Really, what's more legitimate? The war in Georgia or the war in Iraq?

[ck4829]

I am a critic of Putin's Russia, but it is sad when someone has to point this out.

Justification (Iraq War): Get the weapons of mass destruction. No, because of ties to 9/11. No, because of Al Qaeda ties. No, because we want to free the Iraqi people. No, because there will be a bloodbath if we leave. No, because we have to stop Iranian influence.
Justification (War in Georgia): To stop "genocide" of South Ossetians according to Russia.

Dead (Iraq War): 655,000+ Iraqi civilians, 4000+ American soldiers.
Dead (War in Georgia): A fraction of the dead in Iraq.

Length (Iraq War): Since 2003, no sign of peace in the near future.
Length (War in Georgia): A ceasefire already in the works.

[babylonsister]

1. The fact that we have American soldiers dying in Iraq makes

it more significant imo. You'd never know that from the talking heads though.

[TooBigaTent]

3. So, only American lives count? The point the OP is making is that the war against Iraq

has absolutely NO legitimacy while it is possible to justify (to some extent) the Russian action in Georgia.

[babylonsister]

4. Don't put words in my mouth.

I didn't discount any lives in either occupation and think it's tragic that so many people are dying, in both countries.

I think neither is 'legitimate', but since we started the mess in Iraq, I think we should be concerned about getting out of there ASAP.

[KharmaTrain]

2. War Is Unjustifiable

One would hope that beings of communication and reason in an age where we're interconnected like never before the concept of a "just war" is no longer valid.

That said, you can't compare on war to another...there are many variables at work here that generate the passions that drive people to take up arms. In Georgia, you're dealing with several centuries of Russian incursions and dominance over the Georgians that is different than the games we're playing in Iraq. Other than oil, we have nothing of any strategic interest. In Georgia, there are Russian nationals and a common border that is only further complicated by the discovery of oil in the region, pipelines and American meddling.

Maybe consider it from this perspective...how would we react if Americans inside Mexico (Baja) were suddenly attacked by the Mexican army...would we stand by?

Putin is no saint...Russia has always embraced authoritarian figures...but he's more a nationalist than internationalist...trying to re-assert Russian dominance over an area they consider their own backyard.

[DailyGrind51]

5. Faking evidence as a pretext to invade a sovreign nation is wrong,

be it Iraq or Georgia.

[JVS]

6. Georgia provoked Russia.