Comments on: Georgia: How close did Europe come to a wider war?

By: Alex K.

Alex K. — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:34:33 +0000

I ‘ve just finished reading the whole blog. My general impression is that all anti-russian posts look either stupid or hysterical, at the least. Can anyone give serious “nay” to pro-russian side of the story?

By: Alex K.

Alex K. — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:15:35 +0000

Let me give a few history facts:
1) Whatever you say, DO NOT CONFUSE Russia with Soviet Union. Russia had suffered from communists more than anyone else in the world. Especially from two Georgians, - Stalin (real name Jugashvili) and Beria (the bloodiest head of KGB). By the way, they gave Abkhazia and South Ossetia to Georgia, - these two countries were never under Georgian jurisdiction.
2) There were always small-scale skirmishes along the Ossetia-Georgian border, that’s why Russian peacekeepers were there separating sides. I don’t think Ossetians were firing at villages, but even if it is so, a massive attack in response to a few shots (possible provocation?) simply cannot be spontaneous and must have been planned ahead.
3) Georgian forces leveled Tskhinvali, a capital of South Ossetia with population ~30,000. More than 1000 civilians (according to Russian officials) were killed. And it took almost 24 hours of bloodshed before Russia has intervened, - that doesn’t look like they were planning the war ahead.

By: Shaan

Shaan — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:41:19 +0000

Even if all of Europe and the US were in war, it would not have triggered a ‘World’ war. This could only be a Nato-Russia war. During WWI and WWII most of Asia and Africa were under European control. So these regions were also dragged into the wars. Now its not the case. Anyway, this may lead to a nuclear war in Europe and N.America.

But why do you people want to put the lives of millions of people around Europe for the sake of Georgia’s territorial integrity. Is Georgia a divine land that must not be divided?

By: JonChris

JonChris — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:37:57 +0000

Hello People!!!!
This has been coming for a few years now!!! As the sleeping Bear has slowly regained its former military. Russia has been looking at going back to its old ways! Putin is and always will be KGB on the front it has been disband. But when was the last time anyone has heard of freedom of elections in Russia? Required for the G-8 Membership the EU wanted. Every opposition was arrested and Putin put his puppet on stage for the world to see.
I think that a strong statement from Nato and the USA needs to be delivered to Russia NOW!!! If we let them continue to think that the world will stand by and watch!!
We will have many more lives at risk!!! The Ukraine will be next, then Poland and Moldova. Are we a free society willing to let that happen? I hope to god that the USA will respond and make clear that Georgia is free and will remain a free county. My heart bleeds Red White and Blue and I think people need to see the long term affects of this invasion by a hostile force. Russia is already reneging on its signed agreement to withdraw troops and only leave peace keepers

By: Suzanna

Suzanna — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:47:38 +0000

We were very close to a wider conflict. If NATO or the US had not acted with as much care and caution as they have we could already be in it.
This situation would not have developed if Georgia had been given a timetable for joining NATO, including conditions that need to be met, before Georgia can acutually become a member. Surely, the rights of minorities and all citizens must be guaranteed. This is in Russia interest as well. Since Russians abroad will be safe in countries that are democracies, law-abiding states that honour human rights. If Russia realy cares about minorities and human rights, it will foster the growth of democracies on its borders (Byelorussia, Middle-Asia, etc).

By: Stupidity 2

Stupidity 2 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:22:11 +0000

What I find odd is that bloggers posting on this site fail to realize how coordinated Russia was in the sense of time it took to invade the country of Georgia. This means this was not something that was started simply by Georgia attacking South Osetia. Russia was building up an army on the borders of their old provinces for just such a provocation so they could defend their actions in invading another country. Vladamir Putin and the rest of the Kremlin cronies are trying to revive their strenght in the world and the only way to do that is to dominate the area around you which they are currently doing. I say down with Russia and their Cold War Era behaviors. If the country can’t survive in todays society without being a bully to its neighbors or if they can’t survive without flouting their new found riches in oil then the country would be better off it collaspsed completely. I would then say good riddence to bad Russian Rubbish.

By: Sinan

Sinan — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:20:57 +0000

Why Bush is trying to provoke Russians. Cold War had ended and Bush is trying to put radar stations+ military hardware close to Russia…Bush is the provocateur not Russia. Russia is trying to recoup from past Soviet mistakes and the neocons of Washington are trying to establish new beach heads close to Russia.

By: systema

systema — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:33:39 +0000

Why is the subject that “Russia responded to an attack made by Georgia against Ossetia” is being dodged by all these assumptions and stories such as it was a planned attack. Hello world, like Russia forced Georgia to attack Ossetia.
It was an epic fail made by Georgia’s presedent, which not even his own people support.
The Europeans are getting fed up with US decisions.
The NATO is a big joke, its where a country like US will do something stupid and use the rest of the alliance for cover.
All US can do is warn Russia, but in reality US is too exhausted to wage another war after Afgan and Iraq.
And the NATO ? Why would Europe want go to war against Russia? over what? United States? or Georgia ? pfft plz.

By: Matthew Hansen

Matthew Hansen — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:21:38 +0000

For obvious reasons it was good it did not come to full-blown war in Europe.

However, Pres. Saakashvili did not miscalculate. Rather he was tricked into a Russian trap, in lack of a better word, carefully planned, timed and orchestrated. Having been provoked by Ossetian and Russian troops and irregulars for several weeks, including shelling and sniping of Georgian civilians in South Ossetia, Georgia reacted militarily, which was exactly the Russians wanted. This precursory Russian aggression was not really covered in the free press. (Russia did the same in Dagestan before the Second Chechen War. Bizarrely, Russia does not see the hypocrisy in subjugating Chechnya and “defending” Ossetia. Territorial integrity is relative…)

Georgia reacted, trying to police a part of its very own country …and the rest is history.

There will be few short-term consequences as we, the West, EU, etc., need Russian oil, and because the current American administration is at its nadir, and because the current President-nation of the European Council, France, will go easy on Russia. Russia will be unpopular, yes, but was never bothered by the Chechen Wars, and will not be so by this conflict.

Long-term the consequences may be far bigger. It is now painstakingly clear that Russia is not playing on the same field as the West, at all. Bluntly, Russia has reverted to its old ways of autocracy and expansion and violently tending its backyard, which in fits and starts has been Russian policy since Peter the Great.

This is a unsound approach in the 21st century. Russia has oil and nuclear warheads, and that is it. The oil will be depreciated eventually (it will); the Russian population is shrinking fast; its economy is simple; its political system is short-sighted and unaccountable; it has no true, reliable allies, etc., etc. And one day somebody may come knocking on the Siberian back door…

We will see. PM Putin is the bad guy here. However naive, Pres. Saakashvili did what he had to do. Saying otherwise maybe wise, but is surly Chamberlainian.

By: vaibhav

vaibhav — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:26:27 +0000

Russia is on the rise and cannot be kept down anymore. The country has got the resources, the ability and knowledge. Unipolar times have come to an end. China, Russia,India are powers which will be able to moutn a challenge to any country trying to dominate.