ICAR News Network - Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution

ICAR News Network

Fierce Blame Game in Georgia
Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 12/08/08

[Published, Wall Street Journal, December 8, 2008] President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia is right, and so are the many Georgians, Ossetians, Russian and others calling for impartial investigation of the causes of the war over South Ossetia.

Ironically, the need for an internationally accepted accounting of the war is clearly illustrated by Mr. Saakashvili's replay of the blame game in "Georgia Acted in Self-Defense" (op-ed, Dec. 2). The struggle to characterize the war as either all about "Russia invades Georgia" or "Georgia attacks South Ossetia" needs to be abandoned in favor of a shared story of what happened. That story must include the voices of the victims who lived in or near South Ossetia at the time. The Georgians were victimized by Russians and South Ossetians, and the South Ossetians were victimized by Georgians.

None of these victims will let the blame game go while stories still circulate that deny their experience.

While impartial internationals try to detail a record of who did what and when to escalate the war, let's see who can make a statement that all the war's victims agree with. I challenge Mr. Saakashvili and President Dmitry Medvedev to make statements that acknowledge the other side's grievances. Let that win-win race begin!

Susan Allen Nan
Assistant Professor of Conflict Analysis and Resolution
George Mason University
Silver Spring, Md.

###

News Network Homepage / Armenia / 2008 Elections / Afghanistan / Diplomacy/ Egypt / Environment / Global Peace Index / Health / Immigration / Iraq / Iran / Islam / Kosovo / Nuclear Proliferation / Pakistan / Palestine-Israel / Russia / Somalia / South America / Turkey /




ICAR News Network Fierce Blame Game in Georgia Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 12/08/08 [Published, Wall Street Journal, December 8, 2008] President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia is right, and so are the many Georgians, Ossetians, Russian and others calling for impartial investigation of the causes of the war over South Ossetia. Ironically, the need for an internationally accepted accounting of the war is clearly illustrated by Mr. Saakashvili's replay of the blame game in "Georgia Acted in Self-Defense" (op-ed, Dec. 2). The struggle to characterize the war as either all about "Russia invades Georgia" or "Georgia attacks South Ossetia" needs to be abandoned in favor of a shared story of what happened. That story must include the voices of the victims who lived in or near South Ossetia at the time. The Georgians were victimized by Russians and South Ossetians, and the South Ossetians were victimized by Georgians. None of these victims will let the blame game go while stories still circulate that deny their experience. While impartial internationals try to detail a record of who did what and when to escalate the war, let's see who can make a statement that all the war's victims agree with. I challenge Mr. Saakashvili and President Dmitry Medvedev to make statements that acknowledge the other side's grievances. Let that win-win race begin! Susan Allen Nan Assistant Professor of Conflict Analysis and Resolution George Mason University Silver Spring, Md. ### News Network Homepage / Armenia / 2008 Elections / Afghanistan / Diplomacy/ Egypt / Environment / Global Peace Index / Health / Immigration / Iraq / Iran / Islam / Kosovo / Nuclear Proliferation / Pakistan / Palestine-Israel / Russia / Somalia / South America / Turkey /		About ICAR Student Information Prospective Students Faculty and Staff Alumni Career Services Academic Programs Library ICAR In The News Events Technology Resources ICAR Publications Point Of View Center Center for World Religions, Diplomacy & Conflict Resolution