Explain please?

[123everton]

Croatia, Kosovo and Bosnia decide to leave the Yugoslav Republic and it's a good thing.
Abkharzia and South Ossettia decide they want to leave Georgia and it's a bad thing, why?
Russia is now being condemned for recognising these states, but if memory serves Germany unilaterally recognised Croatia before The (3rd?) Balkan war, but that was ok?

[jno]

well, quite. Russia was especially angry about Kosovo pulling out of Serbia because Serbia and Russia are friends. The Russians warned at the time of the dangers of recognising every minuscule independence movement around Europe. Now they're having their revenge. Logically, we haven't got a leg to stand on. Besides which we have our own invading armies in Iraq and Afghanistan; we say we're bringing freedom to the people there. Russia says the same about the South Ossetians (and the Abkhazians next, though I don't expect there will be any more fighting there.)

[rov1200]

Because we have been brainwashed by the Western media. If you want a bit more balanced reporting watch RT times on digital which gives a Russian perspective as well as the BBC then make your own mind up.

[123everton]

Perhaps we only recognise separitist states from countries we don't quite like?
Georgia's had 2 fights over these enclaves and lost both of them, could it really be viewed as an argument in Russia's backyard the result to which all the paries are pretty much agreed? To roughly paraphrase Chamberlain.
We have very little space to politically manoeveur on this issue Ulster, Gibraltar and even the Falklands (a very good example I feel) are all disputed enclaves.
Maybe an Abkarzian and South Osettian plebysite would provide an answer to which we could agree?

[youngmafbog]

The BBC impartial, hahahahahahahahahaha. Browns left wing broadcasting Corporation is hardly ever impartial.

Having said that I do agree that the majority of the media is anti Russian. Part of this remember is that most organizations aer in it for the money, newspapers need readership and Sky etc need viewers. Being pro Russian could well alianate viewers or readers as despite the thinking of all the lefties on this site the UK is not into commies.

The other side is that Russia is undoubtedly sabre rattling. They have never been comfortable with the old Russian states becoming independant and joining Europe. It will be interesting to see what they do next. They are after all threatening Poland with force if they dont ermove American missile shield which I gues the Poles see as defence for themselves. A case of one mans protection is another mans threat.

If the Russians did use force on a Nato country what would be the viwe of all the lefties on here ? Sit back and say well it was no different to us and Iraq so do nothing ?

[rov1200]

Milliband our Foreign Secretary is travelling to the Ukraine to drum up a coalition to oppose Russia. Not a very good idea is it?

[123everton]

No Rov it's not. He's also said that he supports Georgia territorial integrity, that's even more unwise, Russia won't buy it and I can't blame them.
Poland is a bit diferent I've read the stories and Russia's statement of making a military decision, personally I don't think that's a direct (or indirect) threat of invasion more a statement of intent hat in the event of conflict Rusian missiles will be targetted on Poland, which is exactly the same argument that was used to oppose American missiles being placed here.
poor old Poland the more things change the more they stay the same 70 years ago it feared invasion from the west and "liberation" from the east now it's a little bit vice versa, we live in interesting times....

[jno]

youngmafbog, the Russians haven't been commies for quite a while now. In fact they're now rampant capitalists, which is how you get all these zillionaire oligarchs buying football clubs and so on. They didn't do that in Stalin's day.