Question for July 19, 2011

A's invasion on the territory B held by C was used as a precedent for X's similar invasion on territory Y, also held by C, almost 15 years later. There were some similarities to both invasions, with both A and X claiming that the territories were historically connected to them, and C claiming that the military action was an assault on their soverignity. Both invasions earned condemnations from other parts of the world, and resolutions were tabled at the United Nations Security Council demanding withdrawal of troops from B and Y respectively.

The differences were in the nature of support obtained for the actions from other countries. The Soviet Union vetoed the UNSC resolution against A, effectively offering support for A's action. The United States was one of the nations that tabled the resolution against A; however, it did not speak out against X as it considered the nation as the most important ally in the region. Where the two invasions differed dramatically was in the aftermath. While B was successfully integrated as part of A, Y was mired in a long and protracted bloody war with X, which eventually ended with Y gaining independence from X more than 25 years later.

Identify (A, B); (X, Y); and C.

Hint: C is a former colonial power. Y obtained independence from X in the 2000s.