A recent post from our contributing editor El Maestro on a leaked EU report pinning some blame for the August invasion on Georgia has stirred up about 25 comments so far. If I knew that’s all everybody wanted to talk about, I would’ve milked the subject dry a long time ago…
On a related note, the Crisis Group – known for good research and bad recommendations – has a new 20-page briefing out on the situation in Georgia. I have not yet given the document a careful read, but I was glad to see a focus on IDPs (internally displaced persons – the refugees who have had their homes taken from them in this war), as they seem to be the greatest victims and beyond the concerns of those in the halls of power in Moscow and Tbilisi.
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Not sure you read your own post closely enough. It wasn’t about a leaked report, but about leaked submissions by commission members contributing to a report. And you didn’t report it as “pinning some blame” on Georgia (everybody knows Georgian actions contributed to the crisis) but as pinning the lion’s share of the blame, a report which I believe was both inaccurate and irresponsibly premature.Presumably you were joking when you implied you’d alter your content to generate comments (if you did that, you’d cut out most of your content about your client) — but I don’t think Russian aggression against Georgia (including territorial annexation) is a matter for any type of joke. You wouldn’t either if you lived in Georgia.
It is incorrect to say that the IDPs are “beyond the concerns of those in the halls of power in Moscow and Tbilisi.” The Georgian government built new houses and renovated old apartment buildings to provide durable shelter for those displaced by the August 2008 Georgia-Russia war. The majority of people who fled their homes in South Ossetia and are unable to return now have new houses or apartments. While there are concerns about the transparency of the process, and the quality of the construction, this is a significant step towards resolving the issues faced by newly-displaced IDPs in Georgia. As for Russia, it is illogical to expect that they would care for people displaced within Georgia, since 1) they are displaced as a result of the war with Russia, and 2) they are not displaced on Russian territory.
Phoby, Phoby, Phoby….The tie-taster has discovered there’s consequences when you roll the iron dice and come up snakeyes.A leader’s education is always expensive for his country and people. Russia had some lessons to learn about Yeltsin, and they seem to have sunk in. We’ll see about Georgians.
@Russophobe – yes, I am using very dry humor with respect to blogging about Georgia vs. comments.@Caitlin – that is true that the Saakashvili administration has made efforts to house the refugees, but there are many complaints that these efforts have fallen short (see what Irakli Alasania says about this).@rkka – once again you’re making very little sense, but if you are drawing a line between Yeltsin and the invasion of Georgia, have fun.On a side note, I was in Georgia up until August 6th, 2008, so believe me I have deep appreciation for the human costs of this conflict. I just feel exhausted with the predictable ebb and sway of the post-war debate, and the ridiculous things we are often asked to believe.
It is incorrect to say that the IDPs are “beyond the concerns of those in the halls of power in Moscow and Tbilisi.” The Georgian government built new houses and renovated old apartment buildings to provide durable shelter for those displaced by the August 2008 Georgia-Russia war. The majority of people who fled their homes in South Ossetia and are unable to return now have new houses or apartments. While there are concerns about the transparency of the process, and the quality of the construction, this is a significant step towards resolving the issues faced by newly-displaced IDPs in Georgia. As for Russia, it is illogical to expect that they would care for people displaced within Georgia, since 1) they are displaced as a result of the war with Russia, and 2) they are not displaced on Russian territory.