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Waited all day to see if someone would notice...

Started by gleichman, August 08, 2008, 04:40:06 PM

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Haffrung

#150
August 15, 2008, 09:38:56 AM
Quote from: jhkim;235528A Ukrainian co-worker said that he thought that Russia reacted wrongly, but that the US and UK media portrayals were enormously biased in their portrayal.  



I just read an Economist article from a month ago on the tensions between Georgia and the semi-autonomous regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Let's just say there's no clean hands here. Doesn't justify Russia's actions, but it makes the Western media's characterization of Georgia as virtuous and plucky seem more than a little naive.
 

jhkim

#151
August 15, 2008, 12:43:37 PM
Quote from: S'mon;235541Stalin gave south Ossetia to Georgia.  Stalin was the ruler. You're not going to disregard his wishes, are you?  :)

Really, there's no right answer.  Americans in general believe in the right of self determination of other nations, but not of US states (qv US Civil War), or, in general, of ethnic groups within nations.  The modern international law legal position is that a part of a state can only legally secede with the agreement of that state.  The US overturned that in regards Kosovo, while claiming it was a 'special case', which looked hypocritical to much of the world.
Stalin may have nominally given South Ossetia to Georgia, but under him it was an "autonomous oblast".  I'm not sure of the full implications of this, but the my impression is that it largely ruled itself (as implied by "autonomous").  

The South Ossetians identity is then tied to at least a 70-year history of autonomy (and possibly more before that).  Georgia attempted to tighten the reins on the region, and started the present conflict by sending troops in.

John Morrow

#152
August 15, 2008, 02:38:27 PM
Quote from: Haffrung;235563I just read an Economist article from a month ago on the tensions between Georgia and the semi-autonomous regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Let's just say there's no clean hands here. Doesn't justify Russia's actions, but it makes the Western media's characterization of Georgia as virtuous and plucky seem more than a little naive.

The Western media likes to deal with black hats and white hats and doesn't do well with shades of gray.  It complicates the narrative and makes it hard to tell a story about victims and oppressors if it's not clear who the good guys and the bad guys are.

ADDED:  Of course I should point out that Western suspicions and fears about Russia are really no different that the suspicions and fears that get expressed toward the United States when it act militarily against anyone.  When giants walk, the little people who might fall under foot get nervous.
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