of Abkhazia, told me in 2006: “The Georgians are euphoric because they have been equipped, trained, that they have gained military experience in Iraq. It feeds this revanchist mood… How can South Ossetia be demilitarized, when all of Georgia is bristling with weaponry, and it’s only an hour’s ride by tank from Tbilisi to Tskhinvali?”
One of the U.S. military trainers put it to me a bit more bluntly. “We’re giving them the knife,” he said. “Will they use it?”
So what some Chechens support the separatist claims of South Ossetia and Abkhazia? The Chechen muslims are the unfortunate result of the Ottoman jihad against these people who almost en masse converted to Islam rather than face the harsh realities of the dhimmi process. Chechnya can’t be allowed to establish independence since that would put an imprimatur on another Muslim victory achieved at the hands of the Jihad. I note that it was Russia that was condemned from time to time by the US and the West when it had to put down the Islamics harshly but now seen to be effectively dealt with despite the occasional Jihad for independence. On the other hand, South Ossetia has a majority Christian population. How does that figure into your equation?
I would point out as well that it was none other than Georgia which recognized the dubious separatist Ichkeria government in Chechnya which wasn’t recognized by anyone else. So I guess what’s good for the goose is not good for the gander?
All this is rather an oversimplification of Chechnya but suffice it to say when the Taliban recognized certain Chechnyan claims to independence I think that should have been a clue for most in the West. it wasn’t.
“There are Russian populations in both ares, so I would not be surprised if they are given Russian passports.”
You forgot the qualifier so I’ll complete the sentence for you. “There are few Russian populations in both areas, so it is surprising that there are so many passports.”
They have been giving the Persian ethnic population passports for years. Bid deal. It is sovereign terriory of Georgia. Russia now has boxed themselves in. They must totally conquer Georgia and lose total credibility or leave. When they leave, the NATO membership process will be sped up and both Ukrain and Georgia will be members of NATO.
When that happens Russia will do exactly what they did with Serbia. Nothing.
How does anybody know what we are or are not handling? Almost everyone’s chiming in that we’re not doing anything.Can you be sure?
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. That’s Cold War reality. Russia has opened up a can of worms and they will get slimed.
I find it hilarious that you apparently can't read a map!
Russia was in no position to aid Yugoslavia militarily. What they did was broker an end to NATO's war against Yugoslavia which retained Serbian sovereignty over Kosovo. (See UN resolution 1244.)
The failure of the West to live up to that agreement infuriated the Russian, they are now simply playing by the new rules!
Sorry, Serbia should pick its allies better. You picked the losers of the Cold War.
The New Cold War result will be the same. Yeah, I used to be against Kosovo independence. But the new Russian reality has me for it.
Russia is an enemy as is Serbia now.
The New Cold War result will be the same. Yeah, I used to be against Kosovo independence. But the new Russian reality has me for it.
Russia is an enemy as is Serbia now.
You mean the same Serbs who have been pro western for many years? The same Serbs who valiantly resisted the Nazis and Bosnian Muslim SS. The same Serbs who valiantly fought against the Ottoman Muslim hordes in the battle of Kosovo? The same largely Orthodox Christian Serbs? I see. You can sure pick your enemies.
Just what damn armed forces would you send in there Einstein? Our Army and Marine Corps are a little busy and Putin knows it.
It's an American tradition. One word: Yalta!
Maybe we shouldn’t make promises to friends and lead them to believe they can count on our support.
I don’t think we need to send troops; how about some armaments?
Leaving aside the question of Russian interference (see below), the larger concern has been that Georgia might be tempted to use its newfound military prowess to resolve domestic conflicts by force.
Sounds like someone is saying... "because we are concerned about it, this justifies Russia's seizing Georgia by force, and murdering 2,000 of its citizens."
Yes. Those Serbs.
Sorry for not fully explaining.
I thought that perhaps you had answered your own question.
I've got just the ship for him to take.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.