I believe it was Stalin that divided Ossetia and not the vote of the people. I just wanted to add that comment as background as I lead into my response to your comment above.
In the mid 1990 and in 2006 the voters in S. Ossetia held a vote for independence from Georgia. The first vote was not recognized and the second vote in 2006 had a turnout of over 90% and almost 100% of them voted for independence. That vote was overseen by international observers but it was not recognized. NATO, the UN and other international communities still recognize S.O. as part of Georgia, and Georgia exerted control over the breakaway Prov.
To me it seem like there is a strong concensus among S.O. residents where they want to live and be part of. If that many wish to rejoin Russia I say let them break-away and eat Borsch to their hearts content. Ironically, it will probably be the last vote of free-will they will have.
Actually, I think it was a tzar . ..
Quote:
Originally Posted by tripleblack
LOL, again, I like the additon:
"Subvert" could have some major inuendo angles, too.
Remember when we were seeking new names for various levels on AFM achieved by numbers of posts?
"Top Dog" is one thing, but there are several who could fill the bill of "Dominant Paridigm".
Almost a scifi phrase. Coolage.
Um - How can mine be the Dominant Paradigm, when I'm definitely in the minority, and subject to coyote hunts on a pretty regular basis?
Quote:
Originally Posted by napalmbomb
Bottom line is the Cold War is back, get use to it!
Figures it'd take W to lose the peace won by HW.
Some kind of cosmic balance there
- or maybe comic balance . ..
Quote:
Originally Posted by tripleblack
Russian exports to the US include furs, metals (gold, silver, platinum, paladium, etc), caviar, liquors (the vodka), etc.
They do a great deal of business with Europe, of course.
I agre with all that you say. This was no accident, and they had just been waiting for the numbskull hotheads in Georgia to make their move to smack them down. If the US and NATO had not reacted quickly and strongly with diplomatic initiatives and threats, Russia WOULD have conquered the whole country and taken it over.
IF the Cold War is back, this time Russia doesn't have the es-Soviet Union on its side (meaning it is 1/3 as large, 1/3 as strong (other than nukes, and its always been overkill there), and looking at re-conquering some pretty tough folks VERY determined to stay out from under their boots.
I think the goals in that area are smaller than might be thought. I also think Russia has SO much to lose from trying to toss their weight around that they will come into line pretty fast.
If not...
They will lose 3 times quicker this time than last time.
Without the Soviet Union, Russia has a problem projecting power beyond their own borders. Them beating up on Georgia was like us beating up on Grenada, for crizzakes.
Except, Grenada didn't send the 3rd largest contingent of troops, has no pipelines, and hasn't been trying to become a part of NATO . . . Nor did we train and equip Grenadan (Grenadine?) soldiers . ..
But other than that! -Sure!
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Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
In your case, KS, its more equal than you think, paradigm-wise, ie:
"We were outnumbered. It was just the 4 of us against all of him".
HW won a peace somewhere? RR maybe, I never credited HW with much.
My analogy of Georgia/Grenada was referring to the preponderance of forces present in the fight, Russia-vs-Georgia and US-vs-Grenada/Cuba. A gross mismatch. I think we've already discussed the fact that Georgia sent a Brigade to Afghanistan and then kept it there working with the Coalition until the recent "unpleasantness".
Quote:
Originally Posted by kscoyote
Actually, I think it was a tzar . ..
Um - How can mine be the Dominant Paradigm, when I'm definitely in the minority, and subject to coyote hunts on a pretty regular basis?
Figures it'd take W to lose the peace won by HW.
Some kind of cosmic balance there
- or maybe comic balance . ..
Except, Grenada didn't send the 3rd largest contingent of troops, has no pipelines, and hasn't been trying to become a part of NATO . . . Nor did we train and equip Grenadan (Grenadine?) soldiers . ..
But other than that! -Sure!
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
