Russia refuses to withdraw from Georgia

Nato has accused Russia of failing to honor the terms of their cease-fire agreement. Russian troops are still entrenched deep in the heart of Georgia despite promises from Moscow to withdraw. Russia, however, said the accusations were ‘biased’ and said that Georgia also had not fulfilled its part in the cease-fire agreement. He also said that some troops stayed to protect South Ossetia’s territory. The fighting has destroyed many parts of Georgia and Ossetia and each side is accusing the other of “Ethnic cleansing”.

The Bush administration says it wants suspension of all spectrums of programs between NATO and Russia but this is unlikely to happen as Britian and many former soviet countries are not likely to respond with that aggression as Russia remains an important trade partner in that region. An exchange of prisoners had occured and Georgia no longer holds any Russian prisoners while Russia still holds some 65 Georgian prisoners.

Russia is worsening its relations with the EU in this move and the United States has called for postponement of an EU-Russia summit. NATO will most likely wait before further action but remains “very concerned” about Russian aggression.

I highly doubt that Russia will withdraw within the next week. The former Soviet Union has been getting increasingly more aggressive through the last few years as economics in the country has gotten better. I get a sense that they are trying to rebuild their status as a major world power. I expect to see many more of these small conflicts and possibly larger ones build up in the future between Russia and the pro-western former soviet states. It probably won’t escalate into war but it is a cause for concern as casualties, especially along the border are almost a sure thing.

Its a shame this had to happen during the Olympics, which are meant as a symbol of world unity. Athletes can’t compete calmly when their homes are being blown up.