Russia Invades Georgia
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7553144.stm

This is rather fascinating. Georgia invades independent South Ossetia and Russia blow sthe hell out of them and pushes back HARD. Tough to name a bad guy in all this, but Georgia probably should have left well enough alone. After all, the preach about democracy and freedom and such, yet invade an independent province? Odd.

I get the feeling we don't really know what is going on with all of this. Much of it doesn't seem to make sense.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Yeah, I saw this on the news yesterday, it's pretty ridiculous.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

I wonder what ol' Dick meant by "must not go unanswered" in regards to what we may do to Russia for this. I guess we'll see what we are actually going to do in response if any.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Could Florida be next?

Hurricanes and Russians...sucks.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe...sia/index.html

Now I think Rusia is simply testing the West to see if we'll blink at the thought of Russia retaking one of the Caucuses... and I don't think we will. I'll be surprised if Russia leaves without taking their pound of flesh when all is said and done.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

I think that statement describes the entirety of Russian history. Such a fascinating, depressing, and interesting country.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

We better not do anything. Why does the US bud its head into everything?

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Well it doesn't look like we will do anything, but in the long run I still think we are in for a long ugly relationship with Putin's Russia. This was a statement of warning to the former soviet states that are now democratically elected: Don't get too used to this freedom thing or we'll smack you around.

I've been thinking about this, and while there are no real white hats in this affair, Russia is by far the biggest offender. Here is why:

1) South Ossetia is a part of Georgia that does not get along with Georgia proper, and has been in political conflict with Georgia since 1992. Now while you can disagree with the tactics Georgia used to re-unify their nation, and I do, they were under their rights to send military into their own nation.

2) Russia has had "peace keepers" in South Ossetia for a long time. Russian troops stationed on Georgian soil essentially occupying it.

3) When Georgia sent the troops in to the province in their own country, Russia butted THEIR heads into georgia's business and started to whoop that ass. Andd they whooped it almost back to the capital, LYING to the world the entire way, denying they had bombed infrastructure and Gori. Russia claims acts of genocide on Georgia's part as justification for their involvement, but witnesses of this outside of Russian claims are few and far between while there are many independent reports of Russian brutality.

So to put this into Western terms, lets say Maine wanted to secede from the US, and the US said no. So Canada sends troops into Maine, even though it is none of their business, and the US is left to wonder if Canada is trying to claim Maine by defacto ownership. When the US sends troops in to reclaim Maine, Canada goes apeshit and throws everything have at the US and marches all the way down to Washington DC.

IMO Russia's motivation was two-fold:

1) Scare the hell out of Westernized caucus nations.

2) See how far they could push before anyone pushed back.

They succeeded on both fronts.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Georgia is also an ally of the United States, and they do have or did have troops in Iraq.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

We airlifted their troops back to Georgia, which really upset poor little Putin, who sees hinmself as such a white knight in all this.

And for anyone who believes Putin's Russia isn't all that bad...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexand...enko_poisoning

Former KGB run the country and I think they drool at the thought of another cold war.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Perfect opportunity for Russia to do another cold war with us seeing how stretched thin we are militarily (which obviously if it ever escalated enough we can divert all troops but its the principle of the matter), our economy is shit, and if we ever went to war with Russia, oil prices would go through the roof thus screwing all even moreso.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

On the flip side, years down the road, our economy would boom with all the movies and video games made based on it.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Thanks war economy.

This world is fucked, if I do say so myself.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Personally, I just think Russia felt gyped after the whole USSR thing, and just wants land back. They want to be known as a power again.

It seems they feel it's justified to take back the land they had under communism now - because it's no longer a communist state.


I don't think this is the end of this at all. After they fully occupy and control Georgia, they will undoubtedly assimilate it back into Russia as another Province, and then keep moving on from there, but more agressively.

But that's just be.
I don't think it ends with Georgia - at all.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Oh yeah, Russia definitely feels that way. How would the US Government feel if we fell as a superpower, Texas seceded, then anywhere from Dallas/Ft. Worth and north to the panhandle decided to secede from Texas and make their own mini-country also.

We'd be pissed and try to get Texas and the smaller "country" back also.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Well now we can be confident this never had anything to do with South Ossetia. Russia wants the Caususes back and we're on the verge of a 3rd world war.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

I don't think Medvedev and Putin are quite crazy enough to incite a third world war, but I suppose you never know. I really thought Medvedev would be more democratic than Putin was, but apparently I was wrong. Of course I did think Putin would move Russia in a pro-democratic direction.

Putin is such a likable guy, it's too bad he's a mini-tyrant.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Would you and the rest of GT like to join me for some hot love in my fallout shelter?

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Russia are testing the waters. They may start a Cold War type stand off but they won't start a global war. All it takes is one pissed off super power to fire some nuclear missiles and the entire world is screwed.

So come to my fallout shelter and bring lube.

Edit: eff yeah! post 2112. I feel so Canadian right now...you could say I'm Geddy with excitement. Geddy Lee that is.

Okay, I'm done. I'm not funny. Continue coherent discussion.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Did you think Medvedev ever was in control to make those decisions? He may be more demacratic, but his opinion is irrelevant. The man was hand picked Putin to be his puppet.

And laugh if you must, but I don't see Russia leaving Georgia after multiple promises to do so, and all they've done is continually lie to the world in a very bold faced fashion. If Russia attempts to oust the Georgian government, I can see this getting VERY ugly as NATO and Western Europe won't be able to ignore this situation. Maybe a third world war isn't likely, but this is as close as we've been on a LONG time.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

THis won't be a third world war at all, not even close.
It will just be a speedbump that is European "democracy".

Russia doesn't have the military to put enough pressure on the western world and the rest of the UN to hold out to cause any real damage than possibly fully occupying Ossetia and Georgia. Other than that, I doubt much will happen before other countries put a foot in.

But I swear to god, if they put a fucking hand on Ukraine, I'm all over their ass like dirt on a fucking potato.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Are you going to ride your moose into battle?

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

I've never seen a moose in my entire life. I've never seen a beaver, either. I've nary seen an elk, nor have I gazed upon a polar bear.


I will however fashion a rope made out of squirrels and ride coyotes across the Pacific while they hop from Orca to Orca.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Good to see my Canadian stereotyping live on. :D

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

I try to pick up the slack when you're not around. And "slack" is not some sexual innuendo, pervert.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

...

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Well Texans still believe they are a country, so they would be happy, and I don't think the rest of the country would miss them. :p

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Unfortunately, much like many of the other tasteless, watered down domestic beers, the only thing good about Lone Star beer is the low price.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Put back 7 or 8 Lone Stars and saddle up on yer sister. Yee-haaw!

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

I would exclude Austin from this. The rest of Texas...they can do whatever. Actually keep the original Dr. Pepper factory in Dublin, TX and keep Austin for me to play shows and get wasted at SXSW every year, but yeah, the rest of TX, not so much.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Goose Island gets my vote for "beer of Illinois." At least beer of Chicago. Texas....where the rattle snakes bite and the sisters get finger blasted by their brothers.

/stereotypes ftw

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Back on topic, Russia is still in Georgia, doing whatever they damn well please and the impotent United Nations are still sitting and wondering what in the world to do when faced with anything of importance. Yet more proof that the UN is a rudderless, immoral and useless institiution.

So far they have ignored:

Rwanda
Darfur
Taiwan
Georgia
Let me know if I missed any

And thats just RECENTLY.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

I love that Texas is awesome enough that so many people that know next to nothing about it have polarized opinions on it. Kind of like how awesome Canada is.

And for the record -- Saint Arnold beer = awesome. Germy, next time you're in Austin, ask for it and you will receive much respect. Also ask for Real Ale, a very respectable set of beers that will also endear you to locals. And Shiner is the best cheap(er) beer around these parts, even their ubiquitous Bock.

Back on topic, yeah the UN does look completely useless when you list all the shit they missed. Maybe they should be disbanded?

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Please, anyone who has met a Texan has had to listen to all their stupid stories about Texas history, and how they fly the flag as high as the American flag to show their arrogance, etc. It's quite sickening.

P.S. Alaska is bigger, and has better fishing :p

I'd much rather talk to a Canadian. :D

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Yeah, you can meet overly proud people from anywhere, though. Like overly proud Minnesotans who think other people give a shit about their guttural "Uff da" they say when they sit down or pick up something heavy or for just about anything they want it to mean. Or when they name their shopping plaza hell the arrogant "Mall of America" as if their dreary, white-washed shopping mall were any different than the rest of the country's.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

*Grabs Popcorn*

Canadian bashing.
Gekko vs Mana.
Texas Bashing.

This is good stuff.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Okay okay....Texas isn't as bad as Florida....I'll give it that. Because, you don't move to Texas and wait to die. Plus, Texas is the most obese State in America and by my own infallible intuition, the fattest place in the world. Oh, and Tony Romo chocked against the Giants.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

Your stats are out of date -- The Most Obese States: The South Wins Again!

They say it's all the fried food, but I reckon it also has a lot to do with the awesome BBQ in most of the south.

And for the rest of you in other states, don't get too proud -- a less stinky turd is still a turd. In other words, even the state with the least amount of obesity is still 18.7% obese. There's supposed to be a national goal of reaching 15% obesity by 2010, and not even one state is close to that goal.

P.S. Tony Romo and the Cowboys can piss up a rope.

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

BBQ and fried food! sign me up!

Re: Russia Invades Georgia
 

While I like most of the people here, this thread is sich an indictment of the youth of today. Russia is essentially trying to annex Geogia or parts of it, they're about to leave NATO, they are threatening nuclear attacks on Poland for putting in a DEFENSE shield with the US...

And everyone in this thread is talking about nonsense...

I'm literally saddened by this thread. It depresses me.