Georgia and South Ossetia

To people who dont follow international affairs, the Georgian/Russian/South Ossetian war seemed to pop up really quick. At the same time the newspapers were reporting that a conflict may break out, the radio and the internet were telling us that the war has begun. But in reality, the conflict began years.

In 1921, Georgai becomes the Socialist Republic of Georgia, and later joins the Soviet Union.

In April 1991, Georgia declares it self independence. Which shorty followed a civil war by december.

1995, the civil war starts to end. South Ossetia and Abkhazia begin to break away and become “defacto” automonous states. Georgian and Russian ethnics groups errupt in violence.

2004. Ajaria also tries to assert its autonomy. But Georgia swiftly cracks down on move to independence. Georgia supports Chechnya, in its war against Russia to become independent.

July 2008. Georgian and South Ossetian tension begins.

8th August. Georgia begins bombing South Ossetia. 1,600 dead. Enters Russia.

At present, there is a shakey ceasefire. Russia has declared it recognises South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent nations. But most western countries do not, despite recently recognizing Kosovo independence from Serbia.

UK foreign secretary, David Miliband describes the decision to be “unjustifiable and unacceptable”. German chancellor, Angela Merkel calls it “absolutely unacceptable”. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the decision was in “direct violation of numerous UN Security Council resolutions regarding Georgia’s territorial integrity.”

And Mr Barrack “give me change” Obama, thinks the US should further isolate Russia for recognizing the separatist regions.

South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity says, “We’ve been working toward this for nearly 20 years, defending our legal right to live independently on the field of battle and in international forums. I’d like to hope that other countries will follow Russia’s wise and noble decision.”

I generally dont like to support Russia. But this time I think they are in the right. Knowing that Israel is giving Georgia military assistance, just makes it easier. Why would Israel support Georgia you ask?

Georgia, Israel and few countries want to build a pipeline that would benefit Georgia and Israel, among others. Can you guess were Russia wants the pipeline to go through? South Ossetia. And can you guess what Russia targeted during its conflict with Georgia? The Georgian/Israeli proposed pipelines. As you might have guessed by now, the real purpose of the Russian/Georgian war, like all recent conflicts, is control over oil. So despite Russia going in for the wrong reasons, I’ll support Russia on the basis no one else is standing up for South Ossetias right to independence.

I’ll justify my position with a John Redmond quote from WW1 about supporting small nations and the “freedom of small nations’ such as Belgium or Serbia, was that of Ireland as well”.