ICAR News Network - Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution

ICAR News Network

US Should Send Aid to Both South Ossetia and Georgia
Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 10/09/08

[Published, Christian Science Monitor, October 9, 2008] R egarding the Oct. 8 Opinion piece, "I survived the Georgian war. Here's what I saw": South Ossetian voices have been far too absent from international discussion of a war dubbed the "Russian-Georgian" war in US media.

Lira Tskhovrebova's reflections on the war she lived through illustrate the folly of the US reaction to that war. She is right to ask how the US can justify "sending another billion dollars to Georgia and nothing for those Georgians attacked."

Regardless of the political status the US attributes to South Ossetia, US aid should go as much to South Ossetian-controlled and Abkhaz-controlled areas as to Georgian-controlled areas. Moreover, part of that aid should be earmarked for peace building, conflict resolution, and trauma healing. Otherwise, US expectations of an escalating cold war can be nothing but a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The combination of Russian aid directed through Tskhinvali and Sukhumi and US aid directed through Tbilisi would make this region the epicenter of increasing US-Russian tensions.

Ms. Tskhovrebova reminds us the region is first and foremost people's home.

Susan Allen Nan
Assistant professor, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution
George Mason University
Arlington, Va.

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 US Should Send Aid to Both South Ossetia and Georgia Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 10/09/08 [Published, Christian Science Monitor, October 9, 2008] R egarding the Oct. 8 Opinion piece, "I survived the Georgian war. Here's what I saw": South Ossetian voices have been far too absent from international discussion of a war dubbed the "Russian-Georgian" war in US media. Lira Tskhovrebova's reflections on the war she lived through illustrate the folly of the US reaction to that war. She is right to ask how the US can justify "sending another billion dollars to Georgia and nothing for those Georgians attacked." Regardless of the political status the US attributes to South Ossetia, US aid should go as much to South Ossetian-controlled and Abkhaz-controlled areas as to Georgian-controlled areas. Moreover, part of that aid should be earmarked for peace building, conflict resolution, and trauma healing. Otherwise, US expectations of an escalating cold war can be nothing but a self-fulfilling prophecy. The combination of Russian aid directed through Tskhinvali and Sukhumi and US aid directed through Tbilisi would make this region the epicenter of increasing US-Russian tensions. Ms. Tskhovrebova reminds us the region is first and foremost people's home. Susan Allen Nan Assistant professor, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution George Mason University Arlington, Va. 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