'Independent' South Ossetia Dreams Big

Republic thumbs its nose at the mother country

(NEWSER) - Georgia has decided to give Russian the boot and change its second official language to English, NPR reports. The post-communist nation, which has spoken Russian since it was annexed by the Russian Empire in the 1800s, hasn't exactly seen relations with its former mother country improve since the 2008 conflict between the two. As an Al Jazeera video report (at left) on the change found, many Georgians see and appreciate the move as part of the country's gradual process of Westernization. More»

Propaganda is the better part of valor

(NEWSER) - More than a year after they stopped shooting at each other, Russia and Georgia are still fighting—on movie screens. Each side is backing high-profile films sympathetic to their take on the war. Russia’s first effort, a documentary entitled Act of Betrayal, fell flat because its claims that Georgia was committing genocide in South Ossetia were too over-the-top even for supporters. But March’s romantic action flick Olympus Inferno fared better, and a third is in the works. More»

But Russia broke international law, militia committed genocide

(NEWSER) - Georgia was responsible for triggering last summer’s war with Russia, a European Union investigation has concluded. But Russia was far from blameless, laying the foundation for the war and breaking international law by invading. The report, which was reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, also accuses Russian-backed South Ossetian militias of ethnic cleansing against Georgian civilians, both during the war and afterward. More»

Venezuela recognizes breakaway republics ahead of arms deal talks

(NEWSER) - Hugo Chávez arrived in Moscow today, where the Venezuelan president is reportedly ready for an arms "shopping spree." Chávez is ready to buy at least 100 tanks for $500 million, reports the Times of London, and a Kremlin aide said Venezuela may get loans for helicopters, submarines, and other military hardware. Chávez began his charm offensive today by recognizing as sovereign states South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two pro-Russian republics at the heart of last year's war with Georgia. More»

Iran, Afghanistan won't spend summer snoozing

(NEWSER) - August is a snooze—except when it isn't, writes Anne Applebaum for the Washington Post, who points out that World War I and Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait began in the eighth month. For the benefit of "the interns who are manning the shop while everyone is out of town," she runs down the crises that could bubble over:

• Iran—Show trials of protesters are already under way, and the leadership could very well "test the West" by arresting some top-level opposition leaders.