South Ossetian conflict

[Ruy Horta]

Jan, from sifting through the news that seems to be the red line connecting the dots. Apart from the casualty and atrocity stories few seem to dispute these turn of events.

The politics behind it are far more complex. I am not naive enough to miss Russia's strategic objectives, but the situation is not helped by the position of these autonomous regions under the Soviet era and the way they were absorbed into Georgia without their consent. If Georgia had a right to be independent from Russia, so do these regions have a right to decide if they want to stay with Georgia (which they don't) or not. It is arbitrary to recognise one claim to independence over the other. But arbitration is influenced by interest.

One war does not equal the other. Is Iraq the same as Korea or Viet Nam? No, neither is Afghanistan (now there is a ghost from the past) nor Chechnya the same South Ossetia (or Abkhazia for that matter). It is clear that Russia won't stop until they have finished the business, no half measures.

These regions are strategically importants in terms of gas and oil interests. Both Georgia and Russia recognise that fact in abundance. Unfortunately, Russia has the better cards, even morally so. Even Russia might be "right" sometimes, unless you believe in the evil empire of course.

I seem to recall that Saakashvili was having some problems of his own domestically, that might indeed make the Falklands a fitting analogy.

Its amusing to see Nazi aggression pop up in this context, playing those emotions.

BTW, speaking of Saakashvili.

I'm pretty much outraged over his misuse of the EU flag. What's next, placing the NATO and US flags as well behind him? These plays are not the signs of a mature government.