So Russia and Georgia just went to war

[Middle-aged Europe]

I've just read that the Georgians are planning to withdraw 2000 of their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and bring them back home in the next few days.

[Middle-aged Europe]

The South Ossetian war seems to be competing with the Olympic Games in German news coverage. Yesterday's evening news on ARD showed a five-second-teaser of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, then five minutes on the situation in Georgia and then five minutes on the Olympic Games. The Saturday morning news on n-tv decided to report on the Olympic Games first and then on the Georgia concflict.



SPIEGEL ONLINE is a bit different though.

First article (the moment I'm writing this): War in Georgia.

Second article: McCain's and Obama's reaction to the situation in Georgia.

Third article: Andrea Ypsilanti is still planning to get elected minister-president of Hesse with the votes of the Left Party.

Fourth article: A German citizen who had protested on the Tiananmen Square was arrested by Chinese authorities.

Fifth article: A report on how the average Chinese is following the Olympic Games.

[Middle-aged Europe]

CNN lead off this morning with the story of an American athletes family memeber being murdered in China.  Then went on to the Edwards comedy.  After that it was the war in Georgia.

The murder in China was actually the first thing mentioned on n-tv in their news break about an hour ago. It seems n-tv generally places a higher priority on the Olympic Games than on Georgia.

It's also the third story on SPIEGEL ONLINE right now... the first two articles are still dealing with Georgia though.

The Internet is placing a greater emphasis on Georgia than the television and the public TV channels are apparently placing a greater emphasis on this story than the private TV channels. I guess this somewhat mirrors the news situation in the United States. But in general, Georgia plays a bit of a greater role here... and we have more public TV stations.

[Middle-aged Europe]

But in general, Georgia plays a bit of a greater role here... and we have more public TV stations.

It is a lot closer geographically and historically.  The number of Americans who can ID Georgia on a map are in the single digits I'm sure. 

(it is confusing down there post Soviet break up.  Georgia, Armenia and  Azerbaijan all sandwhiched together and what not.)

And I was able to take a look at BILD's (somewhat minimalistic) headline. In capitalized, bold letters which cover half of the front page:

WAR!


You could just as well think that Russia had invaded Germany yesterday. One thing is sure: It's hard to not notice the whole thing.

[Middle-aged Europe]

The Georgia news story has merged with the Olympic Games news story: Georgia wants to withdraw its team from the Olympics.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Well, I guess Georgia has just "surrendered"... they've declared an unilateral cease-fire.

[Middle-aged Europe]

I find the situation so mind-boggling. The Russians are lying so blatantly and their objective of destroying Georgia is so obvious, and yet the "international community" has stayed basically silent.

Well, smaller powers don't want to piss off Russia because they have one hell of a big army (and huge natural ressources). Major powers don't want to piss off Russia because they've got nukes. One could try to argue that Georgia has helped out the United States militarily in Iraq, so it's now the United States' turn to help out Georgia militarily in South Ossetia. But nobody wants to see this thing going nuclear.

As long as you've got nukes and a million soldiers you are free to do whatever you like... at least in your "sphere of influence". Nothing seems to have changed in that respect. Russia has proven that now. So, in the end Western politicians are limited to publicly expressing their "concern" over the situation.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Why does Georgia want to keep these areas so badly anyway? Is having your country look bigger on a map that important?

Don't know. Where is this important pipeline to be located everyone is talking about? Anywhere near S.O.?