War vs. Olympics

Inaccuracies or different opinions? Please point out factual mistakes and I will gladly admit them, there is a big difference between having a different opinion or take on a decision and printing falsities. I utterly dispute your opinion on the EU's "imperialist ambitions" I don't think for one second trying to diversify your fuel sources is an imperialist in anyway especially when Russia has already threatened to cut them off entirely and has done to Ukraine in the depths of winter. What is imperialist the is the continuing presence of Russian forces on Georgian territory, ignoring the peace-treaty they signed and generally trying to re-take the Georgian nation just to show off brutish strength.

well i will concede the word blatant as im sure it was not purposeful and it is hard to get passes all the propoganda and also concede poetic license in opinion pieces. but unfortunately there were inaccuracies. we are certainly coming from different angles as i in no way see Russia as a 'mature democracy' - it is state dominated by the Oligarchs that ripped apart the Soviet Union and robbed billions of resources and services from the Soviet people, and as such their current actions are completely understandable to me (different to supporting them). Equally ensuring EU or US access to this pipeline is not helping these countries open up to the world or become jmore independant or democratic. It is just swapping one set of imperial ambitions in the region for another. While US and Russian ambitions can often be seen fairly obviousely there is no doubt but that the EU also has global ambitions and seeks control and influence. They just do in a far more subtle manner. I agree we do need to support Independance, Sovereignty etc in these newer states in the current climate but neither pro-Russian nor pro-Western Governments are the way forward for these countries.

Your welcome of course, to be honest I'm terribly vain and love the idea of someone commenting on my article! Sad I know... I take issue with several things you have pointed out, firstly there is no "blatant inaccuracy" in my article. I'd like you to concede that much at least and I, in return while openly admit that it is very harsh on Russia but this is because Russia is supposedly a mature democratic society. It has invaded Georgian soil, no Georgian troops have entered Russian territory but even today Russian troops remain on undisputed Georgian territory, that's not a response its an invasion, granted with a pretext. As for your argument about the oil pipe line etc. this is true Russia is infuriated that the EU, who it has threatened with cutting off energy supplies for before, was going to have a new route to fuel one which bypassed Russia and gave us a little more energy security. They are also enraged that they can no longer just expect their former states to bend over on a whim. I think it is important that we help these nations become more independent and open to the world at large. Finally I'd like to say i think its a bit ironic that Russia who strongly bemoaned the Wests helping of Kosovo the break away republic in Yugoslavia, saying that it was wrong to further break up the country and interfere, has actively encouraged these two break away areas, I don't know how they reconcile it with their recent actions.

While i do accept that Russia's response has been disproportionate that is understandable given the disproportionate power that you corectly pointed out. However should we expect anything else when a war is clearly an inter-imperialist conflict? The US and Eu through the Georgian govt were seeking to guarantee their influence and control in the region and likewise Russia through support for several autonomous regions in Georgia is seeking to do the same. Russia did not invade, they reponded, but of course once wars have started, this time by Georgia, borders go out the window hence Russian troops in Gori etc. Do not get me wrong I am opposed to all Imperialist regimes, Russia, Georgia, Us etc. But i do ask for a bit more honesty and analysis rather than jumping to conclusions such as 'Russia decided to grab the spotlight again....' Thank you for responding quickly

I'm the author and I don't feel offended at all in fact complimented that you took the time to write such a comment, however if you read the article I never once debated or questioned the historical importance of Russia, I merely pointed out, as is fact, that South Ossetia is a part of Georgia and the Georgian government attempted to reassert control. At which point the colossally bigger Russian army decided to enter South Ossetia. They then crossed into Georgia proper and attacked the town of Gori which is in no way South Ossetian, we hear every hour of terrible violence in Gori and other areas despite the fact that two days ago their president signed a peace treaty ordering them back inside the South Ossetian border. As of posting this they are still there, in undisputed Georgian territory presumably "defending" the South Ossetian people? I've not meant to paint Georgia as a peace loving hippy commune or anything else Gareth, I know that there are two sides to every conflict but when one is about one hundred times the size of the other and progressing further and further into the others territory i think the basic facts speak for themselves.

This article is blatently inaccurate, i mean no disrespect to the author, but feel i have to point out some falsehoods that aree clearly a product of the appaling coverage this conflicy has received from western media. South Ossetia was siezed against the wishes of its inhabitants by Georgia during the collapse of the USSR in 1991. The region then fought and won its sovereignty and autonomy within Georgia and guartanteed by agreements. Russian troops were legally and support by South Ossetia in the area as peacekeepers. Georgia, conveniantly on the opening days of the Olympics when the worlds media would be focussed in China, invaded the region and sought to recapture and control it in the process killing civillians and Russian peacekeepers. This was an outright and blatent act of war. It is an absolute disgrace that Georgia is being painted as a peace loving and innocent victim of the agressive neighbour Russia. While I am not here to debate the extent of the reaction by Russia the fact that they reacted in the way they did is understandable. If Georgian people face a humanitarian crisis it is because of their Imperialist Government. I do feel sorry for the people of Georgia and South Ossetia for having to suffer under such a Government. If people want to discover the real reason behind the conflict and the global, Russian, US and EU, inetrest in the region they need look no further than the recently built and crucial Oil pipeline that goes through the region. Le meas, Gareth