What I've Learned About Ossetia

I decided to write on this topic because I was highly chagrined this week twice. (This is why writing is so nice. I could never pronounce the word "chagrined" in real life, so I can never use it. It's a neat word too. And writing it is simple.) The reason I was so chagrined is that TWO people asked me about what was going on with Russia and Georgia and I had to admit that I had no idea. And both replied similarly, "Oh, I thought you'd know." Sigh. I had been a bit preoccupied with sewing last week. So to make amends for my lack of knowledge, I'm sharing what I've learned since then with everyone. So are you ready for a short history lesson?

Georgia became independent in 1991 from the Soviet Union. South Ossestia, however, has pretty much been under Russian control since 1992. And that's by their own choice as they share common ethnicity and religion (Islamic) with North Ossestia in Russia. Georgia is backed by most western countries and NATO and was hoping to be soon admitted to the NATO, although their application hasn't been given a timetable yet. Georgia has also been in turmoil this year as many believe the elections were rigged. On August 7th, Georgia escalated an ill-advised offense against rebel groups in South Ossesstia and the next day Russia stepped in to "stop" the violence, claiming that no less than a thousand civilians had been killed and it was genocide. (The number has since been revealed to be 133.) In the days following Russia used the excuse to advance troops to outside of the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, while bombing airports and military units, and blocking ships from entering Georgia's ports. Also Abkhasia, a region of Georgia that has wanted independence from Georgia since it's conception, has taken the chance to align itself with Russia. So the Russian army swept into Georgia from that end too. Meanwhile, the Russian government talks of a ceasefire every day. It kind of follows this pattern: "Okay, we agree to this one", then the next day, "oh well, we can't do that it wouldn't be safe, or it wouldn't be fair to those people we're "protecting" so we're modifying it", then the next day, "well we don't want that ceasefire agreement at all anymore, let's draft a new one" etc. etc. Basically stalling while their military takes out more of the Georgian military. Once they finally do cease fire, they start playing the same game with withdrawing. Originally, they were supposed to withdraw to pre-conflict positions, then it became they would stay in just those regions seeking independence. Now they're insisted on a buffer zone (into Georgian territory of course) around those regions as well. On a different note, pro-independence rallies in both territories are attended by thousands of people.
Other previous, Soviet satellite countries rally around Georgia (who knows? they could be next), as does Western European countries and the U.S. However, Russia guessed correctly that the other European countries really wouldn't step in and that the U.S. is too busy elsewhere and doesn't want to butt heads with Russia that directly, so no real military intercession is forthcoming. Many believe that this is Russia's loud message that the don't want NATO advancing any further. Kind of like their loud message to the Czech Republic when that country agreed to allow the U.S. to put up a missiles there. Russia cut Czech's oil supplies by half claiming they were running low, although none of their neighbors' oil supplies were cut.

I was going to ask the lady that works in the office at our apartment complex her opinions of it all (since she's from Georgia) but she was extremely busy today when we went to the rental office and so I didn't bother. Lo siento.

So that's what I could make of it. Hoped you all enjoyed my week of "What I've Learned About...."