Comments on: ‘Russian forces responded soundly to an attack on their peacekeepers’ - U.S. ambassador to Russia http://www.threekingsblog.com/2008/08/we-see-that-russian-forces-soundly-reacted-to-an-attack-on-their-peacekeepers-us-ambassador-to-russia/ The ongoing chess game between the U.S., E.U. and Russia Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:29:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Vitaliy http://www.threekingsblog.com/2008/08/we-see-that-russian-forces-soundly-reacted-to-an-attack-on-their-peacekeepers-us-ambassador-to-russia/#comment-230 Vitaliy Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:46:08 +0000 http://www.threekingsblog.com/?p=598#comment-230 Very interesting post, and useful for English speakers. A few comments: 1. Regarding criticism of Tskhinvali, the U.S. did in fact criticize Georgia's actions. Bloomberg reports that "The United States opposed Georgia's attack on South Ossetia and also condemned Russia's ``illegal'' military actions in Georgia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said in comments broadcast today on Ekho Moskvay radio station" (source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=ah2kJyfa7ZiY&refer=home) If Russia got a lot of the criticism, this may partially be explained by the fact that Russia continued to attack Georgia for at least four days, while Georgian attack was repelled within 24 hours. The point is that the allegation of not criticizing attacks on Tskhinvali by Georgia are not true. 2. On the question of contradicting oneself, what do you think about the following observation made by Aidan Kehoe: "...logically Russia should have supported Georgia, given its years of commitment to the idea of the integral sovereignty of established nations in Chechnya." This same commitment was strongly shown and is continued to be expressed in Russia's steadfast backing of Serbia's position vis-a-vis Kosovo. In light of such actions, I wonder if Russia's contradiction is permanent or temporary (one of convenience)? Very interesting post, and useful for English speakers. A few comments:

1. Regarding criticism of Tskhinvali, the U.S. did in fact criticize Georgia’s actions. Bloomberg reports that “The United States opposed Georgia’s attack on South Ossetia and also condemned Russia’s “illegal” military actions in Georgia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said in comments broadcast today on Ekho Moskvay radio station” (source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=ah2kJyfa7ZiY&refer=home)

If Russia got a lot of the criticism, this may partially be explained by the fact that Russia continued to attack Georgia for at least four days, while Georgian attack was repelled within 24 hours. The point is that the allegation of not criticizing attacks on Tskhinvali by Georgia are not true.

2. On the question of contradicting oneself, what do you think about the following observation made by Aidan Kehoe:

“…logically Russia should have supported Georgia, given its years of commitment to the idea of the integral sovereignty of established nations in Chechnya.”

This same commitment was strongly shown and is continued to be expressed in Russia’s steadfast backing of Serbia’s position vis-a-vis Kosovo. In light of such actions, I wonder if Russia’s contradiction is permanent or temporary (one of convenience)?

]]>