What are people views on this conflict ? It seems to me that there is massive anti russian bias in the media.
South Ossetia and Abkhazia were autonomous entities within Georgia as part of the old soviet union - inhabited by peoples who are quite distinct from the Georgians. When Georgia declared independence - it does like any new state it starts to impose its will on those who have remained distinct over the years - just think of the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka who left no room for Tamil identity in the new state. I say Well done to these entities for maintaining their autonomy - lucky they have russia willing to protect them - Now Georgia's new president gets delusions of grandeur - thinks I'm going to snuff out the autonomy of the South Ossetians pours in the troops - cos I've applied to join NATO Russia won't do anything - Did you see him from pontificating with the EU flag prominently behind him - yuck
And anyway the UK and the West threw all the international rule books out the window when they granted independence to Kosovo - still legally a part of Serbia - So why shouldn't Russia do the same for South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Same as the US and the UK insisting on a power sharing deal in Kenya - even though one (pro western) guy clearly rigged it - not surprising that South Africa and others think the same should apply to Zimbabwe - Double standards in a multi-polar world gets no respect- What should UKIP's position be ?
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UKIP has no regional experts. UKIP should stay well out of a conflict of which most members know nothing.

Personally, having been introduced to some of the issues in Georgian history, I suppport the Georgian position. Russia is playing at divide and rule.
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This was in an email from a Georgian friend.See also letters in Today's Telegraph.


"Thank you very much. It looks like the West is allowing Russia to reinstall itself as the Evil Empire – the destruction of Georgian democracy will only be the beginning. When Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia over the cynical pretext of defending its diaspora, Europe chose appeasement and later paid a huge price.

As for as Georgia is concerned we are reliving 1938, except Russia does not have diaspora in Georgia –it just faked one by illegally distributing its passports, and most importantly Nazis did not use their air force to totally destroy the country.

Russia is bombing all military and economic targets, including the pipelines which bring Caspian on to western markets and the port that serves as the western gateway for Caspian and central Asian goods. They do not spare civilians and the casualties are mounting.

This was has nothing to do with conflict in Georgia ’s tiny separatist region, it’s Russia destroying a young pro-Western democracy and more importantly – the post-Cold War security architecture.

Unfortunately the West chose to allow it"
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UKIP should learn about flags! It's not the EU Flag, it's the Council of Europe's Europe Flag - the organisation founded by Sir Winston Churchill.

'A quarrel in a faraway country, of which we know nothing'

Now I seem to recall Hitler moved in to the Sudatenland, a narrow strip of mountainous land in order, to protect the predominantly ethnic German population in the newly independent Czechoslovakia. He ended up taking over the whole of Czechoslovakia. Russia has moved in to South Ossetia, Abkhazia and it looks like most of Georgia, obstensivly for the same reason.

Watch out Moldavia!
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xhenry, if you look at my contribution on this thread:

http://www.democracyforum.co.uk/ukip...e-pay-off.html

you will see that I agree with you.

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Of course UKIP should have a position on South Ossetia, as should every other political party.

My understanding is that in a recent fair referendum, 95% of South Ossetians voted for independence.

Any true democrat must therefore support the South Ossetian demand for independence from their Georgian overlords.

As this is the 'British Democracy Forum', everyone on this board should also support them.

Especially in view of the barbaric and genocidal attacks on Ossetian villages by the Georgian army last Thursday.

I didn't see the E.U. flag behind that hubristic Georgian leader Shakasvilli. If I had done, that would only have reinforced my support for the beleaguered Ossetians.

xhenry is also right IMO to detect anti-Russian and pro-Georgian bias in a lot of the media coverage to date. I hope it changes

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I think Ukraine is also in a position to be worried. And for Sweden - most neutral of all countries, to raise their concerns then you know things must be serious.
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Originally Posted by Aardvark:
UKIP has no regional experts. UKIP should stay well out of a conflict of which most members know nothing.

Personally, having been introduced to some of the issues in Georgian history, I suppport the Georgian position. Russia is playing at divide and rule.

It is much more complicated than that.

Russia is also becoming very unhappy at aggressive, arrogant (as they see it) American world hegemony - especially with previous Russian satellite states such as Georgia making very pro-Western overtures to the point of wanting to join NATO; and with Poland agreeing to site on their territory, advanced radars for control of Patriot anti-missile missiles in Europe for supposed potential missile attacks from the Middle-east. They feel very exposed militarily on their circumferential borders.

Considering America nearly went to nuclear war over the same thing happening in Cuba, it is not surprising that Russia has been spoiling for a fight with someone to demonstrate its world power status.

It's a damned good job America has seen the light and kept out of any statements of support for Georgia;
...and if they were fool enough to support Georgia militarily ... it's Sarajevo, the assasination of Ferdinand all over again ....and into WW3.

We (the Brits) should keep well out of it.

DED.
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I think we should be very careful in looking to confront a country that has posed no direct threat to our national security. Push for a peaceful end by by no means should we send in British troops to defend Georgian democracy, well meaning or not, we do not want to start World War 3.
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Originally Posted by sean43:
I think we should be very careful in looking to confront a country that has posed no direct threat to our national security.

The same country that sends bombers off the UK coast?
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Originally Posted by sean43:
I think we should be very careful in looking to confront a country that has posed no direct threat to our national security. Push for a peaceful end by by no means should we send in British troops to defend Georgian democracy, well meaning or not, we do not want to start World War 3.

I totally agree! Sad and frustrating it might be, but Britain can not take on the role of being the World Police force! If Russia was to declare war on the west , Then that is a totally different matter, we would have to fight! I think War between Russia and the Western Allies is unlikely, huge stockpiles of nuclear weapons on both sides has kept the peace and I don't think World Politicians are stupid enough to start something which would mean annihilation for most of the civilised World!
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