European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Better and better ...

by Colman
Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 08:42:04 AM EST

Russia today stepped up its defiance of the west by wasting little time in recognising the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Georgia's two breakaway provinces.
Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, said he had signed decrees to that effect, just weeks after Russia and Georgia fought a short war over South Ossetia.
"I have signed decrees on the recognition by the Russian Federation of the independence of South Ossetia and the independence of Abkhazia," Medvedev said in a televised announcement, in a move bound to escalate tensions between Moscow and the west. (Guardian)

Isn't defiance something you do to a superior? You don't defy a peer, really. Isn't this the problem with the way we deal with Russia?

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Better and better ... | 21 comments (21 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 6)

Who could have predicted that forcing Kosovan independence could have had this sort of fall-out?

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 08:43:16 AM EST

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 2)

Didn't we?

Vote McCain for war without gain

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 08:46:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 5)

Nobody, clearly.

A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 08:50:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I don't think... (4.00 / 3)

... anybody could've predicted that this would happen.

- Jake

"Terraforming your own planet to make it uninhabitable hardly counts as epic win." - ThatBritGuy

by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 10:37:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 3)

Every half-wit that has an inkling of how the world works.

I put up a comment on this in today's Salon a few minutes ago.

by de Gondi (publiobestia aaaatttthotmaildaughtusual) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 08:51:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 2)

Actually I have the impression, a lot of normal people in Germany are happy with both, the independency of South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and the independency of Kosovo.
Just because you name it 'fall-out'. What exactly is the problem?

Der Amerikaner ist die Orchidee unter den Menschen
Volker Pispers

by Martin (weiser.mensch(at)googlemail.com) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 09:21:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Better and better ... (none / 1)

Actually I would gladly be "happy" with any independency in a world if there are rules and EVERY single minority where ever it can be can have it. For me exactly the problem is that this is not the case and independency rights are reserved for USA/EU friends and only if it is in west's interest. And the other problem for me is that USA /EU like to interfere in other countries business and encourage (read support financially, arm them, give propaganda support all over the world etc.) those groups and minorities in the countries that they have interest to partition.
For example how it is that Serbs in Bosnia who have their own state already organized in side of Bosnia CAN'T and never had a chance to get independence and Kosovo CAN, ruining illegally territorial integrity of Serbia? How is that possible? Just do not tell me that it is because Serbs were not "good" during the war. They organized and battled against enemies of their independence same way Albanians battled Serbians (just minus NATO help).If Serbs were recognized in there would be no war in Bosnia...

by vbo on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 10:28:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 3)

Don't you remember? Kosovo's special. Any resemblence to a precedent is purely coincidental.

by lychee on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 09:30:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 3)

Russia has pointed out that they intend to reconsider their cooperation with NATO forces concerning Afghanistan. Many supplies and carburants pass through corridors controlled by Russia.

It's going to be a tough game.

by de Gondi (publiobestia aaaatttthotmaildaughtusual) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 09:01:40 AM EST

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 3)

Wait, you mean Russia is switching sides in the War on Terra and joining the Axis of Evil?

A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 09:02:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 4)

Finally Bush's cunning plan has forced them to show their true allegience.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 09:04:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 3)

ah the vilains behind it all are finally revealed.

Any day now they'll defrost Lenins Zombie corpse and try to take over the world.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 09:27:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 2)

Reagan Brezhnev zombie death match!

Maggie could invigilate.

I feel nostalgic and tingly just thinking about it.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 01:45:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 2)

I'm sure i've seen that on TV

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 03:14:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Better and better ... (none / 1)

The word "terrorism" will now need to be redefined.

by de Gondi (publiobestia aaaatttthotmaildaughtusual) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 10:04:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

... again (n/t) (none / 0)

"Terraforming your own planet to make it uninhabitable hardly counts as epic win." - ThatBritGuy

by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 10:33:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: ... again (n/t) (none / 0)

well it won't be the first time

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 03:15:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 2)

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking just hours before Dmitry Medvedev's announcement, criticised the prospect of such a decision by Russia. "We believe that recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia is against international law," she said.

I wonder if they are even capable of feeling a shame...
And when Serbian prime minister and Russian said the same thing for Kosovo recognition they did not give a shit to even answer.

In the United States, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that a Russian motion to recognise the independence of the two republics would be "dead on arrival" in the UN Security Council.

So it is recognition of Kosovo.It will be vetoed (hopefully).

by vbo on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 09:59:57 AM EST

Re: Better and better ... (4.00 / 2)

and link:

http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/29511

Despite their positions on Abkhazia and South Osettia, the UK, France, Germany, Estonia and the United States have all recognised the self-declared independence of Kosovo.

by vbo on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 10:02:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

great catch Coleman (none / 0)

In defiance.......

and I thought that kind of language was reserved for our black, brown and definitely not christian serfs.

by Euroliberal on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 10:23:21 AM EST

Re: great catch Coleman (4.00 / 2)

It just isn't a word I would have picked.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 at 10:25:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Better and better ... | 21 comments (21 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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