Replies

Synopsis:

So. Ossetia didn't start out that way. In the beginning of Georgia's independent, the people of So. Ossetia were in on the "Solidarity" movement in liberation from Russia.

Some in So. Ossetia, however, still had fealty to Russia. Nonetheless, these were Georgians "now". An active nationalist front arose in So. Ossetia. Why? Georgia, trying to settle all its "ethnic" differences, declared Georgian the official language of Georgia. So. Ossetia felt "dissed". And began rebelling against their own government -- Georgia. So. Ossetia refused to vote in Georgian elections and began holding its own elections, with its own leaders.

Georgia passed a law banning "regional parties". So. Ossetia screams to Russia. Russia and Chirac (France) agree to issue passports to So. Ossetia.

This then provides So. Ossetia with "dual nationality". Illegal smuggling grows in So. Ossetia. brawls begin.

To the point the international "community" is called in. First call if for "peacekeepers". Then it is decided that instead of using "non-involved peacekeepers", the peacekeeping force between Georgia, So. Ossetia should be comprised of Georgia, So. Ossetian and Russian peacekeepers.

Obviously, the latter didn't work out very well. The Bear and So. Ossetian working hand in hand, also I quote in a clearly word cite by Putin, in conference with Chirac, in 2004 -- to regain the 8 independent states back to Russia.

If fingers are to be also pointed, I point my finger at the fraudulent So. Ossetia "government".

They went right along with the movement away from Russia, and then decided their "language/culture" should be given status. So. Ossetia does not constitute even 1/3 of the entire domain of Georgia.

So, no. I don't acknowledge So. Ossetia as: its own country, nor as having a legitimate form of government OUTSIDE OF THE Georgian government.

Russia has invaded a sovereign country, with complicity of So. Ossetia.

It's not a matter of whether anyone is capable of understanding: it should be more about what the facts are.

But you can help me understand something: Why didn't So. Ossetia move to declare itself "Russian" from the very beginning of Georgia's Independence?

And especially, since you say, the people of So. Ossetia look more like "northern" Ossetians?

And what do "looks" have to do with with a choice in government?

Georgia, trying to settle all its "ethnic" differences, declared Georgian the official language of Georgia. So. Ossetia felt "dissed". And began rebelling against their own government -- Georgia. So. Ossetia refused to vote in Georgian elections and began holding its own elections, with its own leaders.

Excellent post, Alia. And the quote above strikes close to home. A country without an official language, used by everyone, cannot be unified. The growing minority of Hispanics in the U.S. who speak no English are damaging our own unity.

It seems to me that Georgia was dealing with an internal problem, and was within its rights to do so. The Russians had no right to attack Georgia, and their claim that they were supporting Russian nationalis from oppression is ludicrous.