Why are the russians at war with georgia?

Question

Why are the russians at war with georgia?

Answer 1

why are the Russians at war?The georgians are the one who fired the first shot thinking they got the west backing them up,but big mistake.

Answer 2

Personally, I think Russia wants to have a place where they can house their Black Sea fleet.  Right now, they are leasing a base from Ukraine and Ukraine is too powerful for the Russians to take over themselves, so they go after a smaller country like Georgia.  

They tried that with Afghanistan about 30 years ago, in their quest for a warm water port.

Answer 3

The Russians have been trying to steal a Georgian province called South Ossetia by pumping it full of Russian citizens. Georgia deployed troops to protect themselves and the Russians decided to try and take over all of Georgia.

They also want Georgia out of the picture because it is close to joining NATO and that would make Putin wet his pants.

Answer 4

Well, we are far from battles here. The only source of information is mass-media. And both russian and US mass-media are obviously lying.

Information (or disinformation) is a mighty weapon now.

So first we need a source neutral enough.



IMHO Guardian is good one:

Article blaming russian bombing of Gori

   http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug...

Article about osetian refugees:

   http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug...

They are showing war from both sides. Thats good. I've tried to reconstruct puzzle. I assume both sides are nor good, nor stupid. Both  have their plans and schemes.



So smoldering feud (and provocations by both sides) was neverending since osetian war for independence in 1992. Osetia - constant source of trouble for Georgia, and Georgia being constant menace for rebels. And suddenly after very expensive gerogian armed force buffing program and right before olympics osetian provocations become stronger, so Saakashvili is forced to well ... use rocket artillery against rebel capital ant by the way kill russian peace-keepers. To enforce peace and stability off course. By the coincidence this happens right in the night of olympics-opening ceremony.

Isn't this too much for a coincidence? Yes. It is a very smart and cunning plan! Look:

During night georgian army is storming Tskhinali, when resistance is suppressed, advances to the Rok tunnel (the only route between Osetia and Russia). Destroying tunnel effectively cuts Russia off. Mountains are impassable and georgian anti-aircraft power is impressive enough to thwart any attempt of air-drop. In the meantime olympics distract worlds attention and friendly US mass media just erhm overlooks little war.

Russia simply has no time for reaction before it is too late. Political decision takes time, say until morning. Some time for mobilizing forces (3-4 hours at least), and after that long road from bases towards snowy mountain pass. Thats another 16-20 hours.

There is one mistake: this plan is too good, to be overlooked by russians (remember: nor good, nor stupid!). I'm sure, russians had some intelligence data about those preparations. And amassing of georgian forces was very clear, there were even articles in press about that...

So there is a counter plan. Relocate fore-squads of 58th army toward the Rok in deep secret. Prepare the jets (fuel, armament, pilots), prepare a diplomatic note for a Security Council of U.N.

Putin flies to Beijing (plays fool). Calm on diplomatic channels.

Saakashvili has given a casus belli. Unique opportunity to invade his country and overthrow him, capture the vital gap between  Russia and Iran, sweet opportunity for avenging the Kosovo.

War is a cruel game. Osetians and georgians pay for ambitions of two  

warmongers.  

    

Answer 5

Georgia declared itself independent of Russia and then S.O. which wasn't entirely happy with that decision, declared itself independent of Georgia.  Georgia tried to get international recognition and S.O. thought it that was good enough for Georgia that was good enough for them so Georgia attacked them.  Most of the people that lived there chose Russian citizenship and Russia is protecting it's people.  Either the whole thing is a civil war or Georgia started it.

Answer 6

To try and rebuild the old USSR. That is the simple explanation, the long one is more complicated. In 91 when the USSR broke up, Georgia gained freedom, but some of their provinces, including the now Russian controlled South Ossieta, wanted to remain Russian. In 92 these Russian supporters fought a war in which they gained de facto independence from Georgia and since then they have been at odds with the Georgian govt. In 2004 the current Georgian president, Mikheil Saakaskvili was elected on the promise of unifying Georgia and on Friday his forces invaded SO. But the Russians used this as a excuse to defend their citizens (most people in SO had been given Russian passports) and have been hitting Georgia hard ever since. Until today they had the excuse of saying it was for defense, but with them now hitting Georgian bases and towns outside of this area, the war has turned into one of aggression and conquest for Russia.

Forgot, Georgia is also contemplating joning NATO, and the worst fear of Russia is to have it's southern border ringed with small NATO member states.

Answer 7

Because Georgia is getting too close to the west, and its got assets that Russians' want, and last but not least - because they CAN and no one is going to stop them (including the US).