PoliticalCitizen

http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090856581400.htm Russia, Venezuela to hold naval war games re-copied article deleted by moderator

Western Europe is the side that may have trouble surviving. It doesn't matter why and how - what matters is one of Georgia's 4 neighboring countries (that could be its REAL friends) condemned its actions. All the VIRTUAL friends from across the ocean can do is send a few ships into the Black Sea - which they will have to withdraw within 21 days. Oh, Bush also promised 1 Bill to Saakashivli's regime... how much of that you think will actually go to helping your people? Russia's help to rebuild South Ossetia is almost half of that... Turkey also regards Russia's actions as justified. That's Georgia's other neighbor that COULD be its friend... Azerbaijan decided to send ALL of it's oil via the Russian pipeline as opposed to Georgian... That's another neighbor that COULD be Georgia's friend... So who is isolated? Or should I say - who is the loser?

It shows that there's still people in Georgia that want to do more than fight and blame... maybe it's time they vote for a sane government.

I'm sorry if the main point of my post eluded you. Georgia had a chance to learn how to tolerate authonomies within its territory without resorting to violence. They blew it. Other small countries, such as Moldova, are more tolerant and have avoided war. Whatever happened to Georgia is a result of Georgian government's actions. The best thing that can happen to Georgia now is that a peace-loving government replaces the blood-crazed regime that's running the country now.

LOL Let me find some numbnut that declares independence for the USA's South or wants to give Florida to Mexico... Nice find, MMT...

Hey, at least Georgia and Russia still play football (Europe-2009) Georgian junior team just lost to the Russian in Belarus.

Russia can export natural resources to China and India - markets far bigger than Europe and US can ever be. Why do you call Armenia Russian vassal? Are they not an independent country? Or is Georgia planning to invade them too (to straighten some historical injustice, of course)?

Look in the Putin interview thread - he gives us a history lesson If you want to hear about a former USSR country with a sad story - my motherland was chopped into many pieces. Stalin gave the territory that was linking us to the Black Sea to Ukraine. Same was done with a territory North of today's Moldova. As if that wouldn't be enought, Transdniestria (with the capital of Tiraspol) separated and we fought a brief war (where Moldova had no chance of course, as the Soviet / Russian 14th Army was permanently stationed in Pridnestrovie (Transnistria)). Moreover in the South of Moldova there's Gagauzia - an Authonomous Territory with the capital of Komrat. That is after the biggest part of Moldova was left within Romania (where it is a purely agrarian province). So trust me - I know how bad it feels... But such is the fate of small countries. At least we don't hate... and don't fight (anymore, anyway). There will be a summit between Moldovan President Voronin, Transdniestrian "President" Smirnov and Medvedev soon.

You never know Once the pride (NATO) feels that the lion (USA) is wounded, they may choose to leave... Yes, I do. Romanian was my second mother tongue. I am not fluent in Ukrainian but I can understand most of what's said or written.

Russia can never be isolated geographically, politically or economically. You CAN say, however, that USA or Western Europe could isolate themselves from Russia. Your neighbors which happen to be Russian friends (real ones, not like Kikabidze ) - Armenia supported Russian military action in Georgia and condemned the actions of Georgian government, along with Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. They stopped short of recognizing the new countries, but give them some time...

Consider your nation lucky as the Father of Nations was from Gori and he really liked his motherland so he assigned the 2 autonomous republics to Georgia. But it could have been the other way around... How many Germans live in the Kaliningrad (Königsberg) region? Here's some versions from Wikipedia: "The origin of the name Georgia is still disputed and has been explained in the following ways: - Linking it semantically to Greek and Latin roots (Greek: γεωργία, transliterated geōrgía, "agriculture", γεωργός, geōrgós, "tiller of the land", and γεωργικός, geōrgikós, Latin: georgicus, "agricultural").[12] - The country took its name from that of Saint George, itself a derivative of the aforementioned Greek root. Or, at the very least, the popularity of the cult of Saint George in Georgia influenced the spread of the term. - Under various Persian empires (536 BC-AD 638), Georgians were called Gurjhān (Gurzhan/Gurjan), or "Gurj/Gurzh people." The early Islamic/Arabic sources spelled the name Kurz/Gurz and the country Gurjistan (see Baladhuri, Tabari, Jayhani, Istakhri, Ibn Hawqal, etc.). The contemporary Russian name for the country, "Gruziya," is similar. This also could evolve or at least contribute to the later name of Georgia.[13]" - There also was a Georgian king George (Grigori)...

That's funny Did you see this video where Putin shoots an Ussurian tiger with a tranquilizer dart? I think it's deeply symbolic - Putin representing the rising Russia and the huge tiger - NATO.

Well, I'll tell you, but it's a secret, OK? I was Soviet, my parents are Ukrainian and Moldavian, my first language was Russian. I am proud to see Russia rise after 2 decades of humiliation. I am glad that US was finally defied by the rising remnant of the former superpower, after bombing, breaking, invaiding and humiliating numerous countries, some of which are dear to me. Now you tell me why does your people feel closer to the US than to Russia? Why did Georgia send soldiers to Iraq? Have the historic ties been forgotten so quickly and your people's loyalty bought with US and Israeli military aid? Do you feel the actions of Georgian government are justified?

Kaisa, I don't agree with Russian or Georgian / Western propaganda. Big powers do their things, little people suffer. I took the side of Russian propaganda because of how immensely disproportionate the western news coverage was. My fellow Canadians were fed crap with a shovel... So why is Saqartvelo called Georgia? Don't you want to change that?

Well, frankly, I had no problem swearing it either at the Citizenship ceremony. It did strike me as absurd, however...

LOL Don't forget - it's a "dog eat dog" and "opposition gets shot in the head by the police" world out there...

Thank you for an intelligent and informative reply to my provocative post (I was joking BTW). Can you tell me how Georgians call themselves? (Not Gruzins, right?)

Who is to decide the "importance" of a country? In many ways the West-European countries have given up their ability to make an independent decision as they made their countries interests subservient to USA's foreign policy. What is important - now US can't say that Russia is the only country that recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia and Saakashvili can't keep claiming they're being "annexed" to Russia.

Them fighting words... Let's wait and see. I'm sure yesterday you and others would have told me that NO country other than Russia will EVER recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hkkDAW4...tGynBgD930NA080 Nicaragua recognizes South Ossetia, Abkhazia re-copied article deleted by moderator

And I guess it doesn't bother anybody to swear allegiance to UK's token Monarch?

Thank god we don't live in Russia. But here right beside the "Land of the Free", why does our country need a foreign "Master"?

Honoring the image of even a token Monarch is honoring a tradition of Authocratic Rule. I thought Democracy (if that's what we have in Canada) is the opposite that.

Thanks for the explanation. I think if Canada is anybody's Dominion, than it is America's (as in United States). Maybe we should change our political structure so that it properly reflects our allegiances. Then Harper should address Bush's secretary to dissolve Canadian Parliament, not this Michelle woman

I agree with your critique of methods but disagree with your interpretation of the general notion of Communism. History has proven that you cannot achieve a higher organization of society through violent means - they ususally lead to dictatures. I believe Communism can be achieved through natural evolution of Capitalism. Most European countries are already semi-Socialist. The fundamental human behavior of owning stuff and wanting to own more has been around for millenia but that doesn't mean it can't be changed. That change cannot take place in the Capitalist world because owning is the natural stimulus of Capitalist economy, and it works well for now. Genetic engineering (or eugenics, if you prefer) are only bad if you're trying to create slaves, lesser subservient humans. But creating healthy, beautiful, smart people with the possibility of clinical immortality is a worthy cause. The problems of drug abuse, crime, depression, aggression etc. cannot be resolved by any other means than making people happy. A new education system could condition children to be happy instead of being tools.