Britain vs Russia a message

[Pickle2]

Not disagreeing, per se. But slightly hypocritical of Russia to change it's tune vis-a-vis Gerogia, when it was so vehement against Kosovo. And where does that leave Chechyna etc?

And therefore by definition the west are equally hypocritical by being "for" kosovo?

I think all of this argument about "right and wrong" is missing the point. Nobody is trying to get into heaven here. We are seeing two conflicting strategic goals play out. The west wants to encircle russia with friendly, pro western nato leaning nations. The russians want to increase their circle of influence to proivde a buffer to the west.

I think the russians have played a fairly smart game so far, and you can see that in so much as the west are bleating about russia actions. lol, they wouldnt be moaning so if the russian moves had gone tits up and their foces had been butchered at the mouth of ossetian tunnel.

Heres a question: you are the leader of russia. Your aim is,obviously, to act in your country's and citizen's best interest. What would you have done differently in the crises so far? I cant think of much, they have played their cards well.

[Likely]

Your "knowledge" of the facts, history and dynamics of Georgia, South Ossetia seem to be way ahead of Eduard Shevardnadze, former Soviet foreign minister and president of Georgia prior to being overthrown by Saakashvili.

Who says that

both sides made mistakes in the lead up to the war between Georgia and Russia.

In an interview with the German news magazine Der Spiegel, Shevardnadze says: "Many people blame the Georgian President. They are wrong in part, but there is also an element of truth to it. He can't be accused of having acted illegally. It was legal to move our forces into (the South Ossetian capital) Tskhinvali. But it would have been better not to."

It is said that South Ossetians/ Russian "peacekeepers" were shooting at Georgians from South Ossetia and that the invasion was in response to that.

It is also argued that the "shootings" were deliberately designed to provoke such a response as Georgia was in negotiations with Nato.

Elsewhere it is argued that South Ossetia has virtually run itself for the last 15years, and even elsewhere it is argued that Russia/North Ossetians do not want the poorer South Ossetians within their own borders. How you fathom out from all this that the invasion "was Georgia's fault" is not only beyond me but also beyond Georgianpoliticians, Russian journalists and everyone else.

Ever thought of writing a one line History book and calling it

"Everything is Americas fault"?

I certainly doubt we will ever know who fired the first shot and this obviously boils down to a type of ethnic conflict which is present in many countries. Contrary to what you are saying , there are reports that the US themselves are behind the Georgia president to the extent that it was engineered in the US. ( Both the president and the conflict )


One thing is certain. If I am a president of a defenseless country and I want to provoke a conflict or war I will kill 2000 of their people . This obviously is not very diplomatic and makes Georgia rulers to blame at least as much as Russia is.

[DodgyAgent]

I certainly doubt we will ever know who fired the first shot and this obviously boils down to a type of ethnic conflict which is present in many countries. Contrary to what you are saying , there are reports that the US themselves are behind the Georgia president to the extent that it was engineered in the US. ( Both the president and the conflict )


One thing is certain. If I am a president of a defenseless country and I want to provoke a conflict or war I will kill 2000 of their people . This obviously is not very diplomatic and makes Georgia rulers to blame at least as much as Russia is.

I suggest you stick to binaries.

[Cyberman]

Check your facts !!!! Less than 200 people, 163 if my memory serves me correct were killed in South Ossetia as was confirmed last week by that country.

[Bob Dalek]

I'm not sure that Russia's failure to defeat the Afghans was all down to their crapness as a fighting force. Rather, I humbly submit the following 2 possibilities:

1. Rubbish technology, compared to today.

b. The Yanks funding, arming & assisting the Afghans like it was Xmas every day.

[DodgyAgent]

Heres a question: you are the leader of russia. Your aim is,obviously, to act in your country's and citizen's best interest. What would you have done differently in the crises so far? I cant think of much, they have played their cards well.

I would move my country towards democracy, open up my markets, join Nato and wish my people would have the same standards of living that British contractors enjoy.

[NetwkSupport]

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article....4&in_a_source=


Pot kettle -

[Cyberman]

And therefore by definition the west are equally hypocritical by being "for" kosovo?

I think all of this argument about "right and wrong" is missing the point. Nobody is trying to get into heaven here. We are seeing two conflicting strategic goals play out. The west wants to encircle russia with friendly, pro western nato leaning nations. The russians want to increase their circle of influence to proivde a buffer to the west.

I think the russians have played a fairly smart game so far, and you can see that in so much as the west are bleating about russia actions. lol, they wouldnt be moaning so if the russian moves had gone tits up and their foces had been butchered at the mouth of ossetian tunnel.

Heres a question: you are the leader of russia. Your aim is,obviously, to act in your country's and citizen's best interest. What would you have done differently in the crises so far? I cant think of much, they have played their cards well.

South Ossetians are citizens of the Georgia which Russia is attempting to annex, and Russia seems to have many naive supporters in the West.

[NetwkSupport]

South Ossetians are citizens of the Georgia which Russia is attempting to annex, and Russia seems to have many naive supporters in the West.

I dont think the russians are in the wrong by saying that the US situating missile systems in Poland are a threatening tactic towards them, cuban missile crisis in reverse, russia have warned military action if the missile stations go ahead and i actually dont think they would be wrong to defend themselves from the war mongering U.S.A.

this missile system is a direct threat to russia

[DodgyAgent]

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article....4&in_a_source=


Pot kettle -

The missile system being deployed in eastern Europe could not stop Russian missiles, their prescence is being exploited by the Russian leadership to give themselves more power from their people.

The West on the other hand are probably using the missiles for similar reasons, i.e as political weapons.

It is all very well beating up the West and saying that the Russians are victims in all this and that we have brought all this on ourselves, but when this little Georgian conflict becomes another world war all you guilt ridden fools will run screaming to the Americans to save your sad little arses.