Part of the Wikileaks' trove of diplomatic cables included those relating to the Russia-Georgian war which took place August 2008 in South Ossetia. Some have taken it as vindication of the Georgian position that they did not start the conflict. Example: "... The ambassador’s supposed account of the events (published in English) contradicts the view espoused by many in the international community that Georgia sparked the fighting by attacking South Ossetia in a bid to reclaim the secessionist region. The documents instead suggest that South Ossetian separatist fighters initiated the fighting..." (here)
Others, however, interpreted the facts differently, and noted that most "facts" reported by the U.S. ambassador relied entirely on Georgian government sources... Example: "... The New York Times, which has received the State Department documents so far released by WikiLeaks, commented on Wednesday that these reports by the US embassy in Tbilisi were not based on any field intelligence but rather solely relied on information from sources within the Georgian government. The cable contained no evidence that the Ossetian attacks after the cease-fire had actually occurred and played down the only independent account, which came from military observers in Tskhinvali from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,” the Times reported..." (here)
The foolishness of choosing arbitrary points of origin for the conflict, and wanting to have distinct 'guilty' and 'innocent' parties is manifest - clearly the "war" resulted from a long series of actions and reactions over a period of years, with multiple provocations and plenty of bad faith on both sides...
WikiLeaks reopens debate over Russia-Georgia war
Georgia: Can WikiLeaks Cables Change the Russia-Georgia War Narrative?
WikiLeaks exposes US cover-up of Georgian attack on South Ossetia
Others, however, interpreted the facts differently, and noted that most "facts" reported by the U.S. ambassador relied entirely on Georgian government sources... Example: "... The New York Times, which has received the State Department documents so far released by WikiLeaks, commented on Wednesday that these reports by the US embassy in Tbilisi were not based on any field intelligence but rather solely relied on information from sources within the Georgian government. The cable contained no evidence that the Ossetian attacks after the cease-fire had actually occurred and played down the only independent account, which came from military observers in Tskhinvali from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,” the Times reported..." (here)
The foolishness of choosing arbitrary points of origin for the conflict, and wanting to have distinct 'guilty' and 'innocent' parties is manifest - clearly the "war" resulted from a long series of actions and reactions over a period of years, with multiple provocations and plenty of bad faith on both sides...
WikiLeaks reopens debate over Russia-Georgia war
Georgia: Can WikiLeaks Cables Change the Russia-Georgia War Narrative?
WikiLeaks exposes US cover-up of Georgian attack on South Ossetia
Meanwhile Georgia's hopes of joining NATO remains alive... Certainly what they are hearing from the U.S. ambassador shouldn't pour water on their hopes. However, whether and when the U.S. and NATO are prepared to cross that Russian "red line" remains to be seen...
NATO Envoy Gives Some Details of Georgia Reform Targets
U.S. Throws Georgia Under the Bus for Uzbekistan and the NDN?
U.S. Ambassador on Georgia's NATO Path
Some previous blog entries on Georgia:
A little war II - Apr 22nd, 2010
A little war I - Mar 17th, 2010
An inconvenient truth - Nov 26th, 2008
Georgia update... - Nov 22nd, 2008
Georgia - Sep 7th, 2008
Immediate Response?!? - Aug 25th, 2008
Georgia (updated) - Aug 15th, 2008
Two-edged sword (South Ossetia) - Aug 11th, 2008
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