Georgia/Russia Whatsits
Aug. 13th, 2008 07:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aliarasSo, here's what I understand of the Georgia/Russia conflict, with links for your tabbed-browsing pleasure. LJ-cut for the sake of your flist!
There's two secessionist regions in the area - South Ossetia, and Abkhazia. They both seceded, fought a little war, and have been puttering about since about 1994 (if you ask the BBC) or 2004 (if you ask NPR). Russia decided that the two needed protection, and has issued Russian passports to the citizens of both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. As both regions are economically significant (more here), Georgia is not at all pleased by this state of affairs. Russia has a military presence in them to "keep the peace", and Georgia has a military presence to "prevent atrocities against ethnic Georgians." (NPR) The politics of it all are not helped by the fact that Georgia is pro-West, Russia is...notsomuch.
From the same NPR story, it looks like the actual fighting started with a sniper fire incident leading to politicians wanking leading to Georgia capturing a city leading to Russia making airstrikes and going beyond the contested territory. Ooops. General public opinion seems to be that Russia is a big bully because of this.
A ceasfire was negotiated on Tuesday (NPR), but both sides accuse the other of breaking it. With stuff like this happening, it's pretty clear that it's tenuous at best. I haven't found a news story yet about Georgian forces breaking the cease fire, just mentions of Russian accusations that they're not withdrawing fast enough. The French negotiated the ceasefire, and the EU has offered to send peacekeeping help pending UN approval.
The US sides with Georgia, and have sent humanitarian aid in using military resources. (BBC) Prior to this conflict, the US has been involved with the training and equipping of the Georgian military. Georgia also sent 2000 troops to Iraq and has applied for NATO membership.
That's pretty much all I've got regarding the facts. Without a more detailed knowledge of the region, I can't predict how the various political forces will work out and whether or not the conflict will get worse or better. However, I will say that I hope the US stays the hell away. Humanitarian efforts, fine. We should also keep our borders open to the inevitable refugees, and try not to bog them down with bureaucracies. Military aid to Georgia would be a REALLY BAD IDEA though. First, it wouldn't help with the national debt. Second, it wouldn't help with the imperialistic image in the world. And finally, bringing more superpowers in and reopening old US-Russia wounds would probably not cool the conflict down at all. The EU is already trying to help, let them do the work this time.
Comments? Things to add?
We now return to your regularly scheduled evening of Olympics.
There's two secessionist regions in the area - South Ossetia, and Abkhazia. They both seceded, fought a little war, and have been puttering about since about 1994 (if you ask the BBC) or 2004 (if you ask NPR). Russia decided that the two needed protection, and has issued Russian passports to the citizens of both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. As both regions are economically significant (more here), Georgia is not at all pleased by this state of affairs. Russia has a military presence in them to "keep the peace", and Georgia has a military presence to "prevent atrocities against ethnic Georgians." (NPR) The politics of it all are not helped by the fact that Georgia is pro-West, Russia is...notsomuch.
From the same NPR story, it looks like the actual fighting started with a sniper fire incident leading to politicians wanking leading to Georgia capturing a city leading to Russia making airstrikes and going beyond the contested territory. Ooops. General public opinion seems to be that Russia is a big bully because of this.
A ceasfire was negotiated on Tuesday (NPR), but both sides accuse the other of breaking it. With stuff like this happening, it's pretty clear that it's tenuous at best. I haven't found a news story yet about Georgian forces breaking the cease fire, just mentions of Russian accusations that they're not withdrawing fast enough. The French negotiated the ceasefire, and the EU has offered to send peacekeeping help pending UN approval.
The US sides with Georgia, and have sent humanitarian aid in using military resources. (BBC) Prior to this conflict, the US has been involved with the training and equipping of the Georgian military. Georgia also sent 2000 troops to Iraq and has applied for NATO membership.
That's pretty much all I've got regarding the facts. Without a more detailed knowledge of the region, I can't predict how the various political forces will work out and whether or not the conflict will get worse or better. However, I will say that I hope the US stays the hell away. Humanitarian efforts, fine. We should also keep our borders open to the inevitable refugees, and try not to bog them down with bureaucracies. Military aid to Georgia would be a REALLY BAD IDEA though. First, it wouldn't help with the national debt. Second, it wouldn't help with the imperialistic image in the world. And finally, bringing more superpowers in and reopening old US-Russia wounds would probably not cool the conflict down at all. The EU is already trying to help, let them do the work this time.
Comments? Things to add?
We now return to your regularly scheduled evening of Olympics.
