Russia and Georgia...what the hell has America got to do with it?!?

[Beanyowner]

So...been watching the news and this whole Russia Georgia thing is all over the place. What I am slightly miffed about is what the hell has America got to do with it?? They keep on saying how Georgia and America are friends blah blah blah...and how Americas relationship with Russia has been damaged blah blah blah....but why on earth can't America just keep their nose out and leave Russia and Georgia to sort it out themselves?!?

I am no whizz on affairs such as this but from a regular person looking in point of view...America have already made a complete hash of Afganistan and Iraq (granted we've been there too but I think the majority of it has to do with Tony Blair's ar*e kissing of George Bush...but thats just my opinion! lol!!)

So I was wondering what your thoughts are on the subject...do you think America tend to poke their noses in on other countries affairs a tad too much or am I completely shooting out of the park and I clearly have no clue about any of it!

 

[AmyMay]

Russia seems to be acting very aggressively in this matter. And there has been speculation that they may be about to move on another break away state.

America, Britian - well anyone really - should be making thier feelings known about this. Thousands are reported to have been killed already. No one stood up to the Serbian government - and look what happened there.

This is the 20th century - and these are not third world countries. I think all governments should be protesting at Russia's actions.

However, what can be done about it I don't know.

I wonder if we are about to enter in to another cold war - which is a very scary thing in deed.

 

[GinaB]

[ QUOTE ]

I wonder if we are about to enter in to another cold war - which is a very scary thing in deed.

[/ QUOTE ]

My friend I work with is Lithuanian and in their education they have to study Russian as a language and a lot of Russian history etc she was explaining loads more to me (sorry, can't remember it all now) and she said that you may not just be looking at a cold war, you could be looking at something on the scale of a world war.

We have to remember, Russia have the most powerful weapons created. They are not to be taken lightly.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
and she said that you may not just be looking at a cold war, you could be looking at something on the scale of a world war.

[/ QUOTE ]
I have wondered the same - but thought I may be being a bit alarmist. It would appear not.

Putin is positioning himself to be viewed as the old soviet leaders - now that is frighting.

 

[GinaB]

I have had the same thought, but like you thought I was being alarmist (to me, Russia have always been a country to be wary of) but she has been teaching me so much it is really quite scary.

 

[Beanyowner]

Must admit though...when Putin came into power I said then that he just looked dodgy, don't trust him at all...dunno why. Maybe I'm psychic!!

 

[haybales]

I think considering Georgia helped in Iraq it's the least Bush can do to repay the favour. I don't necessarily mean going into the country though.

Ironically if Georgia had been allowed into Nato recently (rather than at some point in the future) then the Nato countries would at present be forced to intervene to protect them.

Germany felt Russia's interests should be protected rather than Georgia's it seems, so they weren't included. So I think the real question is why the hell does Russia feel they can poke their noses around anywhere they like?!!

 

[Gingernags]

[ QUOTE ]
So...been watching the news and this whole Russia Georgia thing is all over the place. What I am slightly miffed about is what the hell has America got to do with it??

[/ QUOTE ]

Georgia don't by any little chance have oil do they???

 

[Fairynuff]

I think they have a lot of gas thats exported to Europe-I know that most of Italys gas comes from thereabouts. Why arent the Americans doing somthing to sort out the tribal wars in Africa where many more people are dying every minute of the day? Suppose the answer is simple..............no oil etc

. I do wish they could mind their own business for once, dont they have enough cleaning up to do at home? Mairi.

 

[GinaB]

There is some huge gas/oil line (not sure which will have to check with Modesta) running throughs parts, hence the US interest I would imagine?

 

[haybales]

hence RUSSIAN interest. i find the jump to anti-americanism a little sad in this case. this is one of the only non-russian alternative gas pipelines to europe. they are a rival to their energy interests people!!! if russia gained this pipeline they would have the entire monopoly on europe's power, and these days energy power also equals political power.

 

[Chestnuttymare]

russia isn't the power that it was in the 80's. once the ussr collapsed, most of their hardware was sold off etc and destroyed. they haven't had the money to replace it since then. they were in financial ruin after taking on the national debt for the ussr. millions were plunged into poverty and only now is the country starting to make some sort of recovery. any money they have, they are putting into IT and aerospace technology, not arms. so we don't really have a great deal to fear from them.

 

[Chestnut_filly14]

I think America should get involved - we all will eventually if it isn't stopped soon.

And was very pleased to see in the Olympics a Russian and a Georgian came 2nd and third and very publicly shook hands and hugged etc. The chinese girl who came 1st looked a bit miffed though!

Em
x

 

[Ezme]

Yes russia and it's former states do have a very compliacated history, i'm doing a politics degree and in my first year we did some soviet history, very interesting, very confusing. Next year i'm doing a module on america (not that most international modules end up spending most of their time talking about america) which might help me understand but this does seem a bit random interfearence. A political analist i know once told me that the reason the american government feels the need to get involved is because they only have two borders, canada and mexico. The canadian border gives them no problem at all while the mexican only tends to throw imagrents at them so they feel the need "make themselves known" on the international stage, apparently things being quiet isn't a good thing.

Unfortunartly the 1st world war began with on person being shot (ok it was a prince) and sent the whole western world into turmoil

 

[hellybelly6]

Its fuel. Both are fighting over Georgia's fuel as far as I can see.

I have a bad feeling, it could get nasty.

 

[ISHmad]

This is really frightening seeing this escalating out of control.

 

[haybales]

how would people feel if britain was invaded and america just sat back and watched after what we'd done for them?!

 

[Sooty]

QR: As I understand it, the gas supply for most of Europe runs through Georgia, and the US and UK are Georgia's allies. Putin is a total nutter; he allows the Mafia free rein in Russia, he pours money into glory projects while some people starve and he shouldn't be in charge of a nuclear arsenal - IMHO. Sadly we do need to get involved; we cannot allow random attacks on harmless countries to go unremarked. Unless they have no fuel.