I have been following the situation in Georgia with great sadness. A completely unnecessary war in every aspect. It is hard for a complete observer far from the center of the problem, try find a reason for it to start in the first place. The big picture is quite clear, Its the details that complicate things. That many innocent lives needed to be killed just to come to a stop a few days later is for me a mystery. Call me naive and living in a dream world, but there must be other ways to resolve this than military power?

A problem created by the west?

I would however like to put some of the blame on someone outside the whole conflict. The war started in a conflict that saw its daylight in 1992-93 in the midst of the old USSR falling apart. The international political scene has in many ways not dealt seriously enough with the fact that this big proud nation was falling apart. The warning signals have been there all the time. South Osstesia was one of these problem areas in the old Sovjet state. What the west certainly could have done was show the new Russia respect and leave them with some dignity and pride. In stead the west systematically has tried to oppose any Russian effort to regain peace in difficult areas by not offering much international help.

Who is to blame then?

At the same time Russia is to blame for wanting to use power and military force to solve these problems. And in this case to punish Georgia for going into what they claim is there own land. It is clearly not a solution. Tsjetsjnia

should prove my po int

in many ways. Hopefully South Ossetia and Abkhazia will not turn out to be a new Tsjetsjnia. See footage from the conflict here.

A bad peace is always better than a good war.

Referendum for independence

War has come to a new part of our world today. As in all wars, innocent lives are affected in tragic ways. This does not come as a surprise on any of the party’s involved in the conflict. Georgia has recently recalled its1000 man strong troops from Iraq to muster a stronger attack.

It is sad however that Georgia, Russia and South Ossetia can not come to a peaceful solution.

South Ossetians nearly unanimously approved a referendum on November 12 2006, opting for independence from Georgia. The referendum was hugely popular, winning between 98 and 99 percent of the ballots, flag waving and celebration marked were seen across South Ossetia, but elsewhere observers were less enthusiastic. International critics claimed that the move could worsen regional tensions, and the Tblisi government thoroughly discounted the results.

Russia wants to play a part in who South Ossetia belongs to. Russia wants it to be independant and Georgia wants it to be a part of Georgia.

Look to Abkhazia

Abkhazia a similar “country” within the borders of Georgia who have managed to live in peace with Georgia, whom they also belong to. One of the reasons for the war may be that Georgia is afraid that what is happening in South Ossetia, will also happen i Abkhazia.

We can only hope and pray peace, brotherhood and the willingness to listen to the people of Ossetia and Georgia, will win over pain and war.