The Russia-Gerogia War Part 1

Recently, Georgia and Russia have been at war, at least on one side. Not many people, especially those who tend to watch MSNBC (who is actually defending Russia I might add) have a good understanding of whats is/was going on at ground level. Of course, since I am not an expert, I'll be giving a very brief overview of the situation, along with the two cease-fire agreements that have now been signed.

Georgia has two breakaway provinces: South Osettia and Abkhazia. When President Mikhail Saakashvili was elected, he swore to add Gerogia to NATO as well as take back these two provinses. Saakashvili has already failed in one of these areas, that of NATO membership, which was not granted to the small country. Saakashvili seemed to not want to fail the second one, and against advice from the United States, went ahead and attacked the breakway provinses. This provoked Russia, who was already buliding up their forces at the border before hand, to come in as "peacekeepers" and protect the Russian citizens there (the people in those two provinces had dual citizenship). Russia has, since entering, pushed Georgia into Georgia-proper and continued pressing them until they finnaly were able to split the country in half, by capturing the city of Gori. Russia did not stop there however, as along the way, Russia decided to destroy civilian struictures, along with military ones that were abandend.

Furthermore, Russia has completely detroyed bridges, daycares, amusement parks, schools, churches, facotiries, they even started targeting the police force! It has gone through two cease-fire agreements with the Georgians, both of which the Russians did not folow through with, even though the Kremlin said that it would. Secretary of State Condellessa Rice was sent to Tiblisi to check on things for the United States. She and Saarkashvili held a joint news conference, where she strssed that Russia would pay a price for its invasion, and that it should respect Georgian sovereighty. Russia has said that it does not see any possibility for Gerogia to retain its territorial sovereignty, at least in respect to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia has declared that it would move forces out, now for the second time, and with no results. In fact, the troops are moving forward, toward the capital city.

It gets worse though. The United States and Poland came to a deal that U.S. would get a missle defence system placed in Poland, if the U.S. would protect poland if it were to come under attack (most likely from Russia of course). In responce, one of Russia's top generals implied that Nuclear missles could be launched at Europe and even the U.S.. Russia also decided to enforce this idea, by placing a missle center in South Ossetia, that could have nuclear possibilities. Until then though, Gerogians have something else to worry about. In fact, the Russian Federation was using weapons even the Soviets wouldn't use. They're even using cluster bombs!

Russia's repsonce? Well, they deny the use of cluster bombs as well as destroying any civilian structures. They write it all off as a lie, and say they are starting to bring their forces back. At this pint however, any credibility Moscow and the Kremlin had has comepltely diminished. Russia has been bullying its neighbors, and when one gets too close to the West, this is what happens. Its a wonder that they had not invaed Ukraine yet!

That's it for now. Look for Part 2, hopefully done next week, dealing with the effect that this will have on the relationship between Russia, and NATO, the EU, and the Unites States.