What does everyone think about this menacing Russian daytrip into deepest Georgia?

They seem to be trying to annex the entire place... the re-birth of evil Russian nastiness? Another Cold War? World War III? THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!1!!

And what about young Zurab?!!??!?!?

It annoys me that this all kicked off just after I'd finished doing Central and East European Studies at university because I'd have been able to get the real score off of people in the know, rather than people at the BBC who still think Putin is President and that South Ossetia is in Russia. I'm not really surprised given Russia's previous reactions to the prospect of Former-Soviet Republics joining the EU and/or NATO. I was, however, kind of surprised that it just seemed to flair up overnight.

I reckon it's a hard compromise because, as in the majority of the non-Russian Former-Soviet Republics, there are Russian Citizens living in South Ossetia so the Russian Federation has a pretext to get involved there. That was the pretext they used to enter South Ossetia but bombing Gori (Stalin's hometown, ironically) is taking things too far. On the other hand, Mikheil Saakashvili seems to be doing a lot of posturing for the BBC and comes off well but, in my opinion, he's doing a fair bit of scaremongering as well, talking about the 'annihilation of an independent, democratic country' or however he put it. He's likened this to Budapest in 1956, Prague in 1968 and Afghanistan in 1979 I think to stir up anti-Russian sentiment in 'the West'.

The shit thing for Russia will probably be that public confidence in the Government will have sky-rocketed over the past week. Whilst I'm sure there will be plenty of Russians opposed to Russians advancing further into Georgia, groups like Nashi will be creaming their plants if other recent events are anything to go by.

In terms of resolution, I don't have the foggiest how it'll pan out. My guess would be Russia backing greater autonomy/independence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

And what about Nestor, aka the original Georgian on UK Thrash (not that he posts on here anymore)?

As i understand it there is a major oil pipeline running through Georgia isn't there?

I find it hard to believe that this whole situation is purely if at all about Russian citizens in South Ossetia. What is more annoying is that it's highly doubtful that anyone will step up and say anything because we all have to be friends with Russia these days.

And yes, Young Zurab and Nestor we need to know!

thrashduck wrote:And what about young Zurab?!!??!?!?

Awwww.

Bloomin' oil.

Once upon a time, if you found oil, you announced it so everyone buys it off you. Nowadays you have to keep quiet incase people take it off you. Madness.

Apparently there's a cease-fire now or something.

Daft Russia planted a flag in North Pole area because theres oil and natural gasses round there, but its international waters... dafy ganties.

It says Medvedev has called off military action but Saakashvili is saying they're hitting Georgian pipelines.

I knew there'd be another pretext... oil, bloody oil...

I wonder if there'll be less conflict when it runs out... or people will fight over wind? An invasion of Chicago?

I wouldn't invade the theatre.

Shit play, no fans.

People go on about oil too much and don't give enough credit to people who just want to beat up minorities.

Give it a few years and the Yanks will be at war with Russia... Over oil again.

I highly doubt it, the Russian army would fall apart against a decent (which i suppose America qualifies as) opponent.

Yeah, you'd just need to ply them with vodka and porn. That or just not tell them you're coming. That worked splendiferously for the Nazis.

It's just absolute madness. What's the bloody point. Send Clint Eastwood in, that'll sort the whole situation out.