I hear Russia just loves breakaway provinces

Mmm, job security.

didn't see THAT one coming

hockeyfarker: didn't see THAT one coming

Yeah, NOBODY expected this.

You owe us new maps!!

Given that's what the residents in South Ossetia want, then why not?

Here's an extremely appropriate Cold War era rockabilly song (^)

NTidd: Given that's what the residents in South Ossetia want, then why not?

Given that the Russians helped create refugees out of the majority of the population in the early 90s and then proceeded to allow the destruction of Georgian villages in the areas, then why not?

What about north-west Ossetia?

Personally, I think its time the world recognized the independence of Chechnya. Let's see how Russia likes them apples...

gODDhead: You owe us new maps!!

Can we start calling them the Soviets again? It's just easier.

Great, now they just need eastern Ukraine.

Maybe we can appease them with the Sudetenland...

I haven't heard anyone in the press mention this during the Ossetian crisis, but this entire situation is the direct result of Stalin's program of ethnic displacement of peoples absorbed into Russia in the second part of the 19th century and early 20th century. Stalin was utterly distrustful of all non-Russian ethnicities under his purview and systematically had large segments of them shipped off to gulags in Siberia, and replaced them with ethnic Russians in their place. The iron fist of the Soviet Union kept the lid on the whole situation, but now 20 years later these lingering conflicts have matured into full-scale ethnic war. There will probably be more of these, as well.

Well, nothing the US is going to be able to do about it...

Say what you will about Putin, he played his cards right on this one almost every step of the way. The Georgians fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

Well it isn't like Russia was ever hiding this. We just weren't paying attention...hey who's up next on American Idol?

If the residents are okay with it, I really don't see the problem. It's not like Russia is marching their forces in and taking that region by gunpoint....

Next up: The rest of Georgia

keylock71: Well, nothing the US is going to be able to do about it...

Say what you will about Putin

He's an asshole?

i just came onto this thread to recognize perhaps the most OBVIOUS obvious tag i have ever seen on fark, ever

Ender's: Next up: The rest of Georgia

I'm from Georgia and I ain't never seen no Russians!

Of course, the U.S. has never, ever done this. Especially not to acquire the the state of Texas.

Barakku: Ender's: Next up: The rest of Georgia

I'm from Georgia and I ain't never seen no Russians!

Ted Turner already moved I think. Anyways, yay authoritative socialism!

Good thing we had all that "tough talk!" to make sure this didn't happen. "Russia must withdraw and respect Georgia's sovereignty!!!"

Ofcourse, it was all bullsh*t. There was nothing the US could do to stop Russia from doing whatever the hell it wanted. Sure is alot easier to bully around a third world country will no military and then take to the streets waving our Chinese made flags feeling so good about how badass we are.

Dear Soviet Union,

Welcome back! We missed you these past couple decades. It's been boring without you.

Love, The World

xxoo

Russia shows their support for an independent South Ossetia by absorbing it into their country

Well, they do have more culture points than Georgia.

Steed Lankershim: Good thing we had all that "tough talk!" to make sure this didn't happen. "Russia must withdraw and respect Georgia's sovereignty!!!"

Ofcourse, it was all bullsh*t. There was nothing the US could do to stop Russia from doing whatever the hell it wanted. Sure is alot easier to bully around a third world country will no military and then take to the streets waving our Chinese made flags feeling so good about how badass we are.

P.S. It's funny that this thing has disappeared from the US Media now that it's obvious the Russian's embarrassed the sh*t out of us.

streicher: Of course, the U.S. has never, ever done this. Especially not to acquire the the state of Texas.

Not really familiar with Texas history, are you?

gODDhead: You owe us new maps like such as!!


ftfy

And nobody can do sheeyat about it.

I'm sure Palin is all over this, since her state is close to Russia.

jakomo002: And nobody can do sheeyat about it.

Well, we could begin arming, funding and training the Muslim separatist forces in Chechnya. I'm certain nothing could go wrong with that...

streicher
Of course, the U.S. has never, ever done this. Especially not to acquire the the state of Texas.

I hate to tell you this, Texas became an independent country first. They joined the U.S. about 12 years after they broke off from Mexico.

Shrugging Atlas: I'm sure Palin is all over this, since her state is close to Russia.

I'm certain Obama can clear this right up, since he likes putting coffee liquer into vodka.

Adolf_Hilton: Shrugging Atlas: I'm sure Palin is all over this, since her state is close to Russia.

I'm certain Obama can clear this right up, since he likes putting coffee liquer into vodka.

Even if Obama can't, Biden Can.

Oh and didn't south ossetia break away from Georgia to join with Russia? I thought this was what they wanted?

PacManDreaming: streicher: Of course, the U.S. has never, ever done this. Especially not to acquire the the state of Texas.

Not really familiar with Texas history, are you?

It's a little more like the US and Hawaii maybe even Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Load it up with friendlies, eliminate or reduce the influence of the opposition, then declare them pro-us/anti-them.

tarvuz: NTidd: Given that's what the residents in South Ossetia want, then why not?

Given that the Russians helped create refugees out of the majority of the population in the early 90s and then proceeded to allow the destruction of Georgian villages in the areas, then why not?

You mean the Russians created the quake and forced the Georgians to invade in the 90s? Damn, they ARE evil...

Did they have a flag?

//cunning way to steal countries

NTidd: Given that's what the residents in South Ossetia want, then why not?

And if the North and South Ossetians decide that it would be nice to have an independent Ossetia, I guess the Russians will be ok with that? Let's see what Chechnya has to say about that.

keylock71: Say what you will about Putin, he played his cards right on this one almost every step of the way. The Georgians fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

That's what I originally thought, but it's starting to look like he overplayed his hand. China didn't jump in to back him up like he expected, which has left Russia isolated. The Russian stock market is dropping out of fears of sanctions by Europe. I think he's going to get away with it, but his position is much weaker than it was a few weeks ago. We've now seen Russia pull this stunt with Moldavia and Georgia. If they move on to Ukraine and Azerbaijan, it's going to become very difficult for Russia to spin this as anything but a play on Iran.

Bertsura: keylock71: Well, nothing the US is going to be able to do about it...

Say what you will about Putin

He's an asshole?

Can't disgree with that...but he's a smart asshole, which means he'll probably be able to outsmart all the dumb and average assholes on the world stage.

PacManDreaming: Here's an extremely appropriate Cold War era rockabilly song (^)

no, that song is never appropriate for any occasion, Now I have to wash my ears out.

streicher: Of course, the U.S. has never, ever done this. Especially not to acquire the the state of Texas.

well then, a bunch of Americans did something not too savory one hundred and sixty years ago, that makes it OK!

Steed Lankershim: Steed Lankershim: Good thing we had all that "tough talk!" to make sure this didn't happen. "Russia must withdraw and respect Georgia's sovereignty!!!"

Ofcourse, it was all bullsh*t. There was nothing the US could do to stop Russia from doing whatever the hell it wanted. Sure is alot easier to bully around a third world country will no military and then take to the streets waving our Chinese made flags feeling so good about how badass we are.

P.S. It's funny that this thing has disappeared from the US Media now that it's obvious the Russian's embarrassed the sh*t out of us.

Actually, it hasn't disappeared from the news cycle. You must not be paying attention, but we just had a DNC convention and would you believe if I told you there is a major hurricane about to hit New Orleans?
/Why would the US be embarrassed? Would you prefer we go into open conflict with Russia? I don't want an extra cold winter, but apparently you do.

zamboni: PacManDreaming: streicher: Of course, the U.S. has never, ever done this. Especially not to acquire the the state of Texas.

Not really familiar with Texas history, are you?

It's a little more like the US and Hawaii maybe even Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Load it up with friendlies, eliminate or reduce the influence of the opposition, then declare them pro-us/anti-them.

That's my strategy of choice when playing Medieval: Total War 2. Except I use a few priests/imams some 10-15 years before I invade. Once they are converted,the masses always welcome me with open arms.

/love that game.

Mentat:
That's what I originally thought, but it's starting to look like he overplayed his hand. China didn't jump in to back him up like he expected, which has left Russia isolated. The Russian stock market is dropping out of fears of sanctions by Europe. I think he's going to get away with it, but his position is much weaker than it was a few weeks ago. We've now seen Russia pull this stunt with Moldavia and Georgia. If they move on to Ukraine and Azerbaijan, it's going to become very difficult for Russia to spin this as anything but a play on Iran.

Good points, but I think the end result will be that those provinces become part of Russia and business will go on as usual between Europe and Russia after some harsh rhetoric, and Georgia's military has been pretty much humiliated and defeated, neutralizing any further threat without massive amounts of US aid and equipment being dumped into the country. NATO membership is going to be the least of their concerns for the next few years.

He certainly has taken Ukraine and Azerbaijan of the table for any near future action, but, again, I think Putin chose the battle he thought would be most beneficial and least detrimental to Russia.
It was a well calculated move, in my opinion.

streicher: Of course, the U.S. has never, ever done this. Especially not to acquire the the state of Texas.

well then, a bunch of Americans did something not too savory one hundred and sixty years ago, that makes it OK!


If I remember my Texas history correctly, the Mexican govt. gave the Americans land to live in Texas, (after they would pledge loalty to Mexico). They then tried to change the rules and take it back. That is when the Texans revolted. It was not an evil plot by the U.S. to steal the Mexicans land.

Sooo...the Russians want Ossetia to be Russian, and that's bad.

But the Georgians want Ossetia to be Georgian, and that's good.

Hrm.

What worries me is how Russia is also making a play on the Ukraine and Poland. The U.S. has pleged to defend Poland like U.S. soil. The last time a country invaded poland and another country defended it, we ended up with WWII.

/Russia has said it will attack Poland if we place anti missle defences in Poland.

FIRST IN SPACE

snow9999: streicher: Of course, the U.S. has never, ever done this. Especially not to acquire the the state of Texas.

well then, a bunch of Americans did something not too savory one hundred and sixty years ago, that makes it OK!


If I remember my Texas history correctly, the Mexican govt. gave the Americans land to live in Texas, (after they would pledge loalty to Mexico). They then tried to change the rules and take it back. That is when the Texans revolted. It was not an evil plot by the U.S. to steal the Mexicans land.

Well, in all fairness to the Mexicans, the rule that they changed was to outlaw slavery. Of course, it really wasn't for altruistic reasons, they were just shocked that the flood of Texan immigrants were coming in and not learning spanish like they agreed to. The irony in light of today's situation on the border is full of all kinds of awesome.