Russia Cancels Joint Exercises With U.S.

Los Angeles Times & AP ^ | September 5, 2006 | MIKE ECKEL

[GarySpFc]

Quite frankly I support Georgia's rights in this conflict.

[Sergei_DV]

In USSR Georgia was wealthiest of republics, their citizens had more freedoms, than in Russia. For example, they where allowed to have small private business, and up to 50 000 sq meters of land for farming, whereas in Russia - no more than 2000 per family, and no business, only working in state owned enterprises. After separation Georgian economy was subsidized through low oil and gas prices. Georgians always where poor warriors, while Ossetins where very good ones from ancient times, and surely defeated them quite easily during conflict, but Shewardnadze called Russian troops.
Tsarist's Russia have started Caucasian war 200 years ago to protect Georgians from Chechen.
Now Georgia is maybe poorest of former USSR republics. Its population diminished almost at half. Now in Moscow there is about 1 million of Georgians, while in Georgian population is 3 millions.

[Sergei_DV]

In 30th Georgians seized control over Communist Party and NKVD. Stalin, Beria, Kobulov, Merkulov, Decanozov, Ordjonikidze, and many others. In every regional Party Comittee was Georgian. Borders of Soviet Georgia where drawn by Stalin, and he included territories never belonged to it. After Stalin's death an Ukrainian Chrushtchev come to head of USSR. He closed GULAG and released prisoners. My grandma among them.

[Caipirabob]

OK, I did it for the British, now I've got to do it for the Russians.

To all our Russian friends, we're really, really sorry about Madonna, ok? We can't control her, so we're sorry. Don't you guys still have KGB around? Yeesh...

[Jezebelle]

Very interesting thread, thanks to many.