Propaganda War Over Ossetia
I was on the running machine at my local gym watching the Sky news coverage last night but what surprised me the most was how what was reported two days ago as an invasion of South Ossetia by Georgian troops had somehow morphed into an aggressive assault on Georgia by Russian troops. Just to be sure I carried on running and watched the entire bulletin again but to give BBC 24 their due, once I got home and checked the BBC news they were still carrying their original line. So what is the greater story?
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South Ossetia, is a de-facto independent state, which Georgia claims is its own, however it is primarily made up of Russians, most carry Russian passports and have Russian citizenship. Following a brief period of fighting in the early 1990s, a ceasefire was made between the rebels, whereby a joint Russian-Georgian and Ossetian peacekeeping force (limited to about 500 soldiers) remained in the area to keep the peace. On the night of the 7th of August Georgia broke the ceasefire and launched an all out assault upon South Ossetia, following up on a brief artillery barrage on the 1st which killed about six people. This time Russian forces come under fire, and the capital is heavily damaged by sustained artillery fire. 1,400 civilians are estimated to have died, and 10 Russian soldiers. The following morning additional Russian troops are ordered into South Ossetia to re-enforce existing Russian peacekeeping forces and defend the Russian population. For a more detailed account of events on the ground see the following video :
Looking at the map above it would be easy to get sidetracked by the ethnic and regional territorial boundary squabbles but as is often the way there is more to the geopolitics of this region than meets the eye; this conflict has more to do with oil, NATO enlargement, GUUAM and The Grand Chessboard in the shadow of the cold war.
It is well known that America has been supplying arms and training to Georgian troops with a view towards minimising Russian influence in the region and maintaining political control over the oil pipeline that runs from Azerbaidjan to a Georgian port bypassing Russia entirely.
Georgia and Russia are careening towards war. And the U.S. isn’t exactly a detached observer in the fight. The American military has been training and equipping Georgian troops for years.
The news thus far: Georgia, which has been locked in a drone war over the separatist enclave of Abkhazia, has launched an offensive to reclaim another breakaway territory, South Ossetia. Latest reports indicate that Georgian forces are laying siege to Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital. And Russia, which has backed the separatists, is sending in the tanks.
It seems that Saakashvili thought that while the world was distracted with the Olympic games he could move in quickly and secure South Ossetia and then use his American allies to pressure the Russians into accepting the new status quo but has badly miscalculated the speed and effectiveness of a Russian response.
The question you should ask yourself now, perhaps as a European is do I feel safer with the future of European oil supplies under Russian geopolitical control or through an American proxy? Russia has been making many grand gestures towards a greater European partnership for some time now, as Putin explained in his 2007 speech at the 43rd Munich Conference on Security Policy :
I think it is obvious that NATO expansion does not have any relation with the modernisation of the Alliance itself or with ensuring security in Europe. On the contrary, it represents a serious provocation that reduces the level of mutual trust. And we have the right to ask: against whom is this expansion intended? And what happened to the assurances our western partners made after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact? Where are those declarations today? No one even remembers them. But I will allow myself to remind this audience what was said. I would like to quote the speech of NATO General Secretary Mr Woerner in Brussels on 17 May 1990. He said at the time that: “the fact that we are ready not to place a NATO army outside of German territory gives the Soviet Union a firm security guarantee”. Where are these guarantees?
The stones and concrete blocks of the Berlin Wall have long been distributed as souvenirs. But we should not forget that the fall of the Berlin Wall was possible thanks to a historic choice – one that was also made by our people, the people of Russia – a choice in favour of democracy, freedom, openness and a sincere partnership with all the members of the big European family.
Yet the US has shown repeatedly that it is prepared to make allegiances to the detriment of Europeans in the past in order to realise its geopolitical goals also standing the war on terror bizarrely on its head, such as its support for Kosovo (also arming the KLA) which smuggles 75% of the heroin which enters Europe.
Global security and propaganda Dmitry Rogozin – Russia’s ambassador to NATO
“In that context, how America ‘manages’ Eurasia is critical. A power that dominates Eurasia would control two of the world’s three most advanced and economically productive regions. A mere glance at the map also suggests that control over Eurasia would almost automatically entail Africa’s subordination, rendering the Western Hemisphere and Oceania geopolitically peripheral to the world’s central continent. About 75 per cent of the world’s people live in Eurasia, and most of the world’s physical wealth is there as well, both in its enterprises and underneath its soil. Eurasia accounts for about three-fourths of the world’s known energy resources.” (p.31) – Zbigniew Brzezinksi’s The Grand Chessboard
See also : Georgia – The Israeli connection
For past seven years, Israeli companies have been helping Georgian army to prepare for war against Russia through arms deals, training of infantry units and security advice
Update #1 : Craig Murray gets it (well some of it anyway)…
The answer is not to strengthen NATO. NATO is part of the cause of the problem, not the solution. By encircling and humiliating Russia, not least with new missile systems, NATO has creaated the climate in Russia so favourable to Putin.
The new NATO is the main symptom of the West’s chronic inability to create a new post cold war security structure. By clinging to and expanding NATO, we merely made the return of the Cold War inevitable – much to the benefit of the arms industry and military establishment. If our leaders had any imagination, they would realise that the answer is to wind down NATO and create new structures into which Russia should be drawn.
It is already a decade late for such thinking. With Bush and Brown at the helm and the military and arms industry in grater control than ever of policy in both the US and UK, it is currently impossible.
Update #2 : Obama adviser compares Putin to Hitler
This article is depressing news. It’s the first time I’ve seen a reputable news agency confirm the rumour that Zbigniew Brzezinski is now advising Barack Obama. In case you are not familiar with this neo-con lunatic he has a long career of failure in the American administration but most importantly an unswerving hatred of Russia. If his political influence is on the rise, so will be the propaganda and the body-count.
Also, in case you were still under the impression the Georgian regime was democratic here is a video from 2007 :
Update #3 : War Nerd – South Ossetia, The War of My Dreams
The American military’s response so far has been all talk, and pretty damn stupid talk at that. A Pentagon spokes-thingy called Russia’s response “disproportionate.” What the Hell are they talking about? They’ve been watching too many cop shows. Cops have this doctrine of “minimum necessary force,” not that they actually operate that way unless there are video cameras around. Armies never, ever had that policy, because it’s a good way to get your troops killed needlessly. The whole idea in war is to fight as unfairly and disproportionately as possible. If you’ve got it, you use it. Thank God we never fought “proportionately” in Viet Nam. The French tried that, because they never had much of an air force, and got wiped out. By the time the French withdrew from Indochina, their Lefty Prime Minister, Mendes-France, made a big show of promising peace within 30 days of taking office—and his commanders in Indochina said privately, “I don’t think we can hold out that long.” That’s what fighting “proportionately” gets you: Dien Bien Phu.
Useful post, Wolfie, I came late to the party and have only seen the evil-Russian-invaders line.
Hi Wolfie, I still do not consider Russia and the US morally on an even par. I’m not buying into the KGB autocracy.
Hi Sackerson,
BBC News 24 seems to be the least gung-ho of the TV news services but some of the Sunday papers have completely retreated into their old cold-war comfort zones.
Hi Cassandra,
I’m sorry but I’m too young to remember a time when morals were factored into geopolitical interests of the super-powers and I’ll be surprised if I live to see them return. After what the free-market fundamentalists did to Russia it doesn’t surprise me that they are now plotting a more steady course from autocracy to democracy; perhaps your criticism could be viewed as slightly churlish. There are moments when I find it hard to buy into the neo-con autocracy but please don’t confuse analysis with desire.
Well, looking on the bright side, at the least the Good Guys (sic.) now have a better idea as to how Russia will react to any attack on Iran
I think they are hoping this would prevent Russia from reacting at all.
It is appalling that Western press show misleading information to Western people lets remember it is Georgia has attack Ossetia ……..
And as for Gorge Bush shame on you man
Thank you for this great post. It almost makes me feel guilty. I have not been contributing with meaningful posts on my blog as of late. More family matters, renovations at home, and heavy work schedule for the fall are taking a toll on my blogging.
Regards,
Sophia
A very interesting post. I’m far from convinced about the motives of either side, but I appreciate it’s far more complex than energy based theories. The US has been playing power politics with Georgia in the recent past, so it has its geo-political interests, and the Russians have their own interest which probably aren’t quite the same as the Ossetians.
Thanks for a great post
It’s relieving to know there are people in the “west” who are able to see past CNN/BBC ideological barrage…
I have a huge amount to say on this about the Georgians in particular but must wait one week, Wolfie.
Thanks for the clarification and links. I must have watched the same news bulletins and was very confused!
James,
I have a feeling I can guess where that will be going but look forward to reading your take on the subject.
Welshcakes,
Glad to be of service.
Georgian aggress and genocide Ossetia people and Russian peace-makers
We present a set of photographs from the war in South Ossetia made by Arcady Pachinko, one of the editors of Russian war veterans Almanac ”Art of War” (http://www.navoine.ru/). Arcady went with Russian troops on the route Vladikavkaz – Tshinval – Zemo Nikozi – Gori and participated as journalist in the battle for Georgian village Zemo Nikozi. Photographs were prepared and placed in the Internet by Chief Editor of the Almanac Ilya Plekhanov.
Almanac “Art of War” literature project for veterans of recent wars. It has become apparent that there are many talented writers among veterans. They have been able to create an outstanding literature that appeals to readers everywhere with its sincerity, honesty and factual accuracy. We are privileged to publish works of Russian and foreign authors from all over the world who are veterans of Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, etc. Russian translations of war literature in other languages can also be found here.
The “Art of War” almanac is for those who live, who remember, and who want to know what war actually is. This almanac is also for the soldier, the man who does know war intimately. We hope this almanac may become a rehabilitation ground for veterans. We would be glad to see you among our writers, readers and subscribers.
Full text of the Editor Note: http://www.navoine.ru/life/inostrannye-yazyki/261
Photo http://www.navoine.ru/life/270
American and European mass media not right. That American course in scramble dominant party in favor of Oval Office.
I always know what American government and businessmen when pursue purposes always immolate people both their citizen so foreigner people all the more so
both apart from of itself nobody for people not valid! How that been in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Serbia, Afghanistan, etc.
American government gate an order their vassal country Georgia attack Ossetia republic. Russia protect their people. Mass media settle down to brainwash population of word a wrong impression information. And people both don’t know history itself country, say nothing of history of Word. Suck at analyze situation, he takes it all in on. American government to carry one’s point, on-coming dictator Mac Kein amended regain positions in favor of Oval Office and one jump ahead of Obama. And America for the time being hero, Russia aggressor, Georgia indemnity, and Ossetia overall nobody don’t know what that ! American government do one’s bit, and Georgian president just in case make as if get the laugh. So if all mistake way, it is possible say that Saacashvili psychinosis and American don’t know this and warranted free from acts Georgian President!
Study history, people! Russia never been aggressor, he only protect always. As was formerly the case witch Mongolia, first Word War when half Europe attack Russia and Two Word War when Fashist attack Russia, and Japan war when Japan attack Russian, and Chechen conflict when terrorist kill Russian people. All country of Europe pass a wet sponge over what Russia lost many soldier emancipate from Fashist Army country of Europe, and usually nobody don’t occupation. I guess so it been stink out Fashist from Russian territory and pull out Fashist at Europe territory interesting what will been?
One mistake of Russia will be Cheh Republic when Russia want stop revolution and Afghanistan when Russia want stop narcotraffic, where Russia forfeit lives her soldier.
Hungry to sensation Word mass media there is do from Russia the Grate Word Aggressor good gum! what’s that? That sensation! Whereof recognize that banal conflict where Georgia as early as over the period of 300 years trying terminate nonconformist (according to Georgia) fight for independence Ossetia republic and has nail that territory himself! Mass media that not interesting, that not sensation!
People will be objective!
America have control Iraq, so that connect access to oil! If Russia will be as greedy as America and want control anything. Оonly in Georgia nothing doing, that beggar country. Oonly Saacashvili vocalize about healthy Georgia. Only one fact more than 75 present population live and work in Russia territory and only thereon Georgian economic receive if only something many.(grim humor: if Russia would like kill Georgian people (whereof talk president Saacashvili)
so Russian army needed doing at one night kill all Georgian people on Russian territory and then other Georgian people live in Georgia died themselves of famine)
Georgia was healthy only in USSR, but when Georgia stay independent, all what was build Russian for Georgia (fabric and manufacture) was stop work and beggar Georgian people break down that and sell it as scrap metal.
Тtherefore Georgia was occupation the riches closely-spaced health resort republic as Ossetia and Aphasia. So that make many on tourism.
Thank you for this explication of the Georgia/South Ossetia conflict.
I understand it now. I had a nagging suspicion that the Americans were actively somewhere in the fray. What IS the matter with them??
Meanwhile, it was only when I worked in Russia a few years ago that I soon learnt that BBC/UK and US media propaganda over many years was sooooo far from the reality, light years away from the truth.
Wolfie – Russia’s acts speak of hypocrisy. Why has Russia brutally put down Chechen independence?
You mean the CIA funded Chechen independence? Come now Randy please keep up will you?
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Russia does not give a …. about independence of Ossetia or any other small nation what did they do next door in Ichqaria has been pointed out we should welcome a war between US and Russia and china so the rest of us can watch themselves beat each other to pulp.
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[...] Blogging, bloghounds, roundup [17] Comments Just a bit of fun, something from everyone. Wolfie, Andrew and Cassandra have posted on developments in South Ossetia. Although not a Bloghound, Ellee [...]