It’s a tragedy in the autonomous region in Georgia. The entire city in South Ossetia became a virtual ghost town overnight. South Ossetia is an autonomous region in Georgia who wanted to unite with North Ossetia. Russia in turn made it easier for people here to become Russian citizens so most people here were holding Russian passports. South Ossetia declared independence in the 90’s but the international community did not recognize them.
When Mikheil Saakashvili became President, his platform was to unite Georgia (South Ossetia and a second separatist region, Abkhazia), join NATO and be a member of the European Union. Russia became WORLD PISSED. And you know when Russia is pissed because you’ll have bombs exploding on your dinner table! I can’t believe what My Russian President Prime Minister is doing! I’m not loving him no more! Grrr!
Now, why would you go into South Ossetia, proclaim to the world that you have now liberated the region and is now under your control and expect Russia to just say, “Ah, ok!”.
Shocked, Georgia is now pleading ceasefire and help from the West, while Russia continue to dig deeper into Georgia, and who knows when they’re going to stop. Haller! I’m no military strategist or sum’tin, and I know the President is cute, but I think the blame is on the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili for the raging war in Georgia. I have no idea what’s on his mind other than possibly thinking that the European Nations and the United States will come to rescue him. To me this is not only a big time miscalculation. It’s plain stupidity. Why would you put your people to such a risk and then expect the West to rally behind you? The lesson that we’re learning here is this: If you go to war, make sure you’ll win the war because watching you on CNN’s video taking cover is not really very presidential. Obviously, Saakashvili’s strategy backfired.
Which brings me to the current headlines in the Philippines. Now, depending on what time you open and read online newpapers like ABS-CBN, GMA News or the Inquirer, the death toll in the current fighting in Mindanao is now between 4 to 30 and counting. It’s not in the same magnitude as in Georgia, but one Pinoy life lost is still a tragedy. Who wants war anyway?!
Personally, I have always believed that if you have a weak government, then you have an uncontrollable citizenry. I have always believed that the government should be a pacifier and a neutralizer. Improve the lives of its citizenry, then people will be merry.
This war in Mindanao brings into focus the strategy of the two leaders. Let’s just pretend that they have their own strategy and not coached and influenced by outside powers like Malaysia or the United States. But according to some newspaper articles I am reading, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was for appeasement of the rebels whereas Joseph Estrada went on an all out war with MILF.
Now, this is my question to you: Which strategy do you think was effective for WORLD PEACE in Mindanao?
Stumble Upon
Del.icio.us
Buzz
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Saakashvili wanted to reunite the ‘rogue’ regions with Georgia. His theory was good, but the implementation of it was bad. Apparently, he can’t expect Russia to just sit back and watch the show. On the contrary, recent reports reveal that Russian forces are already ploughing their way to Georgia, at about 2kms from the capital. Bush and Sarkozy, on the other hand, are trying to strap a leash on Russia.
One interesting note about the conflict between the Kremlin and Georgia is that there is no clear indication as to who is at the Russian helm at this stage. Is it Putin, the prime minister? Or is it Medvedev, the president? Anywho, one can expect that Russia won’t give an easy fight. They frown upon the mere thought of Georgia bullying South Ossetia and Abkhazia—autonomous regions with strong ties to the Kremlin.
Is this a WW3 in the making?
[splice]‘s last blog post..Poseurs
[Reply]
What? ww3? wag naman sana!Life is too good to be in a war.
mocs’s last blog post..The Story Can Now Be Told
[Reply]
Well, Putin is not gonna go away, that’s why he made himself the new Prime Minister of Russia. From all the announcements, I think he is the guy and his President is just his proxy. And yeah, they don’t like Georgia bullying South Ossetia but remember Chechnya?
This guys Saaskavili is an idiot! He can’t win a fight with Russia and considering that he wanted to join NATO and Europe he’s bringing us to the brink of war! Grrr!
reynz’s last blog post..If you go to war, make sure you’ll win the war
[Reply]
Well, if all these powers don’t handle this one very well, it could spark something.
reynz’s last blog post..If you go to war, make sure you’ll win the war
[Reply]
I don’t know Reynz but the Georgian gov’t has all the rights to do whatever it wants to do within the limits of its sovereign territory (as long as it’s activities in the said regions don’t violate int’l laws, such as genocide, etc). In my view, south Ossetia and Abkhazia are sort of analogous to our very own ARMM. No matter how autonomous these regions are, the host country still has sovereignty over them. Imagine if our very own troops in ARMM gets flushed out by a foreign power? Say Malaysia started issuing Malaysian citizenship to all the people in ARMM and then use that as a pre-text to annex the region later on just like what russia is saying to justify the current incursion in Georgian territories. If they really want to protect their citizens, then evacuate all of them within the Russian borders! But of course the history of caucasus is never that simple.
About your question on Mindanao, the Philippine gov’t should push for an all out war against all armed groups (not only against MILF but also against every rogue groups in the country) AND at the same time make sure that those impoverished regions get the much needed economic and social support. An independent Moro land is not a guarantee that the people there will eventually prosper. Yung mga rebel leaders rin lang ang makikinabang dyan at mas lalo lang maghihirap ang masa doon kapag tuluyan silang humiwalay sa pinas. Rizal thus wrote in Elfili, “Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow?” Look at Mugabe, a hero during the yesteryear’s fight against colonial powers, who single-handedly brought down zimbabwe to economic quagmire. No need to look further. Look at how Nur Misuari blew up his chances in serving his constituents.
[Reply]
On the Georgia issue, i agree with you Mogli, no question. That’s why he won the Presidency because Georgians are just as nationalistic as Pinoys. By all means, they have all the rights in the world to protect their territory and South Ossetia and a second separatist region, Abkhazia is theirs to protect. But things are not looking good for him. Although he became America’s darling, it angered Russia and when Bush pushed for their ascension to Nato, the European Union blocked Bush moves. At least Saaskhavili was winning on the recognition part because the international community refuse to recognize the independence of those two autonomous region. But the move to put up a fight with Russians was plain stupid. No way for Georgia to win. So, i’d say, I would have stuck to negotiations. With what Saaskhavili did, I doubt if they will ever be part of Nato or Europe because if his political decisions are like that, that’s way too dangerous for Europe and the US.
What Russia did of issuing passports to South Ossetians and making them Russians was plain wrong but I’m sure just like what you said, it was Russian’s great big alibi to say “we are protecting our citizens” when in fact, they were just blunting America to not ever put a missile shield in that area.
[Reply]
On the Mindanao, i was just talking to Kuz who was from Cotabato (of all places hahaha) and i tend to favor the all out war done by Estrada before which really is parallel to my belief that the government should be a pacifier. I am beginning to think that all these appeasement by Arroyo is not really working. There’s been many plebscite, referendums and they’ve been losing all the time and everytime they lose, they come up with another MOA, bara-barangay this time. Interestingly, i heard that some of those in the ARMM now wants to revert back to the old province.
It really boils down to leadership and government’s sincerity, be it the administration of the Manila GOvernment or the ARRM just like Misuari. Everyone knows the corruption by Misuari, he had his chance to improve the lives of the people there.
Thing is, once they flushed out this rebels and cornered them, then ceasefire and back to step number 1. The whole cycle continues.
[Reply]
Russia wants Georgia for two simple reasons; Stalin is a Georgian and Georgia is a major route of oil pipelines to Europe.
LiNTEK’s last blog post..Kingston 32GB Elite Pro SDHC Flash
[Reply]
i agree with you lintek – not on the Stalin but on the oil. bottom line, this is really an energy or oil fight because Georgia has an oil pipeline that runs from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea and Russia don’t have any powers in the Caspian region at least that’s what I am reading. it’s easy of course, why would the US and Europe be very much interested with the tiny Georgia? Gazprom is now the world’s largest oil company and Russia is now holding Europe to it’s neck because of oil as in that’s Russia is a world power again because of oil and if they control that part of the area, they control the world.
reynz’s last blog post..Was it smart for China to fake it?
[Reply]
What Russia is doing (use of massive military force) to Georgia is very similar to what Stalin did to Finland, subverting by use of force the sovereignty of a small democratic neighbor. The West will be cut off from the Caspian Sea and Central Asia if Georgia is subverted.
So what’s next after Georgia? Remember that Putin has already made public threats against Ukraine.
LiNTEK’s last blog post..Kingston 32GB Elite Pro SDHC Flash
[Reply]
i know (threats to ukraine) eh kasi tong Ukraine had already said na they will block russian ships sa black sea, nag-warning na rin ang US, na any attacks on Ukraine (kahit na di member nang NATO) is an attack on NATO. puro maneuvering, for the prize of Caspian Sea, feel ko me malapit nang dumating… sana wag muna… titikim pa ako nang luto nang ano… hmm…
reynz’s last blog post..Was it smart for China to fake it?
[Reply]
nope, WW3 is when someone starts firing China.
Kotsengkuba’s last blog post..Crammers go to hell
[Reply]