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Title: Russia Sends Troops Into Rebel Enclave in Georgia [it begins]
Source:
New York Times
URL Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/09/w ... en=d4c414f9c450e60e&ei=5087%0A
Published: Aug 8, 2008
Author: Nikolai Khalip and Ellen Barry
Post Date: 2008-08-08 11:27:02 by a vast rightwing conspirator
Keywords: None
Views: 325
Comments: 26
Russia Sends Troops Into Rebel Enclave in Georgia A TV image of what Russian Channel 1 says is a convoy of Russian tanks moving towards Tskhinvali on Friday. MOSCOW — Russia sent troops rolling into a breakaway region of Georgia on Friday, after Georgian troops entered the capital of the pro-Russian enclave, in a sharp escalation of the conflict. As Georgian forces declared they had won control of the enclave’s capital, Tskhinvali, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin declared that “war has started” and President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia accused Russia of a "well-planned invasion," according to Bloomberg. One unconfirmed report said Georgian forces had shot down two Russian planes in the breakaway region, South Ossetia, and Georgia said that its aircraft had bombed a convoy of Russian tanks that moved into the area. Russia’s Channel 1 television showed Russian tanks entering South Ossetia. It reported that two battalions reinforced by tanks and armored personnel carriers were approaching Tskhinvali. It was unclear how the United States might react to a Russian attack on Georgia, a strong American ally, whose shift toward the West and pursuit of NATO membership has deeply angered Russia. South Ossetia is a pro-Russian enclave of Georgia that has enjoyed de facto autonomy since 2004. Since then an uneasy truce has reigned, although fighting between South Ossetia and Georgian forces has erupted sporadically. The tensions increased sharply in 2004, when Mr. Saakashvili came to power. Mr. Saakashvili made national unification a centerpiece of his agenda. Earlier this year, Russia announced that it was broadly expanding support for the separatist region and would establish legal connections with the region’s de facto government. The latest round of fighting between the Georgian military and separatist forces began last weekend. South Ossetia accused Georgians of firing mortars into the enclave after six Georgian policemen were killed in the border area by a roadside bomb. As tensions grew, South Ossetia began sending women and children out of the enclave. The refugee crisis appeared to intensify Friday as relief groups said thousands of refugees, mostly women and children, were now streaming across the border into the North Caucasus city of Vladikavkaz in Russia in an attempt to escape the fierce fighting. The United States, European Union and NATO called on Russia and Georgia to end the hostilities. The White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino, told reporters that the Bush administration had been talking to both sides to resolve the crisis. "We urge restraint on all sides -- that violence would be curtailed and that direct dialogue could ensue in order to help resolve their differences," she said. But President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia promised to “punish” those responsible for what he called “a deep violation of international law” by Georgia that he said had led to the deaths of Russian citizens and Russian peacekeepers stationed in Tskhinvali. “I am obligated to defend the lives and dignity of Russian citizens, wherever they are located,” he said in an address carried on Russian state television. “We will not allow the unpunished killing of our fellow citizens. Those who are guilty will suffer the punishment they deserve.” The fighting presented the most dangerous crisis in years in the Caucasus region, a key conduit for the flow of oil from the Caspian sea to world markets and an area where violent conflict has flared along the Russia’s outskirts for centuries, most recently in Chechnya. By midday Friday, Georgian army units were trying to seize Tskhinvali using heavy machine guns and mortars in firefights with separatist paramilitary fighters, Shota Utiashvili, an official at the Interior Ministry of Georgia, said in an interview. “Now, the army will have to take the capital,” he said, citing “massive fire” aimed at Georgian troops by fighters inside the city. The head of a Russian peacekeeping force in the city, Marat M. Kulakhmetov, said in a telephone interview that the city had come under “massive attack” by the Georgians and that civilians had been wounded. As he spoke, shooting could be heard in the background. Mr. Utiashvili, the Georgian official, said Georgians had seen Russian forces, including “hundreds of soldiers and dozens of armored vehicles, including tanks,” move up the military highway into the Caucasus Mountains that ties the separatist enclave to Russia. By morning, they had passed through a mountain tunnel into the northern portion of the enclave, he said. “They are on Georgian territory now.” 
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#1. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#0)
Fobama and Zbig will take care of those Russkies! ;-)
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
I think the chances of Obama being elected are not significantly better than yours are. McThuselah's foreign policy will focus on The United States of Israel's foes, not on Zbig's "grand chessboard."
“I would give no thought of what the world might say of me, if I could only transmit to posterity the reputation of an honest man.” - Sam Houston
I think the Russian govpeople are very angry. The Sovunion is no more, they got their noses bloodied in Afghanistan, NATO is training at their borders, they can't seem to keep little Chechen quiet, they've been made to look like fools in Kosovo after their glorious march into Pristina... Sooner or later, they are going to try to show the world that they still matter. Georgia is one such opportunity. One wonders if they're going to try to 'liberate' the entire country like Bush did Iraq and the Nato's did to Kosovo. I bet one of Putin's wet dreams is to see the Georgian prez extracted from some spiders hole. I'm wondering what Bush is going to do, when confronted with an adversary that is both capable and willing to shoot back. I mean, other than wet his diapers.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
Can Fobama count on your vote?
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
I nearly always vote Libertarian. I'm in a solidly Red State, so it wouldn't help Obama even if I were so inclined.
“I would give no thought of what the world might say of me, if I could only transmit to posterity the reputation of an honest man.” - Sam Houston
Would you like to think your vote for Fobama could make a difference? ;-)
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
If it were a close race, I MIGHT vote AGAINST McThuselah by siding with the Democrat. I consider Obama the lesser among just those two evils, but they ARE both evil (it's just that, in my view, McStrangelove is FAR MORE evil unless one is a crazed fundy who actually DESIRES to test God about all the Rapture nonsense he's read in the "Left Behind" books should there be a global thermonuclear exchange), so I'm voting for Barr.
“I would give no thought of what the world might say of me, if I could only transmit to posterity the reputation of an honest man.” - Sam Houston
LOL, thx ;-)
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
Sooner or later, they are going to try to show the world that they still matter. Georgia is one such opportunity. One wonders if they're going to try to 'liberate' the entire country like Bush did Iraq and the Nato's did to Kosovo. I bet one of Putin's wet dreams is to see the Georgian prez extracted from some spiders hole. I'm wondering what Bush is going to do, when confronted with an adversary that is both capable and willing to shoot back. I mean, other than wet his diapers. Very nice commentary and funny, too. My off-hand guess about what Junior will do in response to the Ruskies is - he might slosh down a couple of Midol to settle his cramps and then continue his global tour of Asia and Africa, sprinkling a few bon mots of encouragement to Georgia re: freedom and democracy along the way to the various state dinners he and Laura have arranged.
Israeli/AmeriKan/NATO military 'advisors' are backing Georgian forces, which ambushed and murdered Russian military; which started this war.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
The BATFE and FBI are watching the events with extreme curiosity.
Since McCain is supposed to be the 'foreign policy expert' between him, Obama and Paris Hilton, he felt like he had to say something right away. McCain's handlers released the following on his behalf, or maybe even made him read it: "The news reports indicate that the Russian military forces crossed an internationally recognized border into the sovereign territory of Georgia. Russia should immediately and unconditionally cease its military operations and withdraw all forces from sovereign Georgian territory. What is most critical now is to avoid further confrontation between Russian and Georgian military forces. The consequences of Euro-Atlantic stability and security are grave. The government of Georgia has called for a cease fire and for resumption of direct talks on South Ossetia with international mediators. The U.S. should immediately convene an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to call on Russia to reverse course. The U.S. should immediately work with the E.U. and the OSCE to put diplomatic pressure on Russia to reverse this perilous course that it has chosen. We should immediately call a meeting of the North Atlantic Council to assess Georgia's security and review measures NATO can take to contribute to stabilizing this very dangerous situation. Finally, the international community needs to establish a truly independent and neutral peacekeeping force in South Ossetia." McCain's plea is so pathetic... Does anyone remember how NATO behaved in Kosovo. Like... crossing an internationally-recognized border into the sovereign territory of Serbia, bombing the crap out of the Serbs, cutting that province off Serbia because... there was a majority of non-Serbians living there? Well... there seems to be a majority of non-Georgians in S. Ossetia. McCain, you better take your pills and try to learn from the past. Today's assignment: study the Golden Rule.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
Israeli/AmeriKan/NATO back Georgian forces ambushed and murdered Russian peacekeeping troops, starting this war. Zbig's old plan appears to be underway. ;-)
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
Putin and Bush in Communist China when they start the next WW?
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
Cue Pipeline by Dick Dale. check out Debka's rather honest analysis about this.
check out Debka's rather honest analysis about this. WOW
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
?
DEBKAfile’s geopolitical experts note that on the surface level, the Russians are backing the separatists of S. Ossetia and neighboring Abkhazia as payback for the strengthening of American influence in tiny Georgia and its 4.5 million inhabitants. However, more immediately, the conflict has been sparked by the race for control over the pipelines carrying oil and gas out of the Caspian region. The Russians may just bear with the pro-US Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili’s ambition to bring his country into NATO. But they draw a heavy line against his plans and those of Western oil companies, including Israeli firms, to route the oil routes from Azerbaijan and the gas lines from Turkmenistan, which transit Georgia, through Turkey instead of hooking them up to Russian pipelines. Saakashvili need only back away from this plan for Moscow to ditch the two provinces’ revolt against Tbilisi. As long as he sticks to his guns, South Ossetia and Abkhazia will wage separatist wars. DEBKAfile discloses Israel’s interest in the conflict from its exclusive military sources: Jerusalem owns a strong interest in Caspian oil and gas pipelines reach the Turkish terminal port of Ceyhan, rather than the Russian network. Intense negotiations are afoot between Israel Turkey, Georgia, Turkmenistan and Azarbaijan for pipelines to reach Turkey and thence to Israel’s oil terminal at Ashkelon and on to its Red Sea port of Eilat. From there, supertankers can carry the gas and oil to the Far East through the Indian Ocean. Aware of Moscow’s sensitivity on the oil question, Israel offered Russia a stake in the project but was rejected. Last year, the Georgian president commissioned from private Israeli security firms several hundred military advisers, estimated at up to 1,000, to train the Georgian armed forces in commando, air, sea, armored and artillery combat tactics. They also offer instruction on military intelligence and security for the central regime. Tbilisi also purchased weapons, intelligence and electronic warfare systems from Israel. These advisers were undoubtedly deeply involved in the Georgian army’s preparations to conquer the South Ossetian capital Friday. In recent weeks, Moscow has repeatedly demanded that Jerusalem halt its military assistance to Georgia, finally threatening a crisis in bilateral relations. Israel responded by saying that the only assistance rendered Tbilisi was “defensive.” This has not gone down well in the Kremlin. Therefore, as the military crisis intensifies in South Ossetia, Moscow may be expected to punish Israel for its intervention.
Israel/AmeriKa/NATO went and started a war with Russia! WOW ;-)
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
Teenagers in America freak out texting their buds in Athens and Atlanta... "you seeing Russians yet?"
LOL
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
Pentagon closely monitoring Georgia situation
Questions answered on Russia, Georgia conflict
This all gives me the willies. This is 8/8/8 and a war is starting. Bushie has been pulling the bears tail and now Russia is at war with Georgia, which has American and Israeli military advisors crawling all over it. As I stated in a comment on another thread, maybe someones are diverting Russia in time to start something in Iran. I smell Illuminati rats all over this.
My main concern is for the innocent people on both sides caught up in this.
#2. To: Rotara (#1)
#3. To: All (#0)
#4. To: Sam Houston (#2)
I think the chances of Obama being elected are not significantly better than yours are.
#5. To: Rotara (#4)
#6. To: Sam Houston (#5)
I'm in a solidly Red State, so it wouldn't help Obama even if I were so inclined.
#7. To: Rotara (#6)
#8. To: Sam Houston (#7)
#9. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#3)
I think the Russian govpeople are very angry. The Sovunion is no more, they got their noses bloodied in Afghanistan, NATO is training at their borders, they can't seem to keep little Chechen quiet, they've been made to look like fools in Kosovo after their glorious march into Pristina...
#10. To: scrapper2 (#9)
(Edited)
#11. To: a vast rightwing conspirator, Jethro Tull, TwentyTwelve, Rotara (#0)
“The best and first guarantor of our neutrality and our independent existence is the defensive will of the people…and the proverbial marksmanship of the Swiss shooter. Each soldier a good marksman! Each shot a hit!” Schweizerische Schutzenseitunt (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#12. To: scrapper2 (#9)
#13. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#12)
#14. To: All (#13)
#15. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#0)
#16. To: swarthyguy (#15)
Cue Pipeline by Dick Dale.
#17. To: Rotara (#16)
#18. To: (#0)
#19. To: swarthyguy (#18)
Georgian tanks and infantry, aided by Israeli military advisers, captured the capital of breakaway South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, early Friday, Aug. 8, bringing the Georgian-Russian conflict over the province to a military climax.
#20. To: Rotara (#19)
(Edited)
#21. To: swarthyguy (#20)
#22. To: Rotara (#19)
#23. To: Rotara (#19)
#24. To: Rotara (#19)
#25. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#0)
#26. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#0)
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