Comments on: Are the Olympics a convenient smokescreen for the conflict in Georgia? http://futurismic.com/2008/08/12/are-the-olympics-a-convenient-smokescreen-for-the-conflict-in-georgia/ Presenting the fact and fiction of tomorrow since 2001 Sat, 19 May 2012 23:03:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tom Marcinko http://futurismic.com/2008/08/12/are-the-olympics-a-convenient-smokescreen-for-the-conflict-in-georgia/comment-page-1/#comment-15860 Tom Marcinko Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:51:15 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=3772#comment-15860 But -- but I looked into his <i>soul!</i> But — but I looked into his soul!

]]> By: Martin McG http://futurismic.com/2008/08/12/are-the-olympics-a-convenient-smokescreen-for-the-conflict-in-georgia/comment-page-1/#comment-15856 Martin McG Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:21:59 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=3772#comment-15856 Saakashvili had been getting the ringing endorsement of Western hawks thanks to his willingness to pitch in in Iraq and Afghanistan and his protection of Western oil interests in the region, but the guy is no democrat, he's not above having the shit beat out of his opponents in the street. And, as others have noted, the convenient timing coinciding with the Olympics was Georgia's doing - though it appears the Russians knew what was coming. Not that any of that justifies the ferocity of Putin's response or the cost in human life mind, just that this is one of those complicated ones where everyone involved is an utter bastard. If only life were more like fiction... Saakashvili had been getting the ringing endorsement of Western hawks thanks to his willingness to pitch in in Iraq and Afghanistan and his protection of Western oil interests in the region, but the guy is no democrat, he’s not above having the shit beat out of his opponents in the street. And, as others have noted, the convenient timing coinciding with the Olympics was Georgia’s doing – though it appears the Russians knew what was coming. Not that any of that justifies the ferocity of Putin’s response or the cost in human life mind, just that this is one of those complicated ones where everyone involved is an utter bastard. If only life were more like fiction…

]]> By: Michael S. http://futurismic.com/2008/08/12/are-the-olympics-a-convenient-smokescreen-for-the-conflict-in-georgia/comment-page-1/#comment-15854 Michael S. Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:07:28 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=3772#comment-15854 It is not a "Western Style Democracy" that the Georgians have been trying to build. If the Georgians had respected their autonomic regions there would not have been those "rebels" like Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Mikheil Saakashvili wanted to get rid of all the autonomy of the minorities. And before him Georgia denied the rights for the minorities, saying: "Georgia is only for the Georgians": that is when the problem started around 1990. It is not a “Western Style Democracy” that the Georgians have been trying to build. If the Georgians had respected their autonomic regions there would not have been those “rebels” like Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Mikheil Saakashvili wanted to get rid of all the autonomy of the minorities. And before him Georgia denied the rights for the minorities, saying: “Georgia is only for the Georgians”: that is when the problem started around 1990.

]]> By: Jonathan M http://futurismic.com/2008/08/12/are-the-olympics-a-convenient-smokescreen-for-the-conflict-in-georgia/comment-page-1/#comment-15853 Jonathan M Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:39:24 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=3772#comment-15853 Tropp : http://www.icbl.org/lm/2006/georgia.html This goes back a while. Tropp :

http://www.icbl.org/lm/2006/georgia.html

This goes back a while.

]]> By: Tropp http://futurismic.com/2008/08/12/are-the-olympics-a-convenient-smokescreen-for-the-conflict-in-georgia/comment-page-1/#comment-15852 Tropp Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:46:54 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=3772#comment-15852 I doubt Georgia has had a chance to mine South Ossetia, given that they haven't been able to set foot in it in this century due to the presence of Russian peacekeepers and Russian paramilitary separatist forces. Georgia's fault was in trying to build a western-style democracy in the region Russia sees as it's own. It's no wonder that the only ex-USSR countries Russia considers friendly are autocratic hellholes ending in 'stan (and 'elarus). I doubt Georgia has had a chance to mine South Ossetia, given that they haven’t been able to set foot in it in this century due to the presence of Russian peacekeepers and Russian paramilitary separatist forces.

Georgia’s fault was in trying to build a western-style democracy in the region Russia sees as it’s own. It’s no wonder that the only ex-USSR countries Russia considers friendly are autocratic hellholes ending in ‘stan (and ‘elarus).

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