Way to Russia Talk Lounge

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 446

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL768040420080808

Fighting again.

Ender · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:48 pm Post subject:

I like these quiotes from their president:

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 446

Anyone know if Georgian military weapon systems are all made in U.S.? Or do they buy hardware ( aircraft, tanks, missiles, rifles, etc. ) from other countries such as Britain, France, China, or others?

Ender · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:27 am Post subject:

DITTRICH · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:09 pm Post subject:

Not wishing to depress people, I suspect that this could get nasty for the locals and the military there on both sides. Just remember that the Russians are flush with alot of oil money and can quite easily afford to spend big bucks if it suits their purpose. Going to protect russian passport holding south ossetians may well be politically expedient. I cannot comment on whether the georgians moved first against south ossetia or whether the russians did. Also remember that quite alot of oil flows through georgia westwards and the oil price hasn't been doing very much lately. cutting off georgia's export revenue sources would purely be a negotiating tactic from the Russians. Expect the Russians to occupy south ossetia and then a u.n. force might be installed to keep both sides apart in the future. georgians won't be too popular in moscow right now.
Les

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 446

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 446

Yesterday on a U.S. TV program, former U.S. Secretary Of Defense William Cohen said if Georgia had been a NATO member, the U.S would be obligated to defend Georgia.

Xela · VIP Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 781 Location: Shanghai

Russian strikes must stop immediately, there is no question about that.

The reason Russia provided about occupying Chechnya is the exact same reason Georgia provided about occupying South Ossetia.

Yet Russia is wholeheartedly supporting the actions of a breakaway republic, whilst trying to fool South Ossetians with Passports into thinking they are actually Russian. When we all know Russians would never view or treat South Ossetians as brothers. Which almost makes me think South Ossetians must be the most stupid people on earth to actually believe the Russians.

Until of course I remember that the international community is on top of Russia right now, and any tiny shred of respect they held for the Russians has now well and truly vanished.

Congratulations Russia, on your staunch double values, I think both you and the South Ossetians may well have found the perfect partnership. Applause

staleek · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:30 am Post subject:

DITTRICH · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:48 am Post subject:

Ultimately, I think the South Ossetians must decide their own future. Either as a part of the Russian Federation or as a part of Georgia. Obviously, if Moscow chooses to protect and fund them more than Tblisi then what would one expect? The South Ossetians are no less practical than anyone else. Sure the interests of Moscow and the South Ossetians coincide at present but I rather suspect that it wouldn't be like that if they were already part of Russia and wanted to join Georgia. Nation states don't have morality and cannot afford sentimentality. Nation states have interests which they guard and develope as they can. That's life and politics for you. Having read a little further, I can't believe the Georgian politicians were so dumb that they thought that they could get away with this. No matter what they were told and by whom before they attacked South Ossetia. My money is on the Russian Army absolutely kicking seven shades of sh!t out of the Georgian military over the next few days to teach them a lesson. All the Russians need to do is pump a little more oil out westwards to pay for it all. And it will all end by Russia permanently stationing military assets in South Ossetia and Abkhasia in order to "protect" the South Ossetians - and Moscow's other interests. If I were in Moscow's position I'd do exactly that.
Les

WayToRussia · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:44 am Post subject:

I've been following the events very closely, since the very beginning. I won't comment on who is right and who's wrong, because the information I get is from the media and each newspaper and TV channel is biased in some sort of way. If you are interested in first-hand experience, here's a link to the blog of a girl who lives in Georgia (in Russian): http://pepsikolka.livejournal.com/

All I can say is that I really deeply regret that the whole thing happened, because Georgia is a great place, and Georgians are great and hospitable people. I've never been there, but as a Russian I'm afraid I won't be able to travel there in the near future. I'm sure it will give a new rise to racist sentiments on both sides, and this is very, very sad...

There's a center opened in Moscow on Novoslobodskaya street, #32/2 (tel +7 495 502–32–01), which receives aid for South Ossetians (the break-away region, which was the reason for the war). If anybody knows other centers that provide help for Georgians or South Ossetians, please, post it here as well.

A brief analysis of the media shows that at least this time the Western newspapers are not as anti-Russian as they've always been. I expected to see flows of anti-Russian propaganda, but so far only BBC had an article clearly depicting Russia as an aggressor and Georgian president as an innocent man who's trying to save his country. The Guardian has very good and objective coverage of the conflict ( http://guardian.co.uk ) as well as the Russian Kommersant newspaper ( http://kommersant.ru ).

Most of the Russian bloggers (or the ones I've read) definitely do not want the war, but a lot of people also feel a lot of hatred and want to retaliate to the Georgian army for killing Russian citizens and peacekeeping forces in South Ossetia.

Russian politicians are themselves in a very complicated situation. If they don't do anything, there might be a full-scale war starting in Caucasus again, nobody wants that to happen. At the same time I think the whole situation is of course seen as an opportunity to extend Russia's influence over the region. I just don't understand why the Georgian president was so stupid to order his army to start fighting. Even (as they say) if they were provoked, it would be much wiser to stay at their positions and not shoot back. But it seems like he (or the forces that back him) had his own agenda and now innocent people have to suffer.

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 446

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080810/D92FMO4O0.html

"Russia also sent a naval squadron to blockade Georgia's Black Sea coast. Ukraine, where the ships were based, warned Russia in response that it has the right to bar the ships from coming back to port because of their mission."

Ukraine getting involved.

Ender · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:51 am Post subject:

Ender · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:57 am Post subject:

Ender · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:03 pm Post subject: