What role or ramifications do you think the US might have in this, if any? Isn't the President of Georgia American born and educated?

And haven't Georgia's relations with US have become closer as a result of his election?

And yes, I mean beyond the peddling of McDonalds burgers by the Georgian born Soviet President, Mikhail Gorbachev!

I will have to look up the map to find Georgia, is Georgia a separate State, or Country....
Russia is so big, I get confused....
I often think, gosh thats a lot of States, areas, to organise...
sorry I dont know much guys..am learning though
JHH

saakashvili was not born in the us just educated here. gorbachev was not born in georgia but shevardnadze was. gosh!!!

It has been almost 18 years since the USSR dis-assembled. At that time, the various Republics re-assembled into a new Political Sphere. That New-Sphere was based on the SITUATION THEN..!!.. Things were very rough for a while, but the economy for most of the Republics is better now. It appears that we are now entering a period of time in which the various Republics will DIS-ASSEMBLE & RE-ASSEMBLE their relationships AGAIN. THE POLITICAL-SPHERES ARE CHANGING AGAIN.. AFTER ALL, TIMES HAVE CHANGED..!!.. From the point of view of America, ALL OF THE VARIOUS REPUBLICS ARE OUR FRIENDs AND ALLIES..!!.. We waited 70 years for all of you to free yourself, we spent almost a TRILLION dollars helping you thru these last 18 years. We will continue to wait, and to help you when we can, and however we can. WE HOPE THAT YOU SHOW WISDOM AS YOU MAKE YOUR ADJUSTMENTS. In either case, we will be here.

All Americans should be ashamed! Its all your fault! I mean, why are u harassing Russia, and meantime killing people and destroying relations with Russia and Ex-Soviet states like Georgia. Put Mr. Bush under control for God sake.

Without USA blessing Georgian politicians would not dear intimidate Russia. They know how much devastated Lebanon infrastructure was during Israeli Hezbollah short war.
Also this doesn’t help USA in the long term. Russia would not help with North Korea, Iran, and on contrary will be probably suspicious of USA intention in Afghanistan and Iraq and unfortunately do everything to undermine USA stability and presents over there.

Some pretty confused commentary from people regarding this topic.

The US hasn't been "harassing Russia" and at worse can be accused of offering Georgians military training for their soldiers. For the record, the US didn't spend "trillions" of dollars to help out the former Soviet Union states, that is a big steaming pile of bunk.

Georgian leaders currently see more advantages in becoming closer to the West (as in EU and NATO) than becoming closer to Russia. Russia sees Georgia as being within their sphere of influence and is supporting/occupying ethnically Russian regions of Georgia in an attempt to exert influence.

So, for those who don't know - what are these apparent advantages that Georgia sees in the West these days? And why has Russia been averse to having foreign influence in what would seem like such a small and unimportant region? I mean, most Russians have a dislike or general distrust for all peoples of the Caucasus region. So why is there a power-play in this region?

Perhaps you've heard of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline? No? Well the BTC pipeline is the 2nd longest pipeline in the world, passes through Georgia and allows landlocked Caspian Sea oil from the Baku region to make its way to the Mediterranean and major markets in the west. It also bypasses Russia (and significanly, Iran) which would have been the easiest routes for the pipeline.

So, much of the West and Georgia interests in each other is related to this pipeline and the money it generates. But the tinder for bad relations between Russia and Georgia has been there for a long time, oil money was simply a spark.

At least, this is my understanding of the situation. I think the Russian perspective is one of considerable meddling by the west in the region.

I mean, most Russians have a dislike or general distrust for all peoples of the Caucasus region.

Well actually its not true. From all Caucasus nations russians most friendly to Geogians thanks to long cultural relationship... well, they used to be.

With media under total Kremlin' control things are changed these days. So russians disliking those who Kremlin want them to dislike - Georgians, Ukranians, etc.

All the buzz is about the pipe and losing influence in region, linked with hidden anti-US confrontation, heated by govmnt media. It's kinda "Chilly War".

Dmitry, MSK, Russia.

Ok.
I admit my ignorance.
Gosh! Frickin Idiot!

However, you must admit that I raised a good question about the western (US) influences....as can be seen by the comments and outrage.

Probably you are right Georgia can benefit if join NATO and EU peacefully. But then again if Georgia miscalculated their behavior on the Russian expense could be easily sent to Stone Age. .Now Russia suspended their pull up from the military bases in Georgia. It is similar like Cuba telling US military to pull from Guantanamo Bay because they don’t want their presents. You have to measure well your potential enemy before you pick up a fight.

Actually, the Russian perspective is simple: Georgia is trying to insult us more and more over time. From 1991 to 2004 old georgian regimes were not frendly, but not hostile also.

After 'Rose' revolution and when Saakashvilli came into power we see a very big chahge. Only 2 years - and Rus-Geo relations became so bad, so we start to think about war. We start to think about breaking up diplomatic relations, closing borders, and so on.

It is bad in any ways, and I do not see how this situation can be better. Lets assume that we will pull out all our forces from Georgia and from S.Ossetia and Abhasia. It is obvios that after some time Georgian forces will try to capture these 2 regions and they cannot make it peacefully. To bad to all of us :(

Lets assume that we will pull out all our forces from Georgia and from S.Ossetia and Abhasia. It is obvios that after some time Georgian forces will try to capture these 2 regions and they cannot make it peacefully.

Yep, like Russia was unable to recapture Chechnya peacefully. But I think it's about internal affairs, to be honest

2 Dmitry: I agree, but we discuss Georgia here. There were no foreign peacekeepers in Chechnya when we fight with separatists there, and now in Ossetia & Abkhasia there are.
What do you propose, leave these regions and just watch when Georgia starts a shooting war? Will NATO help Georgia killing their neighbours or what?
Saakashvilli is a militarist without any doubts, he will not think before ordering troops to fire.

I understand that there is no simple solution in this crisis. But both sides must try to resolve it. Georgia as we see do not trying to resolve, but doing opposite.

Let's face it, over the last 80 years, at the least, Russia has been a bad neighbor to pretty much all the countries that have been unfortunate enough to be located along its borders.

Whether it be Poland, Finland, the Baltic nations, Czechoslovkia (as it existed at the time), Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, etc., all these countries would have been better off in the long run if Russia never showed any interest in their countries. All Russia did was kill off their people and steal their resources.

Now that the USSR is gone, there is going to be some pushback. It is to be expected.

No matter how many other countries were bad neighbors, it still doesn't erase the past sins of Russia.

Jason: Steal their resources?

With respect to Georgia, name one. Wine? Georgia apprently can have all it wants.

With respect to the rest of the list: Russia didn't have any interest in a single one of them until some German idiot decided he had to march to the walls of the Kremlin. Don't forget how the situation evolved historically.

And for the reference, you'd have to think way before your country was country, to call Ukraine or Gergia a "country." You don't seem to be upset about other people loosing their country some 300-400 years ago, do you?

Russia didn't have any interest in a single one of them until some German idiot decided he had to march to the walls of the Kremlin. Don't forget how the situation evolved historically.

Erm, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Russian designs on the Caucasus predate Hitler's invasion by more than a century.

Jason Herr's quote at this section:

"Let's face it, over the last 80 years, at the least, Russia has been a bad neighbor to pretty much all the countries that have been unfortunate enough to be located along its borders.

Whether it be Poland, Finland, the Baltic nations, Czechoslovkia (as it existed at the time), Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, etc., all these countries would have been better off in the long run if Russia never showed any interest in their countries. All Russia did was kill off their people and steal their resources.

Now that the USSR is gone, there is going to be some pushback. It is to be expected.

No matter how many other countries were bad neighbors, it still doesn't erase the past sins of Russia."

*****

Here's what he said at this RB Comments section several months ago:

http://www.russiablog.org/2006/04/yuschenkos_wife_and_the_ugly_h.html

"Interesting post Michael. It is interesting to note the following people's ethnicity:

Stalin - Georgian
Khrushchev - Ukrainian
Beria - Georgian
Yezhov - Polish/Lithuanian?
Yagoda - Jewish

Then again, the guy that started all the trouble in the last century was Lenin, a Russian.

Looking at Russia as a geographical entity, though, it surely has been a very bad neighbor to the other countries surrounding it. This is why Russians get the reputation for being bad neighbors, I think."

Here is the posted follow-up to the above quoted:

"Some very good comments which I will address later when I have more time (for whatever reason, many prefer the private email route to me).

Jason - NSK was an ethnic Russian from Ukraine and I disagree with your view that Russia has been bad to its neighbors. Some of Russia's neighbors have been bad and this has provoked a response. Not that Russia has always been innocent. Show me a historically great power which has been.

The Brits benefit from Edgar Rice Burroughs and Ian Fleming like propagandists. In comparison, Russians have never really played the propaganda game well."

*****

The fact of the matter is that Armenia and Georgia sought to become Russian protectorates. In the present: Crimea, Trans-Dniester, South Ossetia and Abkhazia would like to be reunified with Russia.

When compared to other perennial powers, Russia has actually been quite tolerant.

This isn't the kind of commentary you typically get in the "free" press and I once again stress my displeasure with the stated attempts at improving the English language coverage of the former FSU.

Cheech!! The door!! (Godfather Part II)

2 Alex: As far as I know, there's no russian peacekeepers in Georgia. At least Russian govmnt claims so - Russia has undertaken obligations to move out troops pretty long ago.

I am also aware that Georgian govmnt dont want russian troops there. You won't like US (NATO, whatever) peacekeepers in Chechnya as well, I guess.
I believe every country has right to solve its own problems itself.

Georgia as we see do not trying to resolve, but doing opposite.

I can't say Russia putting too much efforts into it either... what Russia is doing is being blutant and ultimately rude to its neighbour.

Will NATO help Georgia killing their neighbours or what?

"Are you stopped to beat your wife" kind of question.

2 Jason Herr:
I think it is common belief among westerners that "evil" Russia conquered and enslaved all of its neighbours in the past.

It is absolutely wrong. Even today when many post-soviet countries rewrote their history books, it is generally known that many of them (INCLUDING Georgia in the begining of the 19th century) willingly joined to Russain empire for protection from their enemies.

Today, all of these countries are "free". And we see many of them, INCLUDING Georgia in ruins. Why? Try to answer to this questions by yourself :)

Erm, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Russian designs on the Caucasus predate Hitler's invasion by more than a century.

Tim: I said "With respect to the rest of the list:". The rest doesn't include Georgia (or Caucasus). What's the problem?

Even today when many post-soviet countries rewrote their history books, it is generally known that many of them (INCLUDING Georgia in the begining of the 19th century) willingly joined to Russain empire for protection from their enemies.

With the notable exceptions of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tadjikistan, most of the South Caucasus, Western Ukraine, Lativa, Lithuania, and Estonia. I'm not sure about Moldova.

2Dmitry: No, you are wrong.
There are russian peacekeepers in S.Ossetia & Abkhasia, and fully legally.

There is a treaty signed by Georgia, Ossetia, Abkhasia and Russia about peacekeepers in 1994.

You wrote:
I can't say Russia putting too much efforts into it either... what Russia is doing is being blutant and ultimately rude to its neighbour.

Rude, blatant??? Are you aware of Saakashvilly speaches at all? He is only in 2 years accused Russia in all deadly sins, straight said about Russia as "Georgia's main enemy".

Do you think we are not offended? Actually we are very seriously offended. And now our goverment too...

These speaches about joining EU, NATO it is clearly not what it seems.

Do you think someone in NATO wants them in? As far as I know it is in NATO rules, that newly joined country must do not have internal conflicts. Georgia have not one, but 2 conflicts!

All Saakashvilli wants is to raise his political rating (today it is very low) by addressing to his nationalistic auditory and make up an enemy.

Westerners read their newspapers and think:
Ohh, it is very scary, small very democratic country against a huge bad northern autocratic enemy.

I smile when listen or read such rethoric, frankly speaking it is just stupid.

The Russian-Georgian rift has a long history in which accusations have flown from both sides. While it's true that Russia has more ability to affect Georgia's economy than the other way around, Georgia has surely not been a passive participant. See http://politicalworld.wordpress.com for the context surrounding this current spy row.

Is Russia able to maintain its terroritory size?

Will the geography of Russia change in the future?

Will Pakistan and Afganistan capture terroritory in Central Asia?

Alex wrote- "All Saakashvilli wants is to raise his political rating (today it is very low) by addressing to his nationalistic auditory and make up an enemy."

Alex, I don't doubt your claims that Saakashvilli has time and time again played the nationalist card to build political capital. Indeed, I fear that the initial high hopes for Saakashvilli as a democratic reformer in the wake of the Rose Revolution have not been justified.

Don't pretend for a minute, though, that the Georgian government has a monopoly on nationalistic rhetoric. There has been plenty of that spewing forth from the Russian press in recent months. I recall that during the G8 summit in Petersburg the cover of one of the Pro-Kremlin papers showed a ten foot tall Putin imperiously looking down on the seven little dwarfs, the message being that Russia is a great emerging power that shouldn't be messed with. I remember during the Ukrainian parliamentary crisis a certain relish in the Russian press that these silly Ukrainians with their parliamentary democracy had made such a mess of things. And the past couple of weeks the anti-Georgian rhetoric has created a climate in which the detainment of anybody with an -ili or -adze at the end of their name is perfectly acceptable.

And I fully admit that my own government has employed such tactics to gain legitimacy for their own dubious foreign policy projects, and I have condemned them duly.