Russia vs. Georgia

126coupe · 126coupe's Garage

Will someone please explain to me why Russia would invade the small country of Georgia? Is Russia trying to antagonize the US into a fight?
What did Georgia do to deserve this?
I realize Georgia wants to become part of the UN, and they are a sovereign nation, but WTF?

lendaddy · 08-10-2008, 07:52 AM

Bulldogs by a field goal.

island911 · 08-10-2008, 07:53 AM

No worries; this will be short lived; as all that needs to happen is for Obama to raise his hand toward the east and and shout "heal-adah."

Seriously, I think it's about control of oil.

Jims5543 · 08-10-2008, 07:53 AM

I did not know of this situation until it his the news this week, but, it seems this is not a new problem, its one that has been going on for a while.

From what I get from a news article I read, Russia has sent "Peace Keeping Forces" into the South Ossetian territory to aid troops already there.

Reading between the lines of the news article and not getting all worked up by the sensational reporting, it appears Georgia has laid claim to this region and Russia wants it back.

I find it ironic the the US is calling for peace and an end to the fighting. The only warring allowed on this planet are ones waged by us.

I would have had more respect for G-Dub if he would have said "Well, it appears they are in a conflict over a territory, I hope they can work it out as quickly as possible with as little casualties as possible."

Or better yet, maybe we need to send troops in there, I mean hell, the article clearly drops the "Ethnic Cleansing" bomb a few times and those are fighting words. We can kill one of the ethnic groups that are trying to kill the other ethnic groups.

Rearden · 08-10-2008, 08:02 AM

Russia is angry that the West recognized Kosovo's independence. Russia is testing the US and Europe to see if we'll do anything when they challenge the sovereignty of their former USSR client states. And bombing the pipeline might cause the speculators to go long on oil again.

The bad: it will show how weak the West is, as we probably won't do anything

The good: the Europeans are reminded of the good ole days, before all the anti-US rhetoric these past years, when they had the US as a solid ally against Soviet aggression

sammyg2 · 08-10-2008, 08:10 AM

Dude, google.
There has been trouble in that little break away province for years. Russia has peace-keepers there and has since the peace-fire was declared. Georgia doesn't like that. They want that province back. They don't like the fact that the province seeks independence from them and Russia is assisting them.
Russia doesn't like the fact that Georgia petitioned for membership in NATO so there are several reasons why relations are strained.
The government of Georgia antagonized Russia with sporadic violence hoping they would lose interest or give up some of their hold. The violence escalated.

island911 · 08-10-2008, 08:19 AM

fwiw: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1043185/The-Pipeline-War-Russian-bear-goes-Wests-jugular.html