Many factors are involved in the present conflict but the central one is straightforward: the majority of the Ossetes living south of the main Caucasus range in Georgia wish to unite with the Ossetes living to the north, in an autonomous republic of the Russian Federation; and the Georgians, regarding South Ossetia as both a legal and an historic part of their national territory, refuse to accept this.
Update:
Here’s is the essence of what I posted earlier that Rob may be referencing in his commment. On reflection, I thought it was weak and took it out. Upon further reflection, possibly it is a decent illustration. In any case the analogy is not meant to imply right or wrong, simply that it’s not simple.
Let’s assume Texas broke away from the United States about 20 years ago. Let’s further assume that west Texans would rather be united with their compadres and kinfolk in New Mexico, which is still part of the U.S. (In this analogy the U.S. is Russia, Texas is Georgia, west Texas is the part of Georgia that wants to be separate from Georgia — namely South Ossetia, and New Mexico represents the Russian Republic of North Ossetia.)
Texas is refusing to let the west Texans reunite with the New Mexicans. The U.S. is supporting the west Texans and has invaded Texas.
Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Who knows?
I believe at this time that Georgia, as the instigator of this conflict, certainly has to accept responsibility and the loss of territory that they will incur as a result of their outrageous, militarily unprovoked attack. The manner in which the Georgian government has conducted itself makes me loath their leaders and flat-out ignore any statements they make. Russia may be overreacting, but your analogy of how we would handle an attack on our bordering allies is a good perspective check on the Bush administration’s inflammatory responses.
Agreed, except keep in mind that that, by their own admission, the Georgians (independent Texans in this analogy) deliberately attacked the largely autonomous west Texas county
)
Are we sure this isn’t really about that big, fat oil pipeline running through Georgia?