To the comment of Matt Cotton, Lake Parsippany, NJ, USA:
then stay out of Iraq business! Why didn't you stay out of Kosovo business!!!

Lia Abedginova, Tshinvally, S. Ossetia

What Sakasvilli did in starting this with an all out attack on a population center is no different than what Milosovic did in Bosnia and Kosovo. The difference is that the west waited and argued for years while the population was 'cleansed' before they did what Putin did within hours to stop it

Paul, Denver, USA

If a bunch of criminals in Ossetia want to break away from Georgia, let them go to Russia! But don't criticize Georgia for using force to protect it's own land, within it's own borders. Russia has NO business being in South Ossetia, it doesn't belong to them!! Russia, stay out of Georgian business!

Matt Cotton, Lake Parsippany, NJ, USA

Two lessons. Violence is the enemy of human beings. It is furthered by illogical identities, such as Jew, Russian, Muslim, American, Georgian, Serbian . . . After Hezbollah seized two of its soldiers, Israel ravaged Lebanon. The U.S. openly supported Israel, and condemns Russia today. Oh reason!

yehudi webster, LOS ANGELES, USA

Weeks before bombs started falling on Georgia a security researcher in Massachusetts was watching an attack against the country in cyberspace from Russia. Internet experts in the United States said the attacks against Georgia’s Internet infrastructure began as early as July 20
New York Times

Ed, Lexington, U.S.

Dear Iryna, Brick, USA, You are talking about the communists atheist murderers that committed those atrocities decades ago. Russia is and has been a strong christian nation for the last almost 20 years. Your wrong and may God forgive you. Its time to deal with the troublemakers of the West.

Jimmy, New York, USA

the events in Georgia namely Russian occupation of Georgia is fault of some european coutries member of NATO who didnt support Georgias bid for MAP. Thus giving green light to Russian aggresion to Georgia. I think governments of Germany and France should be responsible for this as well.

Marco Baldini, Pisa, Italy

To Ian Ray Betron, Makati City, Philippines

Thousands more died before Russia meddled. If it would not have meddled, there would be - tens of thousands more died

Stas, Obninsk,

It's hard to talk about war if you didn't experience one. I am a Kosovar and I experienced on my skin how is like when a stronger neighbor attacks your country, when only thing you can rely on is praying. Russia is using Georgia case to show her teeths. It's the time for the west to show the feasts!

Bekim Mikullovci, Mitrovica, Kosovo

The United States went into Civil War when the south tried to get out of the union. Thousands died. That is war. Georgia went into war trying to prevent a province from getting out of Georgia. Thousands died. That is war. Russia meddled in Georgia's affair. Thousands more died.

Ian Ray Betron, Makati City, Philippines

It's never enough for Russian occupants. Ekaterine the Second, great Russian empress, said I LOVE GEORGIA WITHOUT GEORGIA. And she was originally from Germany!!! If Russians could wash her brain, imagine how they wash brains of their own citizens and trying to do it with the whole world.GO GEORGIA!

Lela, Washington DC, USA

Georgian or Russian mama for me is the same I'mcrying for both people.Governments and politics they will never let people live in peace.Georgian president wanted to be the national hero even though the allies advise him no to attack Ossetia.Now we have atrosities from both sides.I'm crying for both.

George, Beijing, China

none of the foreignher know the real picture what is going on in georgia since 1991. Russians are bigger agressors than any of you can imagine. georgians are not aggressors by nature while russians are occupants, remember avganistan, china, if you support russia today your country will be next.

maggo, Tbilisi, Georgia

The blaming should stop and people should work for a solution. This is a conflict that is older than the men fighting it, they should have learned from history.

erwin, manila, philippines

take a look at american history every deal they did with the native indians they broke and killed them when they complained, this is just the same game promises they will never keep they just want bases in your country within europe,when you ask them to leave watch what happens history repeats.....

gary, dundee, scotland

saakashvili is a lunatic and dont tell us that georgians aren't aggressors..isn't that how he was elected? by promising people that he would regain south ossetia and abhazia? only problem was that he didn't get military help from america like he was expecting..and thank God for that.

Andrew, Athens, Greece

to start judging georgia, first review it and its people history for last 20 years, the russian agressin to this country and number of refugees and killed people during this years. gergians are not aggressors by nature that can't be told about russia. you support it? then you may be next its victime

merry, New york, USA

It appears that throught th epress we only see what they want us to see. Weeks before all fo theis took place there was support of the Russian "Peacekeepers" giving aid to the breakaways in created killings of the Georgians in the area. It is all about the power grab of protected sea routes and oil

Tom, Arizona , USA

obviously everyone is worried about the conflict between RUSSIA and Georgia, because that's how world wars get started. But it is unacceptable that our western "democratic/objective" media refuses and fails to report that GEORGIA laid siege to Tzhinvali and massacred civilians and started the war.

Oly Roma, San Francisco, USA

Georgia started a war against poor civilians at night .The democratic west should condemn Georgia but I see that EU and US support the agressor in the name of democracy and side with its ally. What kind of civil society accept that without punishment.

Paul, DIX HILLS, USA

I realize that Georgia is an ally of the US. Saying that, I still believe that Georgia deserves a chance to work this issue out on its own terms. Russia is not lacking land or people so whats the point in all of this?

Lee, Griffin, USA

Mindblowing.
The article above describes *Georgian* atrocities.

The comments?

Are about the Russians...

Are you people completely insane?

Josef Balzer, Askeaton/Co. Limerick, Ireland

Granted that Russia used excessive force, but don't forget that it was Georgia's attack on South Ossetia that actually started the crisis this round. We could always argue on the immediate cause and root cause, but the onus of this tragedy lies square on the shoulders of Georgian president.

rajan, nagercoil, india

I just don't get it. Russia is terribly wrong. But why NOONE is saying that Georgia was wrong too when they killed 2000 civilians? It's plain simple - BOTH sides did it very wrong and BOTH should be criticized.

Eugene, Ottawa, Canada

Russia backed up their "peace keepers" in South Osetia. The US rushed to withdraw their "advisers" in Georgia... You draw the conclusions.

Adam, New York, USA

To David and Andy - what are your thoughts on the US using even flimsier pretences for invading Iraq and "saving" their people. Maybe you should call an Iraqi and ask for their gratitude.

Kevin, Adelaide,

For all it's cuddling of Georgia, where is the West now, when Georgia is bleeding?
Georgia should have known the West is not going come to her rescue and should stayed a lot closer with the well being of it's neigbbour, Russia.
One wonders, who would gain the most by bleeding the East & Russia?

Gerrie Lijam, Jupiter, Galaxy

Look at Chechnya. In 1990s Moscow used overly destructive tactics against Chechen guerrilas. In retaliation, Muslim-Chechens conducted terrorist attacks in Russia. Chechnya retained its independence. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

Boris, Grozny, Chechnya

Its a big mistake for georgians to kill civilian ossetians. Same as serbs killed albanians in kosovo. But no west reaction for this georgian actions at this time.

pasha, Kiev, Ukraine

Thank God that for the good work of Sarkozy! I am confident that the facts will come out as to if any military leaders went to far in their efforts to protect and rule their people. What happened in Russia half a century ago will not happen again. The world will not stand for it.

Todd, Chicago, USA

It is time to deal with Russia.Who knows the history ,would know how many people(Georgians,Ukrainians,Lithuanians,Polish and many more) they killed over the years of Soviet Union.How many people were taking into the woods,killed and berried in a massive graves.I have no sympathy for that nation.

Iryna, Brick, USA

To know how this conflict started, go back years, when Russia forced hundreds of thousands of Georgians from S. Ossetia. Then factor in the mortar attacks by seperatist and you'll understand why Georgia is sick and tired of being pushed by Russia.

By the way, S. Ossetia belongs to Georgia.

David, Tacoma, USA

German were saying same thing as now Russians when they were attacking Poland in 1939 and starting WWII. So were the Russians when they assaulted 17 days later Poland. Both coutries were "protecting its citizens", protecting so well that they killed 6mln of Polish. Whose next?

Andy, Knoxville, USA

This russian tactic is known since germany march into other countrys 60 years ago. Its the same tactic, save the "locals". Don't belive that.....

Stephan, Wetzikon, Switzerland

Why the USA has no voice?
Only because, the USA under Bush-Cheney and the neocons have never listen the voice of the Globe while invading Iraq and allowing Israel to continue her killings, bombing and destruction in Lebanon for more than 3 weeks.

john afraidi, ONTARIO, USA

bombing civilian targets seems to be the theme of the day.
so much for ethics.

kevin, niagara falls, Canada