Russia Invades Georgia Proper

By BJ

Confirmed reports now that the Russians have sent troops across the frontier between the breakaway region of Abhkazia and Georgia.

Whether or not this is just some ploy to try and force the Georgians to give up what are likely pretty well defended and dug in redoubts in the two breakaway regions that they've controlled for some time, or the start of something bigger, it is fair to say the war has entered a new phase. More then ever, the question of what the endgame will be is the big one in my mind, (or if there will be one - see Iraq invasion).

And regardless of the painfully hyperbolic rhetoric by the neocon trust, there still isn't sweet-bugger-all the West can do about the whole mess, though given still-President Bush is still enjoying his holiday in Beijing, there doesn't seem to be any intent to do anything, anyway.

Comments

[CW]

Georgia represents the cultural complexity and diversity of any country on the historic great trade routes, where one conqueror followed another. We understand that 1) South Ossetia (and perhaps Abhkazia) is the long-term homeland to many speakers of a Persian-type language, see Iran; 2) The culture derives from Persians who conquered Georgia in the 13th Century; 3) Others of that group live on the other side of the Caucasus Mountains, territorial Russia; 4) The groups are separatist, seeking to unite in some meaningful way, and have allied with Russia over time; 4) Russia is using this ethnic uniting idea to mask its economic, and political expansion interests served by invading Georgia; and this adds up to Cultural Economic Opportunism. Georgia may have erred in the form its efforts took in firming a central government in those areas; but that does not justify Russia's immediate and overwhelming response. The ethnic sidelight also serves Russia in furthering an alliance with Iran. Recurrent global issue: See Basques, Kurds, our Revolution and North-South and civil war, etc. Is this so?