War it is. Part IV.

[GePap]

Originally posted by PLATO
I am sure you meant, "Russia has changed its position". This, of course, has no bearing on the standing of the existing resolution.

There are a lot of UN Resolutions out there that are regularly and blatantly ignored, with no consequence to those breaking them.

As far as enforcement, there are a huge range of things the West can do that are well short of military action. The UN, per se, does not have to be envolved. Member states are free to act within the Charter.

Yes, and?

Personally speaking, the whole issue of when a seperatist movement should be recognized or not is something the world at large hasn't yet defined well. For example, Abkhazia has excercised de facto independence now for at least 15 years and has a multi-party democratic government. Why aren't they elegible for recognition? Because states said they weren't? what is the legal and or moral framework that would justify allowing the Soviet Union or Yugoslavia to break up, but not Georgia, the Ukraine, or Russia?

Obviously Russia here is acting in a purely self-interested manner, but then you could say the same of the US on this issue as well, and of several, thought not all, of the European states that have muddied the waters of when someone gets to have their own state.

I already said, powers get to make their own rules. Personally speaking, I don't think NATO expansion or "Georgia's territorial integrity" are that vital to overall American international interests. The inevitable mess that is coming and the greater eminity with the Russians will complicate and unermine many things, like international anti-drug, anti-nuclear proliferation, and anti-terrorism activities, all of which are more important to both the US and Russia than whether Abkhazia has its own flag, or flies the Georgian flag.

[Sandman]

The Times is now reporting that the Russian-occupied buffer zone is being ethnically cleansed by South Ossetian militiamen.

Russian-backed paramilitaries 'ethnically cleansing villages'

[MOBIUS]

Originally posted by Patroklos
The fact that he had to reach back 50 years for that is what makes it irrelevant.

You're just not on the same planet, are you!!?

He's NOT reaching back 50 years - this is happening NOW!!!

1962: The United States Embargo Against Cuba is an economic, commercial, and financial embargo - 46 years you moron!

1992 (only 16 years ago, o simple-minded one) Embargo codified into law for "bringing democracy to the Cuban people" - entitled the Cuban Democracy Act.

1996 (only 12 years ago Mr ****** of the Year) Congress passes the Helms-Burton Act which further restricts United States citizens from doing business in or with Cuba.

1999 (only 9 years ago. Anyone detecting a pattern here? Yep, Patroklos is a Class #1 Thickie!) Modification of trade embargo by requiring that foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies stop trading with Cuba!

Since 2000 (That's only 8 years ago to the numerically challenged...) Congress has repeatedly tried to water down or completely erase regulations preventing Americans from traveling to Cuba 4 times, however each time Bush, has threatened to veto the bill.

2006 (2 years, you *****!) the United States announced the creation of a task force made up of officials from several US agencies that will pursue more aggressively violators of the US trade embargo against Cuba, with penalties as severe as 10 years of prison and thousands of dollars in fines for violators of the embargo!!!

Besides the fact that there are no similiarities, like the simple existance of an international embargo period.

And frankly that statement makes you look like even more of a total douche - because basically what you're saying is that what the Russians are doing to the Georgians isn't even as bad as the US is to Cuba...

Next you're going to tell me that you're going to vote McCain in November!

[snoopy369]

Would you change your stance on McCain if I told you he is a Welshman?

[BlackCat]

Just out of curiosity, Mobby, is US occupying Cuba illegally ?

[snoopy369]

We'd like to be

[onodera]

Originally posted by BlackCat
Just out of curiosity, Mobby, is US occupying Cuba illegally ?

Yes, you've taken Gitmo from them.

[DinoDoc]

We send them checks every year for the right to the base as per the treaty we signed with them.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by snoopy369
Would you change your stance on McCain if I told you he is a Welshman?

You're damned skippy I would. Is that a sick joke?

[Patroklos]

nm

[Saras]

whoa, Finland are mulling NATO membership. Woohoo!

[Kuciwalker]

Link?

[Saras]

It's reprinted in Lithuanian news portal from Handelsblatt.

[Kuciwalker]

Ah.

[Chemical Ollie]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
We send them checks every year for the right to the base as per the treaty we signed with them.

Wouldn't that be against the embargo?