Global News Journal
Beyond the World news headlines
A year later and there is still no clear winner from the Georgia-Russia war
The debate still rages over which side came out of the August 7-12, 2008 war better.
It’s true that Russia crushed Georgia’s army when it stepped in to help South Ossetian rebels but its forceful reaction to the Georgian attempt to retake rebel held areas scared its European partners and isolated the country. Only Nicaragua followed Moscow and recognised both South Ossetia and another breakaway region Abkhazia as independent states after the war.
And despite an overwhelming military victory, the war also showed up technological and organisational deficiencies in Russia’s army.
For Georgia, the unsuccessful war dented its reputation as a reliable and steady ally for the West in the notoriously unstable South Caucasus. It also slowed President Mikheil Saakashvili’s NATO ambitions and undermined his popularity at home.
Is this Georgia’s answer to Hugo Chavez?
Reuters News correspondent Matt Robinson filed this post from Tbilisi:
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is back. In a marathon Q&A session on Georgian television on Friday he said he himself was in great shape, but that the parliament speaker’s heart had recently stopped beating after suffering an allergic reaction to medication.
“As a result his heart stopped, he was in collapse,” Saakashvili said, tanned and relaxed. “But then they managed to save him.” He pulled his mobile phone from his pocket and read out text messages from his poorly colleague.
As for the prime minister, he’s working too hard. “I was calling him at 3 a.m. and he was in the office. I come to work at 11, sometimes 11.15. He’s in the office from 8 a.m. I told him he won’t last like that.”
I doubt that this guy is like Hugo Chavez. If he was, the United States would label him a terrorist, lol.
I have a close friend who is from Georgia and still has family there. Basically Saakashvili is known to be blindly pro-american there, even if it would be better to be close to Russia and Putin. I don’t buy the negative press on Putin, especially after reading this article about how Litvinenko’s death looks like a set up: Litvinenko – By Way of Deception
Always a marriage of convenience in Ukraine?
He was a suave central banker and she a “gas princess”, a young politician desperate to make her mark. In 1998 Yulia Tymoshenko, now Ukraine’s prime minister, said she knew her destiny lay with Viktor Yushchenko, who went on to become president.
“We understood that we are a team,” she said at that time.
It’s an assertion Yushchenko disputes — a clash of views that has defined this partnership since they overturned a Soviet-style leadership in the 2004 “Orange Revolution” and vowed a modern, Western future for Ukraine’s 47 million people.
Then they stood shoulder-to-shoulder — her revolutionary speeches firing up crowd after crowd, his more academic approach comforting those who feared she was reckless in her pursuit of power.
Can not agree more with Oleg Polischuk. I believe, it’s a correct picture. And it’s also true, it wouldn’t be easy for Ukraine to survive as a democratic and an independent state being positioned between two powers and having such a division within itself. Unfortunately for Ukraine it is too close to Russia and thus in it’s security zone. And that has nothing to do with “Russian’s Imperialism”. It just is. Relationships between Russia and NATO are on a negative side; off course, Russia doesn’t want its adversary even closer to it’s borders. Would you? But it makes especially hard on Ukrainian politicians, whatever group they belong to. It doesn’t leave much room for maneuver. It reminds me mythical story of Phaeton being torn apart by opposing forces. I wish Ukraine and it’s people best of luck on their thorny way.
Fears of conflict as tensions rise around the Black Sea
Tension is mounting around the Black Sea following Russia’s recognition of two Georgian regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as independent states.
Russia said its navy was monitoring ”the build-up of NATO forces in the Black Sea area” as the U.S. Navy shipped humanitarian supplies to Georgia on Wednesday.
In a move that could further aggravate Russia, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said he wanted to discuss charging Russia more for the lease of a naval base in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, which is part of Ukraine.
Ukrainian leaders say they fear they might be next on Russia’s hit list, a concern echoed by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. He told France’s Europe 1 radio: ”I repeat that it is very dangerous, and there are other objectives that one can suppose are objectives for Russia, in particular the Crimea, Ukraine and Moldova.”
Down below is Armenia, from Georgia. Then to the right is Iraq where the the U.S has expended almost 40% of it’s active forces. To the left is Iran. Not just Iran soilders, but Russian and Chinese military. For Georgia, the green light is U.S military supplying them, which is going to happen very soon. The warships in the Black Sea are preparing to do that. Russians in Georgia controlling the pipelines will see the re-supplying of the military, which the west is trying very hard not to make it public, saying that some of these warships are doing humanitarian aid will make things shift. About that time, before or after, Russia will most likely invade the U.K. If there is anything worthwhile in your lives, make the best of it.
What’s next in the Russia-West crisis over Georgia?
The people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia were celebrating on Tuesday after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree recognising the independence of the two regions.
Western leaders responded with harsh words. U.S. President George W. Bush said it increased world tensions and Britain called for “the widest possible coalition against Russian aggression in Georgia,” where the two regions lie.
But what can the West do to punish Russia or discourage it from any similar acts in the future?
Military action has never been a realistic option since Russia sent tanks and troops to halt Georgia’s assault on South Ossetia. United Nations sanctions are also out of the question because Russia ihas the right of veto on the U.N. Security Council.
Angela,
You talking nonsense. USA-owned NATO has no jurisdiction over the world. Nobody gave them right to police other countries.
The way I (and the most of reasonable people here) see it, – Russia has rights to protect her interests. When Gorbachev has torn Berlin Wall down, he has been given a promise, that NATO would not expand to the East. That was a lie. Apparently, Russia was enduring this for too long. But when NATO started openly threatening Russia’s defenses by installing bases in Poland and expanding through CIA-established governments to Ukraine and Georgia, Russia has slapped it in the face. I feel for Georgia, she is a pawn in the Big Game of the USA for world dominance. btw, did the USA help you? I don’t think so. That was a powerful message to NATO, – hands off!
Now Saakashvili has a dilemma, – in order to get accepted to NATO, he has to recognize and drop all claims on S.Ossetia and Abkhazia. Because of his actions, Georgia has lost them forever, and Georgians will never forgive Saakashvili for that! (The last words belong to my friend, a Georgian, also living in the USA).
Is the American dream over for Georgia and Ukraine?
When thousands in the streets of the Ukrainian capital Kiev and the Georgian capital Tbilisi overthrew Soviet-style rulers, many felt warm in the embrace of the West.
Western support for the opposition — open and behind the scenes – helped many people overcome fear of Soviet-style reprisals to stand for days outside Georgia’s parliament in 2003 or to pitch orange tents on Kiev’s main thoroughfare in late 2004, providing a lasting image of “people power” overthrowing a stale leadership.
Washington, or at least organisations with close political ties with the Bush administration, had courted opposition parties in both countries, coaching in the methods of democracy or securing “regime-change” as they sought to end the rules of President Leonid Kuchma and Georgian leader Eduard Shevardnadze.
But the new leaders, and their teams, soon found that the attentions of an adoring West didn’t last for long. Ukraine’s team of President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko soon fell apart. The West grew tired of the constant bickering of the Ukrainian leaders, unable to agree on almost any policy, while a resurgent pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovich, who lost a rerun of the presidential election, encouraged unity in his own party and rose in popularity.
I agree the Chinese have made a substantial investment in America. So has the Middle East. If you read the blog I said that the Chinese and American’s have no desire for confrontation because our economies are so interdependent. It is in there look again. Ryzer really the one that thinks there is significant hostilities between US and China. I just saying if the poop hits the fan (war) we would default on all that investment. Hurting the Chinese more than the Americans cause their investment has been spent in benefit of America. Essentially giving us a Zero balance do to any enemy on a massive investment.
Vital role in Georgia crisis for…Italy?
Did Italy unwittingly trigger the crisis in South Ossetia and then play a central role in stopping it? It may not be the view in most of the world but you could come to that conclusion from reading some Italian papers.
First, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was quoted in a report by French intellectual Bernard-Henri Levy on Wednesday, which was reproduced in full on the front page and pages 2 and 3 of Corriere della Sera, as saying that he was first alerted to the situation in South Ossetia by reports in the Italian press that he saw while on a dieting holiday in Italy.
“I am in Italy, for a slimming cure, and I am about to leave for Beijing. Then, in the Italian papers, I read: ‘Preparations for war in Georgia.’ You understand? There I am, relaxing, in Italy, and I read that my country is preparing for war! Realising something is wrong, I quickly return to Tbilisi,” Saakashvili told his French interviewer.
Besides the intriguing idea of anyone trying to lose weight in Italy, the piece suggests the Italian press had a central role in the Georgian president’s decision to try to retake the breakaway region of South Ossetia.
Sure thing, it’s all true, and it was al engineered by Italian MFA Frattini while sipping martini on a pool in the Maldives (where he remained throughout the crisis). Italy is a real superpower and peace broker… GET REAL !
Georgia: How close did Europe come to a wider war?
A poster at the entrance to the World War One exhibition at London’s Imperial War Museum depicts the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, minutes before they were shot dead as they toured the streets of Sarajevo in an open topped car. The two bullets triggered World War One. Alliances quickly came into play and an argument between Austria and Serbia drew in Russia, Germany, France, Belgium and Britain.
Europe was at war.
On August 8 this year Russia sent its forces into Georgia to repel Tbilisi’s attempt to wrest control of the pro-Russian, breakaway region South Ossetia. Georgia, like Ukraine, has been pressing to join NATO but has only been promised membership of the alliance at an unspecified future date. What would have happened if Georgia had already secured NATO membership, as it wished, at the alliance’s meeting in Bucharest back in April?
Would the conflict have dragged in fellow NATO members including the United States, Britain and Germany? By invoking NATO’s Article V mutual defence clause, the Georgians could have required other nations to come to their assistance.
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?
Saakashvili’s media onslaught: Is he losing the war?
Ever since Russia launched a massive counter-offensive in response to Georgia’s attempt to retake the pro-Russian, breakaway region of South Ossetia, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has been omnipresent in Western media. He has appeared on CBS, CNN, BBC and pretty much every other English-language TV channel to accuse Russia of penetrating Georgia far beyond Ossetia, planning an assault on the capital and plotting his overthrow.
On Aug 11 he wrote an opinion column in the Wall Street Journal warning Georgia’s fall would mean the fall of the West.
At the start of the conflict the verdict was unequivocal. Saakashvili was winning the media war hands down. While the Kremlin’s press operation was largely silent, Saakashvili, an urbane, U.S.-educated lawyer, was assured in putting Georgia’s case. The world’s media and many political leaders swung behind him (in words if not deeds).
But is the tide turning? Saakashvili’s wall-to-wall media coverage may be starting to work against him and the Russians have become more nimble in dealing with the media and countering Saakashvili’s accusations.
Ukraine may not be Georgia, but Russia has shown time and time again that it does not honor western political or diplomatic logic. Russia was interested in “participating” in NATO in order to find out how far NATO is willing to go. With that knowledge they made their tentative plans and proceeded as situation in Georgia developed. Consequently, do not expect Russia to behave toward Ukraine any different, because everything they have done in Georgia was from their point of view a total success. The criticism of invading South Ossetia’s as well as that of Georgia remains as criticism only. They withdrew from interacting with NATO and from their perspective they can sacrifice being included in G7 or even WTO. They and we know that possession is 100% ownership, at least those are our laws and the Russians are banking on it. You remember very well what the Russian generals were saying during the first days of the invasion and what their final action became! That is a chess game Russian style.
Now Russia has declared that they will keep part of Georgia, a sovereign country, as “buffer” area to “protect” South Ossetia, and thus annexing part of Georgia. Is that not what Hitler did when he annexed Austria, Sudeten Deutsche, Schlesien, Lorraine etc? And what has Russian action done to Georgia as a nation by seizing strategic portion of their land and thus interfering with the operation of their oil pipe line and other economic activities? In Ukraine you have the same situation where the pipe line that is supposed to operate from Odessa to Brody is being run in reverse to satisfy the Russian government right now! So what is going to stop Russia from annexing part of Ukraine and protect their “near abroad”? Our criticism?
And what a charade “near abroad” represents! Our politicians are explaining, that Russia is looking at their “near abroad” as we would at Mexico, Canada, etc. In other words, we can not expect Russian to sit quite when we set up antimissile system in Poland, just as we would not like to see such antimissiles and warheads set up in Cuba. But such comparison is deeply flawed. European powers relinquished their power in all their colonies but not Russia. Russia’s colonies were countries that they conquered all around themselves. This included Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan etc. Oh, yes! Where would you place Chechnya? Regardless, how can the West sit back and allow Russia to haul in all the colonies that received their freedom? Is it because Russia calls these places “near abroad”? What moral right does Russia have haul in their former colonies? What moral responsibility does the West have to protect these democracies? If the Free World is afraid of doing something unconventional that Russia has not foreseen on their chessboard, then let us go home and crawl in a hole, hoping that Russia will treat us gently.
It is pathetic that Germany, which was to a great extend saved from Russian exploitation by US and British forces, and France, which was liberated by US and British troops, did not have the guts to accept Georgia and Ukraine into NATO at the Bucharest meeting to avoid the current upheaval. It was obvious as to the consequences of their action. Of course Georgia and Ukraine are not militarily ready, but Germany and France could have helped to getting these countries ready instead of having the US do all the heavy lifting. There may be some choices that US has to save the day, such as signing a “major non-NATO alliance” with Ukraine and perhaps even Georgia, as NY Times has suggested. And thank you Germany and France for nothing!
Bohdan Slabyj
Can the Caucasus flames be controlled?
The Caucasus tinderbox is alight again. How far will the flames spread this time and what can the outside world – the United States, the European Union, NATO – do to extinguish them?
The strategic significance of this mountainous region stretches back through history.
To the west lies the Black Sea, to the east the Caspian, to the south the Mediterranean, Iran and Turkey.
In the past Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and the Russian tsars struggled to control its trade routes. Today Russia and the West are competing for influence over its energy pipelines carrying Caspian oil to world markets.
Now US ships arrived in Georgia/Poti port. If Russians is smart enough, I think they should use their spies in Georgian army to cause a Georgian attack to Russian army. Then Russian army counter-attack.
- Then if US army supported Georgian army by attacking Russian army, Russia can make the case that US intentionally intervene or they were there not to ship aid but take part in the war (proved that they told their Georgian stupid puppets to attack Russian). Then with its strong army base around, ships, strikers, tanks, Russian army can humiliate US army easily. Then what US can do? They are stretched in Iraq, Afghanistan…no way they can win that war (with Russia). It is then apparently a failure for US/EU.
- If US do not counter-attack, Russia would prove to Georgian people that: “hey, idiots, you rely on NATO/US/EU, now what? they are here but we can kill you! They can give you money (like they did all over the world: VN, Nicaragua,Cuba, Iraq/Iran… but that’s that” Georgian people would cry for themselves!
- Then China can take advantage of this situation, they would feel they are now in much better position to do what they want to in several reasons around the world!
For what US have done on VN, Afghanistan,Iraq… after they create false/misleading excuses, their governtment serve this situation.
-
Search
Follow Global News Journal
This article is interested to read,listen and watch for foreign experts on war and sudden conflict matters
yes,nobody had won this conflict.
As long as Russia is in rich energy producer,supplier to western nations and no alternative mass energy availability,Other nations can simply cry here and there for some public attentions to America,France and to England.
I thought that,once Soviet Union was separated by itself,Russia will be a laughing stock to Super power.
But that is not happening now.