Russia recognizes independence of South Ossetia, Abkhazia

Wednesday 27th August, 06:09 AM JST

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franz75 at 06:11 PM JST - 27th August

What a joke! What about recognizing the independency of the Chechen Republic? No that will never happen.
goodDonkey at 08:25 PM JST - 27th August

So when is Russia going to take a vote to recognize the independence of North Ossetia?
jeancolmar at 09:28 PM JST - 27th August

I wonder who bothers with the facts these days. Russia did not create this conflict. It was started by Micheil Saaskashvilli when he ordered the bombing of South Ossetia's capital Tskhinvali, a criminal act that practically leveled the city and killed and wounded possibly thousands of people. It was a sneak attack made at a time when Sasskashvilli was supposedly negotiating to give South Ossetia full autonomy under Russian supervision. Notes reliefweb:

"On August 7, after days of shooting incidents in the South Ossetian conflict zone, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili made a speech in which he said that he had given the Georgian villagers orders not to fire, that he wanted to offer South Ossetia 'unlimited autonomy' within the Georgian state, with Russia to be a guarantor of the arrangement.

"Both sides said they were discussing a meeting the next day to discuss how to defuse the clashes.

"That evening, however, Saakashvili went for the military option. The Georgian military launched a massive artillery attack on Tskhinvali, followed the next day by a ground assault involving tanks.

"This was a city with no pure military targets, full of civilians who had been given no warning and were expecting peace talks at any moment."

Bush the liar and his henchman the lying US media spun the truth to make Russia look like the villain when it kicked the Georgian military out of South Ossetia and made Georgia look like a martyr. Note that Russian peacekeepers were killed in Sasskashvilli's sneak attack. Russia, under UN approval, has been keeping peacekeepers in South Ossetia and Abkhazia since the settlement of the 1990-91 war of secession.

Even much of the Western media--the BBC and the Canadian Globe and Mail for instance--have said that Saakashvilli blew it and that he is the clear loser in this conflict. The awful thing is that he may well try again to retake these breakaway republics with even greater force.

For this reason it is now of utmost importance that the world recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent republics. They will need to be monitored by the UN to be sure, but they must never be allowed to be subjected to Georgian rule again.

Finally, the term "humanitarian intervention" is an oxymoron. Russia certainly had its own interests in saving the South Ossetians from the Georgian military onslaught. But the Russians are angels compared to the likes of the Bush gang, the Western media and Nato. If you are looking for Hitler analogies think of Hitler's bombing of Warsaw and then think of Saakashvilli's bombing of Tskhinvali. "Who cares about the Armenians?" Hitler supposedly said as he ordered his Stukas to attack Poland. So who cares about the South Ossitians? We're all Georgians now. Zeig Heil! (or however you say it in Georgian).
Alinsky4prez at 09:41 PM JST - 27th August

"For this reason it is now of utmost importance that the world recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent republics. They will need to be monitored by the UN to be sure, but they must never be allowed to be subjected to Georgian rule again."

The UN is so cool. They will monitor Russian "aggression", but they will defer to any veto Russia makes. I have to agree. Putin is no Hitler. Look at how much freedom he allows President Medvedev.
Betzee at 10:05 PM JST - 27th August

I think it is fine for Russia to recognize South Ossetian independence and there is not a thing the US can or will do about it. If it is of any solace, however, that will not affect the actual position of South Ossetia within the world body of nations. Something else will be required for that.

South Ossetia may end up like Cyprus. The Russians are lashing out against past humiliations, both real and imagined. Yesterday Putin defiantly declared, "We don't need to join the WTO." Although flush with energy revenues, Russians enjoy a modest standard of living and isolation will not improve things for them in that regard.
adaydream at 10:58 PM JST - 27th August

jeancolmar - Good post.

These posters know the truth though. I've mentioned these facts before. They refuse to listen.

These are george bush buddies. They have learned how to fall right into line.

Georgia attacks South Ossetia and Russia attacks Georgia. Then bush beats his chest that the United States backs Georgia. condi screams the same thing that george bush says. And John McCain waves his little fist and says we're all Georgians.

Georgia started this. They stepped on their cranks when they thought that the Uniuted States would pick up arms and come protect them from Russia. Gawd, such idiots. Where the hell are we getting troops? < :-)
Good_Jorb at 11:36 PM JST - 27th August

Russia certainly had its own interests in saving the South Ossetians from the Georgian military onslaught.

And that would be oil.

But the Russians are angels compared to the likes of the Bush gang, the Western media and Nato.

A more accurate way of saying it would be but the Russian are weaker(economically and military) compared to the likes of the Bush gang, the Western media and NATO and therefore appear to be like angels but if given the ability would act just the same or worse.

But hey Bush since can be the only warmongering right-wing facist, it is impossible that any other leader in world to have similar traits. As well apparently the US media = Western media, turning out proganda like "Saakashvilli blew it and that he is the clear loser in this conflict." and again I guess the Russian media is Angelic, never prints proganda about other countries and only tells the truth.
adaydream at 02:20 AM JST - 28th August

Good_Jorb - And that would be oil.

That's the very same reason george bush attacked Iraq.

Russia may have attacked Georgia over the oil and the oil pipeline. Maybe that justifies it for the pro-bush boys. < :-)
SuperLib at 02:31 AM JST - 28th August

The problem with the debate is that some people are fighting to stop Russian aggression and others are using Russian aggression as a vehicle to attack their political rivals. That's probably why we hear statements such as, "But the Russians are angels compared to the likes of the Bush gang, the Western media and Nato." Sorry, but when exactly did the Russians become angels? heh

For some the situation is only important in terms of how many bullets it can create to use against their political enemies. It's a sad spot to be in because if these people didn't have such obsessive political motivations they'd probably be standing here with us against Russia, especially since they've actually said they are against Russia's actions when specifically asked that question. What they're really saying is that they'll set aside their values if they get some nice ammunition in exchange. Some see Russia's actions not as a threat but as an opportunity to attack.
adaydream at 02:50 AM JST - 28th August

SuperLib - You got something here.

I have been hearing the pro-bush folks justify for over 5 years his actions of attacking Iraq. I've always been against this agression and his school yard bully attitude. I really wish that it didn't happen.

I wish I could be sitting here typing that this is just another act of agression that I'm glad my country doesn't and hasn't committed. But I can't. I can't do that because george bush so blantantly attacked Iraq.

I believe Georgia attacked South Ossetia, thinking that the United States would be sending in the calvary and save the day. Fools, we don't have the military to back up anybody, let alone against Russia.

So Georgia did this to themselves and all we can do is give humanitarian aid.

Then george bush and condi rice beat their chests, John McCain swings his little fist and Barack ask for peace and talking this out. < :-)
SuperLib at 11:36 AM JST - 28th August

I understand, daydream. We'll just go ahead and count you out when it's time to keep Russia in check. Others will handle it for you so you'll be free to continue your personal crusade against Bush.
SezWho2 at 12:40 PM JST - 28th August

I think it's true that some people here are using Russia's action Georgia to attack their political rivals. I think it's absolutely false that the others are fighting against Russian aggression. I think they are claiming Russian aggression and are using their outrage to to attack their political rivals.

If you believe in Russian aggression in any sense of the term that makes sense to you and if you want to fight it, join the Georgian army, join the American military and request assignment to the Caucasus, throw a molotov cocktail at the Russian embassy or send a letter of protest to Putin--but don't enter into a discussion on JT and pretend that you're fighting something called Russian aggression.
TonyUS at 02:15 PM JST - 1st September

Sezwho you are anti west in every post.. If Russia's play in Ossetia is all that clouded in your mind, there is nothing anyone can say or do to explain to you that Georgia is a country with defined borcers that has been invaded by another country. If that is not aggression , I would like to know what it is?
TonyUS at 02:17 PM JST - 1st September

sezwho.. no BS.... what is russia's play ??? An ivitation that I have not heard of from or in any reports, by the Georgian government elected by the people of that country??? How is this not Russian agression?? Don't give me any thing about US history and actions.. This is russia's actions here and now.!
TonyUS at 10:57 AM JST - 2nd September

maybe of some interest Just shows how a country should remain a country and unite as a country

EU leaders warn Russia over partnership talks

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080901/aponreeu/russiageorgia