BTW: On the same subject you’ll probably love the pic posted on this entry from TOL’s Steady State:

Who shot down the drone?
http://blogs.tol.org/conflicts/2008/04/25/who-shot-down-the-drone/

While I disagree with you on the “unrecognized territories considered internationally as legally part of other states” wording, I can agree with thoughts you expressed in your comment. IMHO Saakashvili’s policy towards Abkhazia and South Ossetia have bring situation to a deadlock, that can be solved only with military solution. Both parties do not see any perspective in peace reconciliation, and of course that drone flights do not work for peaceful process.

But, considering the conflict in Abkhazia, I can agree with you that even an unarmed drone (although apparently it has the capability to be armed) is a military operation and it could be supposed that it would be targeted by local defense forces.

However, it is alleged that it was a Russian aircraft and not an Abkhaz one that shot it down which makes the situation slightly different. In addition, Russian offensive military capability seems to be increased rather than for peacekeeping purposes.

That and the fact that Abkhazia was a mainly ethnic Georgian-inhabited region unlike Karabakh so the comparison is not actually an appropriate one. There are other differences too.

Nevertheless, as TOL Georgia and others point out, the timing of this escalation in tension is rather fortunate for Saakashvili with parliamentary elections scheduled for this month.

Personally speaking I think Georgia should consider federalism as a solution to its ethnic woes, or at the very least allow people to make their own choice rather than threaten military action whenever it suits Tbilisi.

On the other hand, I am also against Russia attempting to destabilize Georgia. Probably, I’m neutral on this recent example until the game is played a little more. However, it does have the potential to escalate.

Well, in the Caucasus, I suppose everything does and I fear that in the next few years one or more of them will erupt into renewed fighting.

Just because I post a link with an excerpt doesn’t mean that I support that position or agree with it. Indeed, I’ve had my own issues with some of what Goble has written on his blog in the following post after none of my comments correcting his errors were allowed through:

Armenian Kurds Prevent Nagorno Karabakh Conflict Resolution?
http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/12/16/paul-goble-yezidis-kurds-karabakh/

Anyway, just as I’ve posted links to entries critical of Georgia’s position (especially those from TOL Georgia and Steady State), I have to post a plurality of opinions. The same is true for Armenian pro-government or pro-Levon stuff (and anti-both, for that matter)

Besides, as the comments section of Goble’s blog are closed (or actually, nothing is approved), you can use this one to argue for or against his position. The important thing is lots of opinion and debate which you both have just added to.

Another issue is that drone flights over Abkhazia ARE simply provocative. Just imagine the drone shot down in Karabakh, and its impact on current situation. Please do not forget, that flights of spying planes can be considered as casus belli and of course IS military operation.

So, I do not think that it is Russia or Abkhazia that are provoking war.