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Originally posted by Harovan
Well, let's put for a moment the fact aside, that I have sympathies for Russia, and you antipathies, and try to think of it without any emotions.
There is a people in a certain region, separated by a border drawn by Stalin at a time when borders didn't play much of a role because all was one country anyway. I know and respect your feelings thinking of this time, but it happened and can not be discussed away.
Now a part of this people, right or wrong, stood up against their host and tried to secede. This happened 16 years ago and after several months of bloody fights, a truce has been reached and a peace was negotiated. Its conditions were to let the region have its autonomy (without however to let it secede completely), and to build a force of peacekeepers. This force consisted of troops from both parts of the people in question, and of their particular hosts. Doesn't sound too unreasonable, if putting away all prejudices (which was condition, remember?)
Now one side unilaterally decided to screw it and to get the renegade province back to the empire. Again, right or wrong, it doesn't matter. They choose a time where they think they can get away with it and let their tanks roll and their artillery fire. And it can't be denied that Georgia started it.
Yea I know, you heard of an obscure "armored column" approaching from Russia. But think of it: Such a large scale operation as the Georgian one can't be started right away from garrison duty hours after getting some recon. It demands preparing, transporting and amassing troops, and this will last several days. So if that column really existed, which I didn't hear about, I'm rather inclined to believe it was vice versa: The Russians saw what was coming for them and decided to bring reinforcements. But that are speculations.
Now we have a situation, where a region with a peacekeeping force in it is under attack. What military in the world worth a damn would allow this? What do you think the Americans would have done if Serbia rolled 2006 with tanks into Kosovo (still their province!) and shelled Pristina? It doesn't play a role if it is right or wrong, and not even if and how many people are killed. Nobody worth a toss will allow it, the attacker will be crushed first and questions asked later. And that's what we have seen in the past days.
Now let's hope the fighting is over and reason returns. To both sides, I may add.
Well, let's put for a moment the fact aside, that I have sympathies for Russia, and you antipathies, and try to think of it without any emotions.
There is a people in a certain region, separated by a border drawn by Stalin at a time when borders didn't play much of a role because all was one country anyway. I know and respect your feelings thinking of this time, but it happened and can not be discussed away.
Now a part of this people, right or wrong, stood up against their host and tried to secede. This happened 16 years ago and after several months of bloody fights, a truce has been reached and a peace was negotiated. Its conditions were to let the region have its autonomy (without however to let it secede completely), and to build a force of peacekeepers. This force consisted of troops from both parts of the people in question, and of their particular hosts. Doesn't sound too unreasonable, if putting away all prejudices (which was condition, remember?)
Now one side unilaterally decided to screw it and to get the renegade province back to the empire. Again, right or wrong, it doesn't matter. They choose a time where they think they can get away with it and let their tanks roll and their artillery fire. And it can't be denied that Georgia started it.
Yea I know, you heard of an obscure "armored column" approaching from Russia. But think of it: Such a large scale operation as the Georgian one can't be started right away from garrison duty hours after getting some recon. It demands preparing, transporting and amassing troops, and this will last several days. So if that column really existed, which I didn't hear about, I'm rather inclined to believe it was vice versa: The Russians saw what was coming for them and decided to bring reinforcements. But that are speculations.
Now we have a situation, where a region with a peacekeeping force in it is under attack. What military in the world worth a damn would allow this? What do you think the Americans would have done if Serbia rolled 2006 with tanks into Kosovo (still their province!) and shelled Pristina? It doesn't play a role if it is right or wrong, and not even if and how many people are killed. Nobody worth a toss will allow it, the attacker will be crushed first and questions asked later. And that's what we have seen in the past days.
Now let's hope the fighting is over and reason returns. To both sides, I may add.
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