Why did Georgia invade South Ossetia?
August 11, 2008 by elcap
I haven’t been able to get a satisfying answer to this question. Given the result — thousands dead, mass destruction, a country divided, Russian invasion, Russia vs. West tension and potential showdown — was it really necessary for the Georgian soldiers go in this weekend? (I’m not condoning Russia’s response.)
A good friend and fellow Georgian told me that they went into South Ossetia:
because it broke away de facto but wasn’t recognized by Georgia or by the international community as am autonomous republic. And it has been a dispute ever since the early nineties. Hence, Georgia would need to resolve it’s territorial issues before it could join.
So, did Nato rules force Georgia to create this drama, or did Georgia create this drama to please Nato? Finally, why can’t South Ossetia have the freedom to choose its own fate?
Calling this an invasion is not the correct words. It was a originally a relatively small operation into territory that is legally considered by virtually all Georgian.
This conflict has been going on for well over a decade now. Georgia offered peace talks the day before they started the operation, but it was refused.
To understand this, you have to read into history. South Ossetia historically was Georgian land, but the current residents migrated south from North Ossetia in Russia. The South Ossetians want an autonomous nation that includes North Ossetia, which is part of Russia. The Russian’s want South Ossetia as Russian territory. The Georgians just want their historical land to stay as part of Georgia.
As to your final question, self-determination has become an overused line. If every group that wanted autonomy was allowed to, the number of countries would double, even triple. I don’t believe self-determination is the right answer either. The right answer is people need to learn to live together, not to separate each other with artificial boundaries. The South Ossetian’s have not been persecuted by Georgians, they have not been unfairly singled out. They just want to break off because they don’t want to live with other ethnic groups such as the Georgians.
This background helped me understand the situation much better than the US media is reporting. I thought Georgia was at fault for starting this. I understand Bush’s response and admonishment of Russia now. Thanks.
Conflicts are usually deep rooted and this is no different. Yet I can’t help but think that Georgia isn’t at fault for going into South Ossetia and blowing off rockets and shooting people. Particularly knowing the level of support Russia offers the South Ossetians.
Wikipedia has a wonderfully substantive overview of the war:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_South_Ossetia_War
BOTTOM LINE: Poking a little dog in the eye with a stick isn’t a good idea. Particularly when its big old mean mother is sitting right next to you.
I don’t know it is probably just another war of northern aggression like the time our Georgia was invaded.
Hey Dave, here are some of the consequences of what you call a “relatively small operation into territory that is legally considered by virtually all Georgian.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/10/georgia.russia5?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews , you might want to read this as well Laura. So far I think eclap has laid out a reasonable motive, regarding the NATO play but there are two more floating loose ends. First is the McCain lobbyist that has ties to Georgia and has been doing there bidding at our political trough to the tune of close to 2 mil. Some have said this is the Oct surprise that gets McCain elected. IE the FEAR CARD. I’m not quite that cynical. The second is the pipeline and this I am more convinced has to do with a grab for control that the West via the Georgians were willing to risk. This will require more research but I feel comfortably confident the motive has to do with the oil war that we have been engaged in for the last 50 years. I’m know fan of the Russians but they hold the oil and gas we need and they aren’t no lackey Iraqis. The risk here is greater than we have engaged for a while. BTW here’s a little piece you won’t find on our CNN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ne49NgWgy8 The truth is out there but I think you’ll have to dig for it and that says something in itself.
In what year are you refering to when you say goergia was invaded? There have been alot of civil conflicts.
I suspect that the Georgian invasion of South Ossetia was encouraged by the US in order to prompt a Russian attack that would give other Eastern European nations an excuse cooperate with the US in the encirclement of Russia. At the same time they all knew Russia would not occupy Georgia, because if it did it would draw and an immediate, probably military, response from Europe and the US due to the importance of the energy pipelines. I’m not sure what was in it for Georgia, perhaps it will help insure the president’s political support. Since the incident in Georgia we can see that Poland in particular has agreed to accept part of an American missile defense system in it’s territory in return for US assurances regarding assistance in case of attack by Russia, something it was reluctant to accept a month or so ago. The presence of missile defense bases in Poland makes Poland a target and the American pledges to defend Poland increase the chances of nuclear war substantially. Here I get a bit fuzzy, I don’t know why prodding Russia into nuclear apocalypse is a good idea, perhaps the folks in Washington are betting that Russia will back off.
Menaz:
Sherman invaded Georgia.
Nate:
Although, I see some of your points…in that this will probably bring Poland to the US and it will bring us all closer to constant near catastrophe that everyone genx and earlier grew up in…But I think the US powers that be where outplayed another mob boss was demonstrating…sending a message to our mob bosses.
Georgia’s President from what I am hearing (NPR–not sure how accurate) probably won’t survive this.
This was a grand move by Putin on the grand chess board. Bush cartel looked silly and impotent.
Not to change the subject but…
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/20797485/chinas_allseeing_eye/print
Is it possible Georgia went in on the orders of Washington neo cons in order to undermine the Obama presidential campaign??
Read these articles and make your own mind up…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,,-7722419,00.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/18/campaign.wrap/index.html
How does this help Russia?
Considering the outcome of the operation, wisdom demands that Georgia handle the issue with more candour and statemanlike. Hiding behind USA and NATO to poke hands at Russian would never help it. If every country goes to war because some people do not want to be part of the artificial state creation, why shouldnt they be alloed.
The opinion that such would create more countries is as rubished as the initial move. Freedom must be absolute or it would then be conditional which wouldnt be freedom.
It happened in Serbia, the world agreed that Bosnia serb be allowed to go. Why not South Ossetia who do no longer want to be part of Goergia?
This is just bullying because the fisrt thing the shadowy britain said was Sanction which is the only thing they know anyway.