[R-G] A Ruso-Georgian Media War in South Ossetia

[Suzanne de Kuyper]

I suspect that the war in Georgia was, from the beginning, a diversion as US
set up to take the world's attention away fro the deterioration in the
America.  Georgia would still look at the US with twentieth century glasses,
unable or unwilling to acknowledge that a NATO is no longer relevant, but a
method with which to encircle Russia.   As was written in one article, the
State department staffer was heard commenting to a collegue "Hey we have
given them tons of armaments of all kinds, the best, lets see what they do
with them!"  State knew.

No news heads never parse the facts or real backgounds of 'events'. It
appalls me how sensitive the news media is to the suffering of the
Ossestians but not to the Palestinians or the Lebanese or the Iraqis ...it's
big news several planes of help have lifted off, how about Katrina, or,
Detroit?

I think the diversion thing is right on .. just watch  Condeleesa Rice ,
listen to her over the top speaches...and calculate how much space, time and
millions of dollars in coverage are taking the place of news from America.

Suzanne
Amsterdam


On 8/13/08, Sid Shniad <shniad at sfu.ca> wrote:
>
>
>   Deutsche Welle 09.08.2008
>   Opinion:
>   A Ruso-Georgian Media War in South Ossetia
>   Georgia's actions in South Ossetia have in fact turned into a
>   Ruso-Georgian war. The information war, however, has also reached a
>   new level of escalation, says DW's Ingo Mannteufel.
>   There's no doubt that Georgia's military intervention in South Ossetia
>   has lead to a war between Georgia and Russia. While the military
>   situation is still hard to grasp, Georgia and Russia -- the latter
>   being South Ossetia's traditional protecting power -- have also begun
>   a media and information war. It won't make it easier to reach a
>   political solution to the conflict. Most likely, the conflict will
>   even broaden the estrangement between Russia and the West.
>   Georgia -- victim or aggressor?
>   Georgian President Saakashvili is presenting his military actions
>   against the South Ossetian regime as righteous ones. From a legal
>   point of view, he's not wrong. The republic of South Ossetia, which is
>   not recognized internationally, formally belongs to the Georgian state
>   even if Tbilisi has lost factual control there for the past 15 years
>   and almost all residents have Russian passports.
>   Interestingly enough, Saakashvili uses the same words to describe the
>   military operation in South Ossetia that Russia used to justify its
>   intervention in Chechnya: "Restoring the constutional order" in
>   Georgia. As far as Saakashvili is concerned, Russia's involvement in
>   South Ossetia amounts to a declaration of war against Georgia and the
>   involvement in the internal affairs of a neighboring state -- not
>   without hope for western, especially American support against the
>   alleged Russian aggressor.
>   Humanitarian intervention or Russian imperialism?
>   In a similarly mixed-up way, Russia is trying to justify its policies.
>   In line with western arguments during the NATO mission against Serbia
>   to protect Kosovo, Russian officials are now presenting the military
>   intervention as a "humanitarian" one: Moscow needs to save "Russian
>   lives" and strengthen the so-called Russian peacekeepers.
>   This could help to justify air attacks against Georgian cities and
>   infrastructure -- just like NATO did in Serbia. In case of a
>   successful military mission in South Ossetia, a future independence
>   and subsequent Russian incorporation of South Ossetia could be
>   justified -- true to the western scenario in Kosovo. Keeping in mind
>   the highly patriotic mood in Russia, this development would also get
>   the support of large parts of the Russian society, which is still
>   traumatized by the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
>   Ruso-Western alientation
>   It's hard to predict the military outcome and any future political
>   developments right now. But one thing is certain: Both sides have
>   learned from each other, but haven't understood a thing. The
>   alienation between Russia and Georgia, between Russia and the West,
>   will increase because of the war in South Ossetia.
>   Ingo Mannteufel heads Deutsche Welle's Russian online and radio
>   programs (win).
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