It's war. Part II

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Oerdin


"Sorry, Mr Russia but we don't know who blew up that tunnel. It must have been the work of the pro-Georgia people of South Ossetia or maybe Chechnian terrorists."

You know this one could actually have worked especially if you blew it up a week or two ahead of time that way you could say "we didn't blow it up but it made an excellent opportunity for us which we decided to take advantage of. BTW we condemn terrorism of all types."

[Dinner]

Originally posted by The Vagabond
About installing a pro-Russian puppet government in Georgia... Cynically speaking, I am not sure Russia would really need one right now. Indeed, the Ossetians and the Abkhazians won't agree to be part of Georgia, no matter what the orientation of the government may be.

I'm not sure that's true. What if Russia insisted on a united government because they didn't want to look hypocritical about the Kosovo situation? What if Russia told their loyal proxies they'd get to control all of Georgia instead of just their little break away enclaves?

Never under estimate the power of greed.

[snoopy369]

That would work about as well as ... Yugoslavia.

Except, Tito is dead already ...

[Dinner]

Originally posted by onodera
By the way, I've heard the US've been amassing fleets in Persian Gulf.
Time for "It's another war." thread[i]?

I honestly think stupid politicians in the US are making a huge mistake just so they can do some election year pandering. If they announce they're blockading Iran then Iran will announce they're blockading the straights of Hormuz and not much is gained by either side while oil doesn't get delivered. Stupid posturing with no gain.

If things progress further then, sure, the US can decimate Iran from the air but Iran can always launch an attack on Iraq or Afghanistan or just really start sponsoring terrorism via proxies. I mean for all the rhetoric the Iranians have actually been fairly restrained.

Let's assume the US launches an invasion of Iran, which they currently don't have the forces in the region to do, then mountain fighting in Iran is way different from fighting on the Arabian plain and our superiority in armor becomes a lot less helpful. All in all I predict a show of force followed by not much else.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by snoopy369
That would work about as well as ... Yugoslavia.

Except, Tito is dead already ...

Maybe, maybe even likely but let's face it. It is Russia's ball game now and it looks like they're going for regime change at the very least with a pliant puppet state in the making.

The best western response might very well be Lefty's suggestion of a new Afghanistan for our Russian friends. Make absorbingg Georgia so costly they don't have time to turn on the Ukraine or the Baltic states. (Though I think the Baltic states get a pass because they are already in NATO and not even Putin wants a general war in Europe.)

[carnide_]

Bush is about to make a TV anoucment

[Lancer]

...

[Lancer]

Huh, we going to war?

[carnide_]

Bush just said: "Russia is a bad boy".
And thats it!

[Sirotnikov]

Originally posted by GePap
Even "precision" weapons go wrong. If the Russians wanted to level Gori, they could have already (just look at Grozny). So no, its not "clear" that they are intentionally targeting civilians, though the Russian military can't be said to be that discriminating when it is shooting things off.

You're such a *****.

Here you are, appologizing Russian indisciminate fire, with the "if they would have wanted to they would have leveled it" line.

Yet the next time a precision missile in Gaza accidentally misses, you'll accuse Israel of crimes against humanity and intentionally slaughtering civilians.

It is quite vehemently clear that Russia is 1000 times less discriminate when it comes to civilian lives, than Israel is.
If only because it can afford not to be, while Israel can't.

I'll keep this quote of yours close at hand.

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Oerdin

I'm not sure that's true. What if Russia insisted on a united government because they didn't want to look hypocritical about the Kosovo situation?

This would mean to betray the peoples who relied upon us. Russia won't force SO or Abkhazia to rejoin Georgia against their own will, no matter what the Georgian gov is.

What if Russia told their loyal proxies they'd get to control all of Georgia instead of just their little break away enclaves?

This is utterly unrealistic as they are tiny compared to Georgia.

Never under estimate the power of greed.

What kind of greed can there be wrt Georgia?

[GePap]

Originally posted by Sirotnikov

You're such a *****.

Here you are, appologizing Russian indisciminate fire, with the "if they would have wanted to they would have leveled it" line.

Yet the next time a precision missile in Gaza accidentally misses, you'll accuse Israel of crimes against humanity and intentionally slaughtering civilians.

It is quite vehemently clear that Russia is 1000 times less discriminate when it comes to civilian lives, than Israel is.
If only because it can afford not to be, while Israel can't.

I'll keep this quote of yours close at hand.

Priceless.

Given that I think the act of assasinations are wrong, doing it with missiles and aeral bombs in civilian areas is particularly wrong.

When Gori looks like Grozny in '94, or Southern Beirut in '06, then I will have no problem with people saying that the Russians are purposely shooting at civilians. This is just what I said (you even acknowledge it), that the Russians aren't discriminating.

So do keep this close, because I can always point out where you are wrong.

[Sirotnikov]

Originally posted by GePap
Given that I think the act of assasinations are wrong, doing it with missiles and aeral bombs in civilian areas is particularly wrong.

i see so it's not the method that determines the wrongness, but the justification for it.

for instance - if israel does something you support, and kills citizens, then it's good.

otherwise - it's a horrible crime.

gotcha

i'll quit the threadjack at this point.

p.s. - southern beirut is not a civilian area, but a military encampent, guarded by hezbullah armed guards, that contains the hezbullah control center.

[GePap]

Originally posted by Sirotnikov

i see so it's not the method that determines the wrongness, but the justification for it.

for instance - if israel does something you support, and kills citizens, then it's good.

otherwise - it's a horrible crime.

gotcha

i'll quit the threadjack at this point.

Never thought that Siro would accept that I might support something Israel does. Good to know he has dropped the sad and pathetic line that I am anti-semitic.

See, war can bring people closer.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by onodera
By the way, I've heard the US've been amassing fleets in Persian Gulf.
Time for "It's another war." thread[i]?

No, it's just normal turnover.