Rogue Keeper on 26/8/2008 at 14:02
Ramzan Kadyrov loves you.
Starrfall on 26/8/2008 at 14:11
I think this is when the U.S. starts being glad that its territories are fairly happy!
Why shouldn't South Ossetia be its own country?
Rogue Keeper on 26/8/2008 at 14:29
They're poor like hell for that. Autonomous territory at best.
Starrfall on 26/8/2008 at 14:47
Is their end goal to become a country? It seems like if they're poor and will only become autonomous now, then worries of Russia eventually just taking over later are more justified. But if that is the fear then surely the best course for the west would be to also recognize S. Ossetia's independence - from Georgia and from Russia.
Thirith on 26/8/2008 at 14:49
I appreciate your question, Starrfall, but in return, why shouldn't Chechnya be its own country? Not a rhetorical question, by the way - I'm honestly interested in your answer.
bikerdude on 26/8/2008 at 14:54
Quote Posted by Starrfall
I think this is when the U.S. starts being glad that its territories are fairly happy!
Why shouldn't South Ossetia be its own country?
thy are far too small, its not economically viable..
biker
Muzman on 26/8/2008 at 15:05
I was just thinking that actually. It's pretty much an automatic reaction, for me at least; everyone who wants to be their own country should be allowed to be, of course. But why is that? Sure, a couple of hundred years of assorted Imperial buggerizing has caused no end of problems and conflicts. Is the opposite always such a good idea though? As mentioned it can just create tiny unviable states who have to become tax havens or opium growers to support themselves and whose borders are constantly in dispute with their bitter, bloody minded neighbours. Or does sovreignty and (the appearnace of ) self determination trump everything?
Ultimately it just reminds me that'd it'd be nice to get rid of nations and states altogether. But that's a ways off yet, something tells me.
I dunno what's right for South Ossetia, it's just an interesting topic for armchair academic (as in airy-fairy) discussion.
Rogue Keeper on 26/8/2008 at 15:14
Quote Posted by Thirith
why shouldn't Chechnya be its own country?
Considerable part of former independence warriors including Kadyrov's fighters have given up on the idea and have defected to the Moscow side. I don't know actual strength of current resistance but it seems the idea of independent Chechnya has weakened there last couple of years as most of the resistance has been pretty much flatlined. You know that many rebels intended to make it a fundamentalist Islamic state. And neither Moscow nor the West need SUCH independent Chechnya.
TTK12G3 on 26/8/2008 at 15:36
Quote Posted by Starrfall
Why shouldn't South Ossetia be its own country?
Not economically viable for anyone. There was an agreement prior to the Revolution of Roses that Abkhazia and South Ossetia be merged with the Russian Federation. This agreement is now in tatters, obviously.
Quote Posted by Thirith
why shouldn't Chechnya be its own country?
Not too good of an idea. There was an attempt to allow the country to run as an autonomous republic. The place turned into an unruly mess. The war that followed wasn't much better, but some order had to be restored.
