Many people seem to be getting sucked in by the hypocrisy of the British and US governments' crocodile tears over Georgia. This is a war provoked by the expansion of NATO and supported by the US. We must call for all troops to leave South Ossetia but calling for Western (ie NATO) intervention would be supporting the US encouraged aggression which started the current conflict.

Georgia is a key ally in the War on terror seeking further integration into NATO and the US strategic alliance. Three major oil pipelines have been routed through this "pro western" country to allow the US and its allies military control over oil supplies from the caucus. Georgia was almost certainly given the green light from the US to use its military to attack South Osstia (a semi autonomus region with a largely ""Russian" population). Georgia was clearly given confidence by the US' bullish stance against Iran and has publically stated it expected military support for its troops advancing into the "neutral" zone.

Without NATO intervention Russian imperialism took the opportunity to show Georgia (and primarily the US) that it still has the ability to stop US interests encroaching in its area of influence. Although we should stand with neither the US or Russia we have to be clear that the cause of this conflict was the US and UK lead alliance seaking to broaden its influence militarily. Georgia is the 3rd largest army in the coalition in Iraq and a key part of the US stratergy in the caucus. It was the US army who shipped Georgian troops home to fight the war.

NUS should say,

• All Troops out of South Ossetia
• No to NATO expansion

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