When I chose the topic it was in full swing, but then when I got around to blogging about it, it had kind of died down a bit ...
As to what is going on with Russia and Georgia right now, well:
This news article says that Amnesty International is urging accountability. I guess they are urging someone to take the blame for who started the whole conflict.
Civilians are at risk due to unexploded ordnance, lootings and shootings taking place in Southern Ossetia. Amnesty International is urging Georgia and Russia to provide security for these people without discrimination. Lots of property is destroyed so many people don't have homes.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
References
BBC. (2008). Russian troops advance in Georgia. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7554507.stm
Blomfield, A. (2008). Georgia: Russia enters into 'war' in South Ossetia. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/georgia/2525400/Georgia-Russia-enters-into-war-in-South-Ossetia.html
Clover, C. (2008). Ft.com - Georgia says Russia at war. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/35d712be-6574-11dd-a352-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1
Jazeera, A. (2008). Al Jazeera - Russia 'cuts Georgia in half' Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2008/08/200881241938917173.html
Patterson, D. (2008). Russia Georgia Conflict - Background and Context. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://talkradionews.com/2008/08/russia-georgia-conflict-background-and-context/
pravda.ru. (2008). War between Russia and Georgia orchestrated from USA. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/106046-russia_georgia-0
Rachel Stevenson, J. M. (2008). Georgia conflict could set back Russia's US relations 'for years'. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/14/georgia.russia7
Stefan. (2008). Russia invades Georgia! (Blog for democracy!). Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://www.blogfordemocracy.org/2008/08/russia_invades_georgia.html
www.chinaview.cn. (2008). NATO demands immediate Russian pullback from Georgia, warns of chill in ties. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/20/content_9527755.htm
Zarakhovich, Y. (2008). Why the Russia-Georgia Spat Could Become a U.S. Headache. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1542107,00.html
Blomfield, A. (2008). Georgia: Russia enters into 'war' in South Ossetia. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/georgia/2525400/Georgia-Russia-enters-into-war-in-South-Ossetia.html
Clover, C. (2008). Ft.com - Georgia says Russia at war. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/35d712be-6574-11dd-a352-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1
Jazeera, A. (2008). Al Jazeera - Russia 'cuts Georgia in half' Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2008/08/200881241938917173.html
Patterson, D. (2008). Russia Georgia Conflict - Background and Context. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://talkradionews.com/2008/08/russia-georgia-conflict-background-and-context/
pravda.ru. (2008). War between Russia and Georgia orchestrated from USA. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/106046-russia_georgia-0
Rachel Stevenson, J. M. (2008). Georgia conflict could set back Russia's US relations 'for years'. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/14/georgia.russia7
Stefan. (2008). Russia invades Georgia! (Blog for democracy!). Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://www.blogfordemocracy.org/2008/08/russia_invades_georgia.html
www.chinaview.cn. (2008). NATO demands immediate Russian pullback from Georgia, warns of chill in ties. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/20/content_9527755.htm
Zarakhovich, Y. (2008). Why the Russia-Georgia Spat Could Become a U.S. Headache. Retrieved 19th August, 2008, from http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1542107,00.html
Of Georgia and South Ossetia
Found this page on wiki about the war and background on the history between Georgia and South Ossetia (a page worth checking out).
After the break up of the Soviet Union around 1990, Georgia realised ethnic Georgians as the 'true people' of Georgia, who coincidentally made up 70% of the population. South Ossetians were seen as newcomers. As it so happens, South Ossetians are of Iranian descent. Georgian became the official language while South Ossetians speak Russian and Ossetian.
1991 rolls around and Georgian forces entered the capital of South Ossetia and killed 20,000 people apparently. This forced South Ossetia to break away from Georgia and gaining de facto independence.
So this war really has been a long time brewing, and it took about 17 years for tension to rise to such a point that it really hit the world stage. Whether South Ossetia should be annexed into Georgia is debatable, but really. My personal opinion is that there isn't really much of a conflict going on, its more of a case of trying to teach an old dog new tricks. Georgia should leave South Ossetia alone because economically and most likely militarily, South Ossetia does not pose a threat to Georgia at all.
One thing I do find particularly amusing is on the 12th of August, Russian President Medvedev met the President of the European union and the French President to approve a six-point peace plan. After this many western leaders asked Russia to withdraw troops quickly, some left but some still remain. Apparently due to the vague language in the 5th point of the six-point peace plan, it doesn't specifically state when or how far Russian troops have to withdraw. Sounds like the Russians to me!
After the break up of the Soviet Union around 1990, Georgia realised ethnic Georgians as the 'true people' of Georgia, who coincidentally made up 70% of the population. South Ossetians were seen as newcomers. As it so happens, South Ossetians are of Iranian descent. Georgian became the official language while South Ossetians speak Russian and Ossetian.
1991 rolls around and Georgian forces entered the capital of South Ossetia and killed 20,000 people apparently. This forced South Ossetia to break away from Georgia and gaining de facto independence.
So this war really has been a long time brewing, and it took about 17 years for tension to rise to such a point that it really hit the world stage. Whether South Ossetia should be annexed into Georgia is debatable, but really. My personal opinion is that there isn't really much of a conflict going on, its more of a case of trying to teach an old dog new tricks. Georgia should leave South Ossetia alone because economically and most likely militarily, South Ossetia does not pose a threat to Georgia at all.
One thing I do find particularly amusing is on the 12th of August, Russian President Medvedev met the President of the European union and the French President to approve a six-point peace plan. After this many western leaders asked Russia to withdraw troops quickly, some left but some still remain. Apparently due to the vague language in the 5th point of the six-point peace plan, it doesn't specifically state when or how far Russian troops have to withdraw. Sounds like the Russians to me!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Bush's accusations
Source
This article states "The UN Charter sets forth the 'equal rights of nations large and small.'"
This brings me back to my point of me being sick of the USA being the 'world police'. Bringing up Iraq again, the USA didn't have to get involved... I mean, I know it was for 'peace' and everything (oil). I know there is a difference between the USA invading Iraq and Russia invading Georgia, but really. Does it not seem a tiny bit hypocritical of the USA to be so against what Russia is doing?
This article states "The UN Charter sets forth the 'equal rights of nations large and small.'"
This brings me back to my point of me being sick of the USA being the 'world police'. Bringing up Iraq again, the USA didn't have to get involved... I mean, I know it was for 'peace' and everything (oil). I know there is a difference between the USA invading Iraq and Russia invading Georgia, but really. Does it not seem a tiny bit hypocritical of the USA to be so against what Russia is doing?
About the USA and Russia
Before I write something to do with the conflict that is happening between Russia and Georgia right now, I just want to say that the USA and Russia have never really ever been on good terms. They might have been a bit chummy in WW2 to get rid of the Germans, but that blew up shortly after with the Cold War. Citizens of both countries were living in constant fear of nuclear warheads flying overhead.
I guess after that all blew over, the USA took the limelight as the #1 super power in the world today with Russia falling behind (I guess due to economic issues and what not).
You hear on the news when something of NASA blows up. Do you hear about Russia's space program? Not really because on a whole it is a lot more reliable than NASA's. I guess the only time the USA and Russia have really been working together is in orbit. Now I'm sure Russia is very keen to reclaim their former glory (USSR anyone?) and an excuse to blow stuff up in a country on your door step is a good enough reason to me. Seriously though, I'm sure Russia might have an as of yet unpublicized reason for having done what they have done, or maybe not? Maybe Georgia just made them angry.
I guess after that all blew over, the USA took the limelight as the #1 super power in the world today with Russia falling behind (I guess due to economic issues and what not).
You hear on the news when something of NASA blows up. Do you hear about Russia's space program? Not really because on a whole it is a lot more reliable than NASA's. I guess the only time the USA and Russia have really been working together is in orbit. Now I'm sure Russia is very keen to reclaim their former glory (USSR anyone?) and an excuse to blow stuff up in a country on your door step is a good enough reason to me. Seriously though, I'm sure Russia might have an as of yet unpublicized reason for having done what they have done, or maybe not? Maybe Georgia just made them angry.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
War between Russia and Georgia
Link to news story.
According to this article, Russian officals are saying that what is going on in Georgia and Southern Ossetia is similar to what is going on in Iraq and that the USA has orchestrated it. Now, I believe that the USA would not be so foolish (some say that they might; Iraq war). This article says that Georgia has been firing at Southern Ossetias civilians, destroying homes etc.
Keep in mind that this article is from a Russian website, so it may be biased towards the Russians to make themselves look better. I myself have a neutral opinion either way.
According to this article, Russian officals are saying that what is going on in Georgia and Southern Ossetia is similar to what is going on in Iraq and that the USA has orchestrated it. Now, I believe that the USA would not be so foolish (some say that they might; Iraq war). This article says that Georgia has been firing at Southern Ossetias civilians, destroying homes etc.
Keep in mind that this article is from a Russian website, so it may be biased towards the Russians to make themselves look better. I myself have a neutral opinion either way.
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