I am a firm believer that Moscow has everything to gain and almost nothing to lose by debunking Western propaganda. Not simply over the Georgian but
over all manner of issues.
And I’ve been most impressed by the truthful quality of Russian media coverage throughout Georgia’s war.
Examples of Western Propaganda
The latest war began on the 7th of August when Georgia agreed to a ceasefire, then hours later launched a surprise attack killing between 16,000 and
2000 civilians and also 12 Russian peacekeeping soldiers (there with the legal blessing of the U.N and Georgia state).
Source:
news.bbc.co.uk...
www.channel4.com...
1.
According to the Daily Telegraph “day 1” of the conflict was the 8th of August
www.telegraph.co.uk...
This is significant because it allows it to start it’s timeline with Russian troops “invading” South Georgia.
2. If Propaganda could compete in the Olympics this article would win a bucket load of gold medals.
www.nypost.com...
Because it even describes Russia actions as “unprovoked”. Maybe if 12 American troops had been killed, and if1600 hundred pro-American Mexicans
had been killed any American military action would also be unprovoked?
3.
www.cnn.com... unnamed “official” Russia attack disproportionate. The unnamed official is a classic
Western propaganda trick, we do not know who they are, what they stand for, or what standards were used to distinguish them from any regular Joe
Blobs. I know a London official who works in the stock exchange. Does that qualify him to educate me about Iraq?
The official said Russia is probably trying to destabilize Georgia politically to kill its chances of joining NATO.
“Probably” if anything Mikheil Saakashvili behaviour as a U.S satellite state will embolden Georgia’s chances of joining Nato, and the Kremlin
isn’t alone in realising this. “Probably” (in spite of this) Russia is trying to stop Georgia incorporate South Ossetia by force.
P.S. Given the imposed presumption that “Russia is an aggressor and a threat” anyone who runs headlines like “Russia hits back at Nato
warning”
news.bbc.co.uk... isn’t exactly a beacon of neutrality. However thanks to the BBC Royal Charter
en.wikipedia.org...
it is certainly at times one of least biased Western news sources.
[size=18]What Really Happened…
1. Like the Abkhaz of Abkhazia
en.wikipedia.org... the Ossetians are neither Russians or Georgian. They are both ethnically and
culturally distinctive.
en.wikipedia.org...
2. For both propagandistic and administrational reasons Stalin split Ossetia. He gave the North to Russia and the South to Georgia. The people of
course had no say, but it made little (if any) differences to their lives as both areas remained part of the Soviet Union at that time.
www.upi.com...
econospeak.blogspot.com...
www.hunmagyar.org...
3. The current conflict is the Ossetians third war against Georgian occupation: 1918-20, 1991, 2008.
www.timesonline.co.uk...
4. The 1991 South Ossetia War
en.wikipedia.org... ended on June 24th 1992 under the Sochi Agreement:
www.state.gov...
useu.usmission.gov...
5. Two past referendums in Ossetia’s Georgian republics have shown (overwhelmingly) that the people favour retaining their independence.
2006 Referendum: 99% voted for independence
en.wikipedia.org...
Rejected:
www.america.gov...
In 1992 it was 98% who voted for independence
www.turkishweekly.net...
6. In spite of turbulent politics South Ossetia has enjoyed good relations with Russia for almost 250 years. Many were recently given Russian
passports, apparently so they may once again experience the freedom of movement they had under the USSR (i.e. before Georgia’s independence annexed
them). Or was it in preparation for Georgia’s attack? Either way these passports helped many refugees reach the refuge they sought.
7. Russian troops never invaded Abkhazia, they are there under U.N resolution GA/10708
en.wikipedia.org...
They “merely” increased their numbers after Georgia attacked South Ossetia.
In My Opinion…
The Georgians have a nasty populace for them to want to occupy a culturally and ethnically distinct people against those peoples will. It’s hardly
like the West where the vast majority of people oppose these actions (even if their governments insist on them).
Everyone would be better of if Georgia left Ossetians decision down to self determination. It might actually prevent another 3 war.
I believe Georgia’s attack was…
1. Insanely foolish due to the Russian numbers they knew they would be against.
2. Treacherous because of the way they were talking peace an hour and a half before.
3. And barbaric since rockets in civilian areas don’t exactly constitute precision guided weapons.
But anyway…
Who’s been co-ordinating the propaganda of this armed conflict in “our” media?
[edit on 090705 by Liberal1984]