The Russian tank columns rumbling into Georgia reveal the anger of a tiger
finally swatting the mouse that has teased it for years. South Ossetia may
seem as distant, trivial and complicated as the 19th-century
Schleswig-Holstein question but Russia's fury is about much more than the
Ossetians. The Caucasus matters greatly to the Russians for all sorts of
reasons, none greater than the fact that it now also matters to us.
The troubles in Georgia are not the equivalent of an assassinated archduke in
Sarajevo. But historians may well point to this little war, beside the
spectacular Olympic launch of resurgent China, as the start of the twilight
of America's sole world hegemony. If the new Great Game is for the oil of
the Caucasus and Central Asia, the West may be in the process of losing it.
I've been visiting Georgia since the fall of the Soviet Empire in 1991. I've
known all three Georgian presidents since independence, and witnessed the
wars and revolutions of the Caucasian tinderbox. In 1991 the chief of the
Georgian partisans in the first Ossetian war, a dentist turned warlord,
drove me up to villages around Tskhinvali, highlands of lusciously green
beauty, where a vicious war between Georgian and Ossetian farmers was being
waged with the ferocity of intimate neighbours, using comically armoured
tractors instead of tanks.
My Georgian hosts leant their guns against a tree and took me to an open-air
feast at a table stacked with delicacies in honour of a local boy killed
that day. During the long drunken banquet I asked where the boy was buried.
“He hasn't been buried,” replied my host, “he's under your feet.” Paling, I
looked and there he lay, stretched out under the table, cradled with
bouquets of flowers.
To understand this week's events, we must travel back a thousand years: long
before Russia existed, Georgia was a Christian-warrior kingdom. The Caucasus
was the natural borderland of the three great empires of the Near East: the
battlefield between Orthodox Russia, the Islamic Ottomans and Persians. In
1783 the embattled King Eralke II was forced to claim the protection of
Prince Potemkin, Catherine the Great's partner-in-power. Between 1801 and
1810 Russia swallowed the last Georgian principalities. In 1918 Georgia
enjoyed independence for three years before Stalin seized it back for
Moscow.
No one understood its ethnic complexity and strategic significance like
Stalin, that Georgian romantic turned Russian imperialist, who had been born
in Gori, the town that has been overrun by Russian forces and where a marble
temple now stands over the hut where he was born. The Ossetians who
straddled the border had early sought Russian alliance, earning Georgian
disdain. Hence Stalin was accused by his enemies of being an Ossetian: his
father was of Ossetian descent, though long since Georgianised. Stalin drew
the borders of the Soviet republics to ensure Georgia contained autonomous
ethnic entities, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Adzharia, through which Moscow
could keep Georgia in order.
When that proud, cocky bantam, Georgia, became independent in 1991, the
Russian double-headed eagle was humiliated. Ever since, Russian interference
and skulduggery has bedevilled Georgia. Russia encouraged southern Ossetia
to establish a statelet within Georgia, whose inept, insane first President,
Zviad Gamsakhurdia, had inflamed ethnic tensions. As Ossetians fought
Georgians who themselves rebelled against Gamsakhurdia, I sat in his office:
he was a Shakespearean scholar and quoted King Lear to me.
Gamsakhurdia was either murdered or committed suicide. In 1993, his successor
Eduard Shevardnadze, the former Soviet Foreign Minister and Politburo
member, lost Abkhazia in another bloody Russian-orchestrated war. But
Shevardnadze won the peace. Georgia, which had longed to be part of Europe,
embraced Western democracy and US friendship. Yet Shevardnadze recognised
the limits of Georgian defiance, once telling me as we flew in 1993 in his
plane to make peace with the Kremlin: “The destiny of Russia is reflected in
the Caucasus like the rays of the sun are reflected in a drop of water.”
Old, autocratic Shevardnadze was toppled in the Rose Revolution of 2003 by an
energetic and decent if impulsive US-educated lawyer, Mikhail Saakashvili,
who hoped to escape Moscow for ever by joining the EU and Nato - as did
Russia's huge neighbour, Ukraine. This prospect of encirclement by
triumphant America infuriated Russia. Imagine if newly independent Wales
cockily joined the Warsaw Pact.
Russia is no longer the spineless giant of the Nineties: Vladimir Putin's
musclebound, oil-fuelled authoritarian regime has aggressively reinvigorated
Russia. He had already shown his ruthless determination to master the
Caucasus by crushing Chechnya. Nato in Georgia would have made that
meaningless. The Kremlin has used its clients, Abkhazia and Ossetia, as
Trojan Horses to ruin Tbilisi's independence - recently raising the tension
by offering Russian passports to all Ossetians and testing Georgian resolve
with cross-border skirmishing: the trap of a practised imperial power.
Georgia is not guiltless: most Georgians I know care little about Ossetia even
though it is part of sovereign Georgia. But in order to join Nato, President
Saakashvili wanted to settle Georgia's instability by reclaiming Ossetia and
Abkhazia. By seizing Tskhinvali, he took one hell of a gamble that Russia
wouldn't intervene. Georgia is paying a high price for this. To finish this
vicious circle, Russian attacks show how badly Georgia needs EU/Nato
protection, yet Georgia will never get it while embroiled in fighting.
The retaking of Ossetia is a minor part of the Russian campaign. More
significant is the attack on Georgia proper, which reasserts Russia's
hegemony over the Caucasus, assuages the humiliations of the past 20 years,
subverts Georgian democracy - and defies and defangs American superpowerdom.
The swaggering arrival of Vladimir Putin, now the Prime Minister, across the
border, macho in his tight jeans and white leather jacket, shows he, not
President Medvedev, remains Russia's paramount leader.
This war is really a celebration of ferocious force in the realm of
international power, a dangerous precedent. The West must protest with
unified resolve; Russia both despises Western hypocrisy and craves Western
approval. Georgian democracy and sovereignty matter. So do our oil supplies:
the West built a pipeline to bring oil from Azerbaijan and Central Asian
across Georgia to Turkey, free of Russian interference.
Russia's clumsy ferocity could ignite a Caucasian tinderbox that even Moscow
cannot extinguish. But faced with Western outrage, the Kremlin might toss
Stalin's words back at President Bush: “How many divisions has the Pope?”
None: Washington and London are not sending the 101st Airborne or the SAS.
Russia, which appears to be pushing its tanks into Georgia to overthrow its
democratically elected president, has demonstrated gleefully the limits of
US power and Moscow's historic destiny as regional hegemon and restored
21st-century superpower. The Empire has struck back and shaken the order of
the world.
Simon Sebag Montefiore is the author of Young Stalin. His latest book is a
novel, Sashenka
I'm polish, I have just bad impression like being NEXT IN LINE.
In 1939 Russians invaded Poland TOGETHER WITH HITLER.
In 1940 they murdered ca 20 000 polish POWs (soldiers, policemens, etc). Now they invade Georgia to protect
russian citizens !?!?!?!? It's so similar,no any change in mentality.
leszek, warszawa, Poland
Russia was right entering S. Osetia and even Georgia, when Georgians first started hevy bobbarding of S. Osetian city Tschinhvalli, what else they had to do!!!!
Just like Chechnya started fight with Dagestan also then Russia was 100% right!
Aigars, Riga, Latvia
To Ken Bryden, Vancouver, Canada
Barbarism? I would say the same about US.
Evgueni, Omsk, Russia
I really feel for people like Vakhtang. They are the victims of a US crusade for worldwide dominance. The US is creating mischief 000s of miles from home . US citizens complain of European tribal wars.There are no native tribes in the US worth speaking of today because they have been murdered.
ian cheese, london, uk
I'm a Georgian,and I feel a shame for what my government made about ossetians. Also there was no enmity between us and Russians while USA didn't became to create it. We lived in peace some hundred years while USA haven't put its man having paid for elections and began to inflate antiRussian hysteria
Vakhtang, Petro,
The US will always need enemies or create them to justify her Defence industries. They simply cannot meddle in Russia's backyard & use her former satellites against her. This is intolerable for Russia & we must not be surprised at her reaction. The US is always the agressor.
ian cheese, london, uk
Alex of Vladivostok, the Baltic people didn't like their occupation by the two socialist totalitarian cousins one bit; they didn't like decimation and the deportation of their populations one bit and loathed the illegal importation of those to their East who were imposed on them and who sadly remain.
Dr Andris Lielmanis, Brampton, Canada
Ask the Baltic people how they liked life under the Soviets.
Most of them are so young as you are, and they have never lived in USSR. All they know about USSR picked up from their media. You'll be wondered by russian media also tell many horror tales about USSR, in most it's just pack of lies.
Alex, Vladivostok, Russia
2 Andrew, London, UK
All those British in favour of Kosovo independence.
Could you explain why N.Ireland (just next door GBR) should not be indepandent and how many people your army killed there?
You need Russia more then we need you.
Think: Arabs and Pakistanis versus your depopulating nation
Rowan, Vladikavkaz, Russia
The Russians and the Georgians have lived peacefully together for centuries. This war is the result of general US policy to single out, isolate and weaken Russia as its potential rival in the world’s domination.
To KEN: Barbarism is the annihilation 85% of the American Indian population in 30years
Anton, St. Petersburg, Russia
In the Chechen Republic an another matter! After disintegration of the USSR in territory of Russia of republic, in that чесле the Chechen Republic, had huge freedom, to them nobody climbed. Чечна typed from the Near East mojaheds. As a result the Chechen Republic has attacked Dagestan!
Vitalis, Tyumen, Russia
Russia has a long history of barbarism, and Georgia is just the most recent example. Ask the Baltic people how they liked life under the Soviets, and you will be glad you are not neighbours.
Ken Bryden, Vancouver, Canada
All those Russians in favour of South Ossetia independence. Could you explain why Chechenia (just next door) should not be independent and how many people your army killed there?
In long run (20-30 years) you need USA and EU more then we need you. Think: China versus your depopulating Far East
Andrew, London, UK
Vladimir Putin - what a great man! I like many Russians have so much respect for him and his willingness to stand up to the west. He is a true hero and the greatest leader the world has ever seen. They are so lucky to have him as their leader. He can do no wrong. Long live Putin!!
Jim, San Diego, USA
Ignorance abounds here. Russia just didn't have 100's of tanks sitting on the border, this was a planned invasion. First they supported and armed the rebels who fired on the Georgians.Then they are ignore the cease fire. Now they are burning and killing the Georgians on there way to Tblisi.
Randy, Manchster, USA
While words are flying here and elsewhere, people are dying-- Georgians, Russians, Ossetians. Have you been to Tbilisi? I have. The thought of tanks on the road to it, even if they have turned away, makes me sick, as does the thought of another 100,000 refugees in the world, adding to the millions!
Jackie, New York, USA
Tanya: learn facts yourself. Soviet Union were Hitler allies till June 1941. USA and Britain choose to side with one gangster, SU to defeat another, Germany. In return for help to save the West, SU got control of Eastern Europe. We were not liberated , remember Hungary 1956, Prague 1968, Poland 1981
Andrew, London, UK
The Caucasus is as big and dangerous a can of worms as the Middle East. And at the root of both is oil and money. The faster we in the west can create cheap and efficient technology to rid ourselves of our oil addiction the easier it will be to detach ourselves from these intractable issues.
leon, Douglas, Isle of Man
90% of non Russian South Ossetians hold Russian passports, also some in UK, so what?
Laxman, you're quite right the West should not offer false promises of protection to ex captive nations from an aggressive Russian neo National Socialist military...it should offer full and genuine protection NOW!
Dr Andris Lielmanis, Brampton, Canada
What kind of peacekeeping force invade a sovereign nation by bombing them, to include of South Osetia. Russia care less about South Osetia. Protecting Russian citizens?They were given Russian passports in order for Russia to invade Georgia with an excuse of protecting so called Russian citizens
Al, New York, USA
By the way talking about Stalin, he was GEORGIAN!
Rick, Dallas, USA
Russia is major nuclear power. West should respect the security of Russia and stay away from provoking countries around Russia with false promises of protection. We dont want COLD war again. West and US must starting BEHAVING responsibly and keep your Georgian dogs on tight leash.
Laxman, New Delhi, INDIA
90% people of South Ossetia have Russian citizenship. When Georgian army invaded South Ossetia and fired at Tzhinvali, they were killing Russian subjects. That's the action Russia couldn't ignore and must react.
As for next advance, Russia prevents future Georgian attacks by scattering enemy army.
Vasily Starostin, Moscow, Russia
To Tanya from Greenwich, USSR
Millions of Russians were killed in those days but, remember this, Stalin killed more Russians than Hitler ever did.
Joe Steel, Baku,
I think the best way to understand the fury of Russians is to remember the figures: 1600 (ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED) children, women and elders were bombed and killed by Georgian facists in Tshinwali BEFORE Russia came to save them. Saakashwili ordered to kill Ossetians showing the EU flag.
Dmitry, Moscow,
To Tom from Peoria, US - totally agreed!
Mikhail , Colchester, UK
The Cowardly Lion?
"The path of freedom you have chosen is not easy, but you will not travel it alone. Americans respect your choice for liberty. And as you build a free and democratic Georgia, the American people will stand with you." George W. Bush, Freedom Square, Tbilisi, Georgia, May 2005
R. Berke, Oakland, USA
To Mircea Bujoreanu
Honey, we have sooooo much land you will not ever be able to imagine! We do not need new lands,we have more then enough. I wish we could cope well with the existing ones.
Marina, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
To Marty from Coventry,
Do you know how many soviet people were killed fighting with "swastica" during WWII? If 25 million soviet people would not be killed, probably you would not write your words now sitting in your cozy home. Before say something, learn facts. Ignorance is always aggressive.
Tanya, Greenwich, USA
Gordon, Cologne, Germany -
Unless you are a WW 1 vet, you NEVER lived in a Russian occupied Poland, thus making your post false in its entirety. DO NOT equate Russians to Soviets, that only emphasizes your ignorance.
Russia's Westward scepticism is justified - it has been invaded more that once
paul, portland, oregon, usa
Hey guys, why are you remembering WWII? Why not remember Bay of Pigs, Grenada, Panama and Yugoslavia? So if we do not blame anybody for that why blaming Russia for establishing law&order nextdoor to its borders?
Or do you really believe that Georgian "law&order" is far better for locals?
Vladimir, Moscow,
The hypocrisy of the West is bottomless. The question that must be asked is not being asked. 1. Would U.S accept Russian foothold in either Cuba or Latin America? 2. Would Great Britain allow China to have a base in an independent Scotland?
Kwadwo, RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, USA
It appears that the USA favors murderous sneak attacks on others but not itself. America's response to Pearl Harbor ended with Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
John Koroloff, Vancouver, USA
Whole world know this was started by Georgia.
Pawan, Ipswich, UK
France attacks England, kills 2000, England retaliates by invading France to push back the French Army, and the French then call the English the aggressors.
I don't give a crap what happened 2000 years ago. 2 weeks ago is another story.
Georgia, the US, and Tel Aviv attacked S. Ossetia.
Rob, Brunswick , USA
It obviously shows that the author has great knowledge the origins of kconflict dating back to 2 centuries. In the same vein, I beg, that the author plough through the sands of history to find the roots of conflict between 1. India-Pakistan 2. Palestine-Israel 3.Iraq-Kuwait. Please?
SATYA GORTHY, London, UK
How about compare Ossetia to Kosovo, and then see why NATO looks like a fool to the Russians. Why is it that we can facilitate breakaway states and form Nations, but the Russians can’t. In the 90’s the Russians could only gasp as we bombed the Serbs. Then gasp again as we formed the state of Kosovo.
Ethan, Watsonvile, USA
To: Neringa, San Diego, USA
When Hague Tribunal calls Mr.Saakashvili to answer for atrocities committed against Ossetians, will you still believe it's the Russians who started the war?
Nikolay, Moscow, Russia
Putin is not a Russian, he is a Soviet- and while George Bush was running an inept baseball team. Putin was running the KGB as Andropov's apprentice. This is a mismatch, Putin seeks restoration of the USSR, and the West seeks oil and appeasement.
Jeff Runestrand, mpls, usa
A thoroughly impressive, informative, and ... depressing report.
Russia simply cannot afford a NATO member at such close quarters, and these days oil is power, so....
Realpollitik says that with the UN useless, Europe fearful, and the USA incompetently entwined, Russia shall do as it will
Kenneth Johnson, Sand Point, Alaska, USA
Countries that escaped Soviet rule in 1990's will always remain a sore bleeding spot for Russia. And this is how Russia is doing "business"- create an "internal" conflict, accuse someone of bullying minorities and invade with all the force under liberator's flag. I've lived there longer than enough
Neringa, San Diego, USA
Julia Iskandar, London
Spot on!
Those with the military might are positioning their forces to safeguard key oil/gas rich areas and pipeline pathways in Gulf and Central Asia.
Destabilization and intervention of strategic countries will continue by strong powers, and most people will believe the lies
JB, Seef, Bahrain
Part of State A declares independence, State A tries to force them back "onside", Even larger State B, intervenes and uses miltary overkill to force State A to accept independence. If B = Russia & A = Georgia, worldwide condemnation. If B = US/NATO & A = Serbia, saviours of democracy. Hypocricy?
Ewan, Harrow,
If you want to know the truth, just come to South Osetia and see everything by your own eyes.
You’ll see what theGeorgian troops do and how cruelly they kill civil people like the German killed Slovenian and Jew. I do not angry with you as you can know only those things that you are allowed to know
Victoria, Moscow, Russia
not only did russia orchestrate this, but it is only going to get stronger economically and more belligerent. georgia does not threaten anyone. russia must be dealt with now. it throws its economic weight around and uses its veto on the security council against our interests. & send roman home.
jem, london, uk
One day Russia may want to join the EU and NATO. To their south lie enormous manufacturing nations with few natural resources, food or living space and no empathy with an essentially European nation. When will they decide to move north? I would give it 30 years maximum.
Roger Corfield, Arusha, Tanzania
Russian czar Putin is a NASTY MONSTER, but he would not be able to do these atrocities to Georgia if he did not have the western countries like Germany in his pocket. You westerners are completely dependent on Russia for fuel, Putin laughs at the 'outrage' the impotent EU and US are expressing.
Mary, Sribne, Ukraine
So much hipocricity! Or is everyone charmed by the US propoganda? Few care to think just a bit! Good morning, guys! This is not Georgia vs Russia. Who cares about tiny and poor Georgia? This is US vs Russia. Bush used Georgia to tease Russia, see it's reaction and then play give-and-take over Iran.
Tom, Peoria, US
Remember one important moment in this conflict. FIRST Georgia attaked South Ossetia. Georgia TOTALLY DESTROYED civilian town with GRAD rockets on a border in South ossetia within 24 hours without declarating a war. Only then Russia engaged military forces to South Osettia for protection.
Dmitry, Kazan, Russia
If you are weak you are abused by the powerful: think Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan... That's "Western morality".
Geo, Jacksonville, USA
Russia proved it still IS and allways will be the Soviet Union. And Putin is no better than Hitler and Stalin. Russia knows one thing only: how to steal other peopels' land. You Russians are nothing but hyppocrites!
Mircea Bujoreanu, Bucharest, Romania,
George Bush invaded Iraq and is responsible for the deaths of at least 1 million innocent Iraqis,plus hundreds of thousands of children who died earlier from lack of medicines thanks to sanctions ! In Afghanistan,civilian deaths due to US/NATO bombings are also rampant.War crimies indeed!
robert john, coimbatore, india
World's greatest aggressors of nowadays the US and its puppets in London have to learn to behave now:)
Geo, Jacksonville, USA
Of course Russia has a constitutional obligation to protect its citizens when they are in distress wherever they may reside.
That's enough logical Soviet-style justification for Russia to send tanks crashing through the turnstiles at Chelsea F.C. to prevent Chelsea's losing the Premiership again.
Dr. Jimmy, Nottingham, England
Georgia hasn't seen Russia at war yet and neither has NATO.
BTW, Chechen President announced that Russia needs to more actively deploy chechen special forces to deal with S.Ossetia issues. They are commandos and battle hardened guerrilla fighters who fought, not ran away, from Russian forces.
Nikolay, Moscow, Russia
I worked and travelled extensively in Russia and this is just the Russian way of doing things.
If you are weak you are abused by the powerful. It's the Russian way.Don't expect any sort of Western morality it does'nt exist in Russia.
mike, london, UK
Russian and Georgian have got long friendly history. Georgian prince Bagration is Russian national hero of Napoleon war. Georgian writers, actors are very respected in Russian culture. Russia stops the atrocious crime ethnic cleaning unleashed by Saakashvili government (remeber Armenian tragedy,1915
Albert, Moscow, Russia
The parallels between Hitler, modern Russia and Soviet Union are ridiculous. Russia is not Soviet Union and Russia's leaders are not fascists. The same I cannot say about Saakashvili and it's regime. You all afraid of strong Russia. But Russia is not USSR with communists.
Andrei, Brest, Belarus
Russians have done what American are doing all the time. But Americans, first, make a you (the world) believe that they are going to do this for the sake of the Holy World or human race or ... Where as russians fails to do so.
American are diplomats, russians are equally good but fear to argue.
Santosh, Mumbai, India
So many posters run quickly to the World War II analogy, may one actually ask what you propose to do? Because from your tone, rather than wait for a unlikely World War III you seem intent of starting it now by joining Georgia. Great plan, “we started a world war to avert one”. Are lives that cheap?
Matt, Birmingham, UK
What atrocities are alleged?
Is the woman who witnessed a Georgian tank chase and run over an old Ossetianwoman with a child in her hands lying? Was she paid by Putin or Medvedev to say that? And why did Georgia attack the civilian town of Tskhinvali with no military facilities in the first place??
Alex, Moscow, Russia
To W Butler:
I agree with shunning Russian Eurovision entry - Eurovision is worth ignoring anyway. And let's never ever again buy Stolichnaya!
Vlad, London,
Michael, Washington, DC,
USA are currently in the foremost, so everyone blames them, unfortunately not long from now, the USa will not be there, but.... China, then We all should sit back and watch the two as ... who wins will be lovely to see. I bet my money on the chinese
Anthony L, Chelmsford, UK
Ray Cobbett, Emsworth, Hampshire,
did you read the article? Leave the US out, concentrate on the facts on the ground. Think, will Russia ever leave Georgia? Now the next question, will the US ever leave Iraq? What do you think?
Anthony L, Chelmsford, UK
George Bush can condemn what the Russians did as much as he wants. No one cares about his words because the world remembers what he did in Iraq, Serbia and Afganistan. Everybody is sick and tired of America's double standards and its hypocritical policy now turning back against the Western world.
elli, Varna, Bulgaria
I feel much happier now, I am reading some more balanced view instead of the continuous pro russian publicity from many commentators.
It is nice to see that I am not alone in having the same views.
I ams till surprised though that none(analysts) informed Mr Bush about what was to happen.
Anthony L, Chelmsford, UK
Please bear in mind that Soviet Russia together with Hitler attacked Poland in September 1939 (Ribbentrop - Molotov pact) starting IIWW.
Piotr, Poznan, Polan
People keep talking about Czechoslovakia in 1938, but back then America was isolationist and Britain and France toothless. Now we are in a world where the Americans have balls, and are quite simply the dogs nuts!! A bit of pressure by Washington and Russia won't take Georgia as well as S Ossettia
Richard Naylor, Coventry, UK
"...Russia should back down immediately or be dealt with militarily by NATO!! - Chris, Lake Elsinore, USA"
Get real - no one's going risk WW III over Georgia.
Homer, London,
Why does every commentator have to turn this into a comdemnation of the US? This is a seperate issue--Russia expanding its control over oil resources at the expense of its neighbors. Russia's weak excuses regarding alleged atroctities committed by the Georgians lack anything approaching proof.
Michael, Washington, DC,
Russia has proven again that it cannot be trusted. It's Russia who will pay the high price for its aggression as all investors are pulling their money from the region. Europe must speak with one voice. No military action can be tolerated.
Martin, Manchester, England
To Marty from Coventry,
Associating Russia with the swastika is an uneducated and ignorant insult. Russia was the one to stop Hitler and put an end to the WWII and it did that at a high price. Many Soviet veterans who fought in that war are dead and manyare still alive and you humiliate them here
Dmitry, Moscow, Russia
In 1938 Hitler annexed Czechoslovakia, the world did nothing. WW2 soon followed and the deaths of millions. Let's not make the same mistake again. Russia has shown the world, that underneath the charade of democratic change, still lurks the politics both the hammer and sickel. & the swastika
Marty, Coventry, England
Stalingrad - Germans were repulsed on their way to Baku oilfilds because they had not the 'strength' to operate long supply lines...they knew what they wanted then as the west does now, but again the west cannot see it through to be effective in this region,many interesting parallels..remember
J Jarvis, Alton,
The US talks about invading a soverign nation. Would that include Iraq? The West should to stay out of this ancient dispute. Georgia's president prodded the Russian Bear once too often and is paying the price. The real worry is wither Russian democracy under the ex KGB man who runs the show.
Ray Cobbett, Emsworth, Hampshire,
We need to demonstrate European solidarity in the face of this Russian aggression.
I propose that we consider boycotting the Eurovision song contest next year or at the very least consider not voting for the Russians.
This will send a very clear message about our European foreign policy
W Butler, London,
Russia despises the West yet craves the West - in individuals we call this "Borderline Personality Disorder". In national terms, the west is dealing with a psychologically unhealthy nation, which aggresses unpredictably, without any specific provocation being necessary.
Ramil, Perth, Australia
The Georgian-Russian conflict was ignited by foolish, chuvenistic leadership on both sides. Surely we know by now that war has no victor. Unfortunately, during such critical times, the White House is full of leaders who deserve to be impeached because of their lies that led to the war in Iraq.
Wayne Dawson, Melbourne, Australia
Given that the US "tried it on" with roll-back and encirclement in the Middle East and Central Asia, all for oil and natural gas, no wonder that Russia does the same in the Caucasus, all for oil and natural gas. Forget the pious rationalisations on both sides: it's for "energy hegemony".
Julia Iskandar, London, England
I lived in Russia-occupied Poland for 20 years, long before the Soviet empire collapsed. Russians have a minority complex of being a "late nation" and will do anything to other nations to prove their faked superiority. I feel sorry for the Georgians because I know what Russians are capable of.
Gordon, Cologne, Germany
Cymru am byth Jono;imagine a free Wales and England started to hand out English passports to those in Wales willing to take them, then declared that its 'English' citizens were being oppressed, sending in English peacekeepers, the Welsh reacting with England then invading ..."the Putin set up".
Dr Andris Lielmanis, Brampton, Canada
The Georgian-Russian conflict was ignited by foolish, chuvenistic leadership on both sides. Surely we know by now that war has no victor. Unfortunately, during such critical times, the White House is full of leaders who deserve to be impeached because of their lies that led to the war in Iraq.
Wayne Dawson, Melbourne, Australia
Referring to the Russian troops in South Ossetia as peacekeepers would be like referring to the Syrian troops that once occupied Lebanon as peacekeepers.
Russia has been supplying weapons to the separatists and inflaming tensions with Georgia for years now.
Stewart, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Elisa in Santiago - Whilst it is true that 'nobody with half a brain ever believed' the reason for the UN sponsored invasion of Iraq, those of us with a complete brain - both halves that is - believed that the UN finally agreed to action upon the approval of the 14th resolution against Sadam.
Brian, Spartanburg, SC, USA
There were already UN Peacekeepers in South Ossetia. Why Georgia opted for military force rather than political negotiation is beyond me.
It looks like the Georgians were borrowing from the discredited Pentagon manual of invasions: assume the rosiest case and fail to think through the consequences.
Burton, West Brompton, London, UK
The comparison between Georgia and Iraq is invalid. Hussein was a dictator that murdered people regularly and broke the Gulf War I treaty with impunity. Georgia democratically elected a President who responded to being shelled by people who lived in territory that is part of Georgia. Putin is a thug
Jill, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Why Europe is so ready to condemn Russia but didn't say much about Iraq's invasion? At least Russia can claim they are deffending their peacekeeping forces and responding to Georgia's attack, while the US invaded a country based on lies, which by the way, nobody with half a brain ever believed.
Elisa, Santiago,
"Imagine if newly independent Wales cockily joined the Warsaw Pact."
Even if Wales ever did become independent (God forbid), I doubt we would ever want to join the Warsaw Pact! I also strongly doubt England would orchestrate a war, invade, occupy Cardiff and liquidate Milford Haven in a fit of ire.
Jono, Carmarthen, Wales
Russia is rebuilding its empire. Next will come the Baltics,and despite them being members of NATO nothing will be done. Then on to Ukraine and Belarus. The West is a toothless tiger, particularly Europe, because of its dependence on Russian natural gas and oil.
John M., Lansing MI, USA
How about China reigniting its grudge match with Russia over the possession of its 'stolen' Eastern territories and Siberia?
4mill discriminated Chinese live in Russia requiring Chinese peacekeepers, precedent set in Ossetia &Abkhazia, Chinese invade in force willing to sacrifice 25 mill. no prob.
Dr Andris Lielmanis, Brampton, Canada
What did other Western powers say or do when US invaded Iraq?
And what did they say what it turned out to be an invasion based on false intelligence?
Eric, London, UK
Strong on rhetoric, but not much here of substance. Beta minus, I fear. Do some reading next time.
Martyn, London,
oh why is Russia claiming the Georgians are using excessive weaponry when i really doubt that Russia is not using that same weaponry or probably even worse. No one can honestly say this is a fair fight and Russia should back down immediately or be dealt with militarily by NATO!!
Chris, Lake Elsinore, USA
Hitler Invaded Sudetenland, Now Putin Invades South Ossetia
http://tinyurl.com/63zhyp
On October 3, 1938, Adolf Hitler's armies marched into Sudetenland, a part of Czechoslovakia. Germany said it was responding to separatist demands from the large German population...
Dan Schwartz, Sayreville, NJ, USA
yet again, another cry for the fluffy poor georgians... What exactly is a decent thing to do when these bunnies burn churvhfuls of ossetians alive and shell residential areas with GRAD rockets and cluster bombs?
Tony, Rochester, USA