Did Georgia commit genocide?

Im just curious as Im trying to figure out why a civil war is anybodys business. If there was genocidal acts commited, then obviously there was a need for russia to do what they did... if not, what business is it of theres to interfer in a civil war conflict?

:crazy:

In itself, not an act of genocide, according to the legal definition.

Situations like this are always complex. Hard to sort out who the good guys really are, etc. In this case, Georgia claims it was responding to attacks launched out of South Ossetia by seperatists. Who's in the right? Beats me.

My basic take is that the Russians are taking it too far, but that Georgia really set themselves up for it. T

:shrug:

:rofl:

Y'know, when Sherman brought the Jubilo to Georgia?

:-)

:crazy:

you said they shelled their own people.
trying to stop a rebellion is not genocide.

:crazy:

stop trying to change the context.

silly goose.

I doubt if we will ever know who struck the first blow but Ossetians, a minority in Georgia, were clearly killed by Georgia's military.

The tribal issue is no different than that of the Kurds who occupy portions of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

I think Russia has a right to protect its own citizens in South Ossetia.

so its okay to invade places if people from your country happen to live there?

this is a form of the "Butterfly Effect", i call it the "Turd Blossom Effect", goes like this.. does deceit, propaganda, distortion, lies to start a war for profit in Iraq cause a "Shit Storm" in the Balkans for the same reason...?

That's what my thinking boils down to a lot of the time. bush, with his disgusting policies and behavior, opened the door for other blatantly disgusting behavior and policies. Like bombing the shit out of any "problem" as diplomatic policy

The "Turd Blossom Effect" I like that. We can call it "bush Chaos theory"

when Georgia attacked South Ossetia it attacked and killed Russian troops. No way you can expect Russia to sit still for that.

when you volunteer to put troops in a hostile environment or conflict that doesnt involve you.
to you i simply say, what business did they have being there in the first place as 'peacekeepers'?

Apparently Georgia believed that the conflict involved Russia which is why they agreed to a combined Georgia-Russia-South Ossetia peace keeping force. If Georgia didn't want Russian peace keepers in South Ossetia, it shouldn't have agreed to it. Having agreed to it, it owed Russia notice before invading South Ossetia.

After the disolving of the USSR, Georgia fell to a nationalist dictator and his actions led not only to these areas revolting, but to his ultimate demise. Ulitmately the UN brokered the cease fires...and a new government headed by the former Soviet Foreign Minister, Scheverdnaze kept the peace until Shikvilli won election in 2003.

The moment people are killed, what's it matter what does it or why...it's the ultimate insanity.

Firstly, the "civil war" was with ethnic Russians who had been living inside the internationally recognized borders of the country. These Russians have been in the area for several hundred years...and in the case of South Osetsia (the North is border the river inside Russia) and Abhkazia, the Russian enclaves were a remnant of the Soviet Union who attempted to consolidate their hold on the republics by moving thousand of Russians into a territory. In some areas, Lithuania for example, those enclaves were cleaned out in the 90's, but many remain. The Russians justify their invasion to protect their own nationals who live just outside their borders...and in what they've long considered their sphere of influence.

I'm starting to believe whatever provoked this latest fighting (both regions had fought the Georgians in the 90's and were "automonous" while getting financial assistance and protection from Moscow) is murky as there are so many conflicting interests here. Both sides had reasons to attack...and as others upthread point out, oil was a major factor.

With oil at $130 a barrel, the Baku pipeline is both a major revenue producer and irritant For the Russians, it's fueled a revival of their economy and national pride. For the Georgians (and especially the neo-cons and oil companies) it was the financial motivation for settling old ethnic scores. In either case, the pipelines in the region are now shut down...and I suspect we'll start seeing a "spike" in oil prices in the days ahead. Both sides win.

Bad guys and worse guys.

If they were intentionally trying to wipe out a culture completely, then yes. If they killed a bunch of a certian culture for any other reason, then no.

Genocide is a term based upon intent.

Russians will be pulling Georgian President Borat from his spider hole in a jiffy.

Don

with more justification since Chechnyns are Muslim.