The Global Public Square

[Noblesse Oblige]

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome to the Final Fantasy Forum's Global Public Square, my name is Kevin McIntosh, you may know me by many names, including Schwarze Leader, Galm 2, and currently, Espada.

I have started this thread to talk about affairs going on around the world. In fact, the reason it is called the Global Public Square is to deal with the main theme of international issues and events as well as foriegn affairs, so I've come up with this idea inspired by a similar show on CNN. There will be a new topic to talk about each week and the thing is that people want to hear your opinions on such issues.

Anyway, now that I have explained myself, let me begin with the first topic:



A little over 3 months ago, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the former-President of Kyrgyzstan was ousted from power admist protest from his opposition. Since then, there has been tensions going on in the Southern part of the country, involving ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. This boiled over to rioting in that part of the country.

It has now been exactly one month since the riots killed roughly 500 people, injured 1,900 and forced a quarter of million out of the country, fleeing to neighboring Uzbekistan.



There has been many in the region, mainly from Uzbekistan, see it as Russia and it's ally Kazakhstan, trying to consolidate its power in Central Asia. This has been evident, since Russia is competing with both China and the United States for influence over Central Asia, which has large stores of oil. There has also been accusations, one that the riots were being sponsored by former President Bakiyev through his son, Maxim and the other, being supported by the local Communist Party. Uzbekistan is improving its ties with the West, and some analysts believe that Uzbekistan is heading towards a confrontation with Russia.

My question is this, Do you think that Kyrgyzstan is heading down a path towards Civil War? Do you think Uzbekistan is heading down the same path as Georgia is heading 2 years ago? Will Russia try to see itself as the dominant power in Central Asia?

 

[Saints&Storms]

My question is this, Do you think that Kyrgyzstan is heading down a path towards Civil War? Do you think Uzbekistan is heading down the same path as Georgia is heading 2 years ago? Will Russia try to see itself as the dominant power in Central Asia?

Yes I do believe that Kyrgyzstan is heading down a path of Civil War, especially with the possibility of jihadist groups causing God knows what trouble, and then with the interim government set up. Yes, I think it is very likely that it is headed down the same path as Georgia, and yes Russia I think has strong ideas of becoming dominant in Central Asia but if there going against the U.S. for this also; they may find it difficult.

 

[Noblesse Oblige]

well, there hasen't been the issues of jihadists in Kyrgyzstan, at least when compared to neighboring Uzbekistan (though it is believed that said terrorist group, The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is operating in that country, due to the Uzbeks living there.)

 

[Noblesse Oblige]

The Venezuelan-Colombian dispute

Hello and welcome to the Global Public Square, my name is Espada. This week, I would like to discuss the current situation in South America, particularly the Republic of Colombia.

Earlier this past week. Venezuela recalled it's ambassador to Colombia, citing allegations that Colombian rebels were hiding out in Venezuela, near its border.



Two years ago, a similar allegation was made against Colombia's other neighbor, the Republic of Ecuador. This led to Colombia launching an attack along the Colombian-Ecuadorian border, which led to 20 rebels killed and a diplomatic crisis with both Ecuador and Venezuela.

Both Colombia and Venezuela have becme major antagonists since the turn of the new millenium. This is due to the former's friendly ties with the United States, as well as due to the differences in ideology between the Right-wing neoliberal President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia and the Left-wing Nationalist President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

But with the election of Juan Manuel Santos into the Colombian Presidency (he is set to become inaugurated on August 7th), will this change the policies that President Uribe has against Veneuela, or will their be more of the same?