Kosovo and the USA... Russia and Abkhazia/South Ossetia... what next?

Question

Just curious... What are people's opinions of the current issue in Georgia.

My conclusion after some research and reading the (biased) news from both pro- and anti-Russian/Georgian sources that the two breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia should have the right to independence based on standards set with Kosovo some 8 months ago.

Both issues are similar, involving ethnic groups living inside the borders of another ethnically dominated country and a level of persecution experienced by both groups. Both the Kosovo and the SO/Abkhazia issues have been around for decades and involved various foreign peacekeeping forces etc installed to prevent rising tensions.

It seems rather hypocritical that the EU and USA can demand Georgia's territorial integrity to be upheld while they carve Kosovo from Serbia in the same fashion.

The problem now is where will it stop? Are we going to be bombarded with a multitude of independence declarations in breakaway regions (and demands for recognition in many regions that are already struggling for independence)?

Answer 1

I been studying some maps of old Soviet Union and it looks like Georgia was a Soviet Social Republic before it became an independent country. I can say that Stalin was both a Georgian and South Ossetian and his real name was not Stalin or Steel

Answer 2

Except no one instigated Kosovo.  The Serbs started murdering people, and the world stepped in to stop the killing.

But the Russians directly contributed to the rebellions in both of the regions of Georgia you mention.  And it's likely that Russia will eventually swallow them up.  When did Great Britain announce its plans to annex Kosovo?  Oh, that's right, it didn't.  And the ONLY "peacekeepers" in Ossetia were the Russian occupying force.  No one else was interested in helping Russia with this farce.  And Russia didn't only do this with Georgia - they did it with Moldova too in Trans-Dneister.

The powers who helped stop the killing of Kosovars had nothing to gain by stopping Serbia.  The Russians, on the other hand, put the Georgians and all of the other former SSRs that Russia doesn't respect the right of those states to make their own way in the world.  They announced their intention to destroy any of these new countries if they dare move away from Moscow.  If you don't see the difference, then what can I tell you?  Look more closely.

Answer 3

The only way to stop is to quit sticking our noses everywhere. s***w the world, and let's clean up the mess and corruption we have here at home.  

Answer 4

I agree with your assessment. The answer is to allow democratic states, such as Georgia, to attempt to absorb autonomous regions such as Ossetia and Abkhazia into their democracy without Russia stirring the pot. Kosovo was an entirely different situation, there was real ethnic cleansing taking place. Fact is Ossetia and Abkhazia would have been settled shortly after the end of the cold war had Russia ended its influence.

Answer 5

It'll stop when South Carolina secedes from the union again.  

Answer 6

Glad to see someone ask about this.  Without injecting all of my own bias on this, I am going to provide some links that I hope you will read. IMO, the crisis in Georgia has shown the US is a paper tiger.

An article that just came out tonight:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/...

The "Western Response and spin": http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080828/ap_o...

Great analysis from a blogger on this: http://www.smirkingchimp.com/news/16732

A Great Opportunity Lost

George W. Bush has squandered America's great chance. There was that brief period, of about a decade, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, when America could truly have been called a hyperpower. Had that situation been used wisely, fairly, and for the betterment of the world, it could have been extended, probably for decades more, to the great benefit of both America and humanity.

Both Bush the Elder, and Clinton understood that the way to extend America's moment of greatness was not to abuse it, but to rule softly, even fulfill the role of steward, for the benefit of mankind. Had we done so, working through the UN, and other institutions; had we treated smaller weaker nations with dignity and respect, America's pre-eminance would have been ensured for a long time to come. Often the most effective use of power is to keep it in reserve; and so it was.

But Bush the Younger, greedy, arrogant, despicable little bully and thug that he is, along with his neocon henchmen, squandered our chance at lasting greatness, just as he squandered everything else he touched. He threw away the sympathy of the whole world after the 9-11-01 attack; he wasted the chance to get our fiscal affairs in order and balance the budget; squandered the peace dividend; he tossed away our military superiority in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan; he blew away the chance to truly unify America around common goals and ideals, and became one of the most devisive presidents in recent memory; he sullied our good reputation with his torture chambers and secret prisons; he transformed America from a confident, vibrant nation to one controlled by fear; and he chipped away steadily at our civil liberties, won at such great cost by men and women far better than himself.

Now in the twilight of a failed presidency amid the wreckage of everything that might have been, I zig-zag between rage and sorrowful resignation. It is just so unspeakably sad and unnecessary. Obama won't be able to undo all of the damage, even if he is elected, which is far from a sure thing.

In the end, it comes down to this: we did it to ourselves. We can argue about who really won in 2000 and 2004, but regardless, even if the elections were stolen, it could only happen because we Americans made them so close that they could be stolen. We get the government we deserve; and it feels like h**l.

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No matter how you look at this, we are in deep **** here.