In comments on Tuesday, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called on Russia to withdraw its military entirely from the two breakaway Republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The US does not recognize the regions’ independence.
The comments come 10 years after the brief Russo-Georgian War, during which Georgia attempted to attack South Ossetia, ended up fighting Russian troops therein, and fairly quickly lost. In the aftermath, Russia recognized the independence of both regions.
Both South Ossetia and Abkhazia have historical reasons for not considering themselves part of Georgia, despite nominally being part of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic during the Soviet era. The Georgians, however, never recognized this, and to the extent that Russia has, the US has taken the opposite position.
The regions are a long-term problem for Georgia, which has ambitions for joining NATO. NATO clearly would never accept anyone as a member state who has existing territorial disputes with Russia, and accuses Russia of occupying parts of their territory, since this would mean an immediate NATO-Russia war.
The State Department insists they support Georgia’s “territorial integrity” as including those regions, and to the extent that continues, it also follows that Georgia will never be able to advance toward accession into NATO.
*facepalm*
You know. This is very much part Russia’s fault for not totally defeating Georgia and getting a peace treaty affirming these regions’ independence. Russia repeated this mistake in Ukraine, which easily could have been rolled over and given up Crimea and Donbas (and maybe Kharkov and some other regions) for their independence.
Exactly. I’ve said for years that the problem with Putin is that he’s too timid. Russia had complete justification and power to roll into Tbilisi, have Saakashvili shot and appoint a new Russia-friendly President. Could one imagine the USA doing anything less in case, for example, Serbia attacked the separatists in Kosovo?
Russia had a historic opportunity to remove the American menace from the Caucasus, at the same time providing a strategic link to Armenia and strengthening Russia’s position vis-à-vis Turkey. But Putin the Pussy was too cowardly to take it. Since Western propaganda was always going to slander Russia as the aggressor anyway, what was the point of settling for a return to the status quo antebellum?
Same in Syria, same in the Ukraine. Putin’s instinct is always to concede, to appease. He only shows firmness when given no alternative.
Lucky we have such well-informed and clever suggestions from those with no impact on world decisions.
are you serious, how much more proactive and belligerent the west would be towards Russia if they did what you suggest.
at the time cheney was actively pushing an attack on russian forces and destroying the Roki tunnel.
Russian tanks rolling on keiv? what would russia gain? retake control of Chernobyl and an endless pit of debt. while handing the west all the optics it needs to portray Russia as the conquering aggressor.
Similarities with regard the Ukraine Crimea situations. Referendums under international and UN supervision should be the preferred solution to the problem. War can never be a solution as we should know by now.
We should practice what we preach to everyone else, but we all know those same rules don’t apply to us/
Serious scholars like Mike Pence have declared that Moses created the state borders of Georgia in 1991. Unbelievable.
Now, that’s really funny, Chris, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, that’s really funny, Chris, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, that’s really funny, Chris, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Since NATO is controlled by sadistic psychopaths, I don’t share your confidence that Georgia will never be admitted.
I just remembered, the admission of Georgia to NATO would have to be ratified by our Senate hence presumably by elected bodies of every NATO member. If there is at least one sane NATO member then Georgia will not become a NATO member.
Incidentally, Georgia has a border with Iran. The distance between Tbilisi and Tehran is 546 miles as the crow and a bomber flies. 691 miles along roads. A NATO Georgia is clearly a new military threat for Iran. Why light a match near a powder keg?
Well, Dieter, there are sane member countries in NATO, even though they’re in Eastern Europe. Do you see countries such as Hungary, Poland, Slovakia or the Czech Republic willing to admit an unstable country such as Georgia? I certainly don’t, I don’t see Italy or France taking that risk, either.
“Attempted to attack South Ossetia”?? Seriously now.
GEORGIA, the country. is no where near the North Atlantic so why join NATO ?
The Prime Minister of Russia Medvedev has warned of serious consequences if the NATO membership of Georgia gets seriously on the NATO agenda. One would hope that the parliament of GB will have the good sense of voting no when it comes to a vote on Georgia’s membership. Or the parliament of Canada. Or the parliament of Iceland. Or our Congress?
Or whoever has the power to say no.
Heather Nauert always appears to be teetering on the edge of a wardrobe malfunction.
They never broke away from Georgia. They failed to break away with Georgia when it went. They went on their own instead. Now the US and Georgia seek conquest and territorial enlargement.
The US and Georgia can seek conquest and territorial enlargement all they want, but Russia the Bear’s close enough to kick both their asses, Mark, if they try. The Russians already gave the Georgians a good ass-kicking for attacking both South Ossetian civilians and Russian peace-keepers; not to say, the South Ossetian civilians did their part in ass-kicking as well.
Anyway, the Georgian gov’t has no plans whatsoever for conquest and territorial enlargement. You didn’t get the memo, right, Mark? Saakashvili hasn’t been in office since Georgia lost the conflict; in fact, the current gov’t has a warrant for his arrest.
The US and Georgia can seek conquest and territorial enlargement all they want, but Russia the Bear’s close enough to kick both their asses, Mark, if they try. The Russians already gave the Georgians a good ass-kicking for attacking both South Ossetian civilians and Russian peace-keepers; not to say, the South Ossetian civilians did their part in ass-kicking as well.
Anyway, the Georgian gov’t has no plans whatsoever for conquest and territorial enlargement. You didn’t get the memo, right, Mark? Saakashvili hasn’t been in office since Georgia lost the conflict; in fact, the current gov’t has a warrant for his arrest.
First let the USA withdraw from at least 800 military bases threatening world peace in all parts of the globe.
If I were Putin I’d say “Sure thing, as soon as you respect Mexico’s territorial integrity and give Texas back.”
If I were Putin I’d say “Sure thing, as soon as you respect Mexico’s territorial integrity and give Texas back.”
If I were Putin I’d say “Sure thing, as soon as you respect Mexico’s territorial integrity and give Texas back.”
If I were Putin I’d say “Sure thing, as soon as you respect Mexico’s territorial integrity and give Texas back.”
Georgia is one of those places where the current russiaphobia turns from bewildering, to terrifying.
a repeat of the 2008 conflict in todays climate would be a catastrophe.