Georgia will lose South Ossetia, Russian president declares

The Guardian ^

[Freelance Warrior]

One through the tunneel the Soviets built for that very purpose through the mountains that exits the mountains less than a hundred miles from Tiblisi and allows the Russian to poise a dagger over Gerogia;s heart.

Why don't you think that the reason was pure economic - to connect this part of the USSR with the others?

and then we need to see Gerogia a part opf NATO with NATO or US bases in Gerogia to augment their defenses and provide a major military trip-wire to any Russian intent...and OBTW, by providing., with both of those two measures, the capability to take out the tunnel and use missiles and aircraft to contest Russian landings on the caose should hostilities re-initiate.

What if Mr. Saakashvili attacks S.Ossetia again? He did it already he will do it again and effectively drag the USA into the war with Russia 'cause Russia will respond and the proper Georgia's territory will be shelled.

But, if the US guarantee it will restrain Saakashvili, I wouldn't mind.

[bert]

....The only thing that holds Russia back is our strength.....

Actually they have a severely dwindling population that is palgued with alcoholism and a general lack of give a damn.

[Antoninus]

After Russia already flooded the provinces with Russians and anti-Georgian militias this is not a surprise. At this point it maybe best for Georgia to let Russia take over these provinces. The US nor Europe will fight Russia over a couple border provinces and Georgia risk losing it all by trying to hang on.

The trouble is, South Ossetia is a salient into Georgia and, unless I am mistaken, the only major pass through the Caucasus Mountains runs through there. To hand the Russians control of that salient means that a repeat performance of this past week's attrocities could happen at any time the Russians choose. Georgia would become an undefendable rump state--just like Czechoslovakia became once the Sudetenland was stripped away.

The parallels here to 1938 are positively eerie. Caveat Occidenta.

[Antoninus]

What if Mr. Saakashvili attacks S.Ossetia again?

More pro-barbarian agit-prop. The only thing surprising about your post is that you admit you're a Russian, unlike all the others.

Do you honestly believe that your government hadn't planned this barbaric attack on Georgia months in advance? Do you think it's coincidence that the attack began on the first day of the Olympics?

I have often wondered why NATO has remained in existence now that the Soviet Union is no more. Russia's Hun-like activity over the past week has made me understand that NATO is needed now more than ever.

Viva Ukraine! Viva Georgia! Viva Estonia! Viva Latvia! Viva Lithuania!

[isrul]

No disagreement with that.

[Red Badger]

*2 pm in Lafayette square across from the White House

There's always something going on there. Sometimes it's hard to tell which group is which.......

[Freelance Warrior]

Do you honestly believe that your government hadn't planned this barbaric attack on Georgia months in advance? Do you think it's coincidence that the attack began on the first day of the Olympics?

OK, do you believe that shelling of Tskhinval by Georgia never took place? that's the key point to start with.

[Dead Dog]

Why don't you think that the reason was pure economic - to connect this part of the USSR with the others?

Because it was stratigically prudent. Nothing wrong with that.

In your opinion, why did Georgia attack S. Ossetia?

[gipper81]

OK, do you believe that shelling of Tskhinval by Georgia never took place? that's the key point to start with.

Your "key point" will never be the key point. Your key point is the Russian-disinformation-distraction point. Capeesh Commie?

[Antoninus]

OK, do you believe that shelling of Tskhinval by Georgia never took place? that's the key point to start with.

You wish it was. That's Pravda's "key point to start with." You're telling me that Russia felt so provoked by this shelling that they made a spontaneous decision to plunge into Georgia proper and begin a campaign of rape and murder on a grand scale?

I guess Putin is counting on the rest of the world being too stupid to see what's really going on here.

[Freelance Warrior]

In the 80es and up to 1992 there was a civil war. Quite usual nationalist story - a small nation wanted to secede, a large wanted to keep them in.

This is an decades long issue.

[Freelance Warrior]

Ok, I’m concluding you have no rational arguments. Done with you.

[Freelance Warrior]

Because it was stratigically prudent. Nothing wrong with that

Georgia wasn't a colony it was a part of the country. Commercial lorries need roads more than tanks.

[Lurker]

South Ossetia is as much a part of Georgia as South Carolina is a part of the United States.

L

[Freelance Warrior]

South Ossetia is as much a part of Georgia as South Carolina is a part of the United States.

South Carolina once tried to leave the USA. Did you mention this state because of this?

[EagleUSA]

I’m afraid Europe will cower to Russia because they will have a strangle hold on the oil and natural gas.
::::::::
And our mindless, dangerous socialists in Washington don’t want us to improve our energy independence....yes, we could become just like Europe — which is really what the radical socialist left wants.

[Jeff Head]

The tunnel was for military purposes primarily. It is also clear that economic interests are also served.

But a look at the geography and this history tells you what the primary interests were, and this conflict punctuates that. Russia will not give up that interest as todays cease-fire signing shows.

Just like the US Interstate Highway system. It's primary initial purpose was for military purposes. In a military emergency, we would find them used for that purpose as well.

As to the Georgian attack, there are equal reports that the sepratists began shelling a Gerogian village which prompted the Georgian move. I would not doubt for an instant that the Russians instigated and egged that on. Georgia responded to aggravation, and then Russia responded to that...which I believe was their plan all along. Those troops and tanks in the numbers they came through the tunnel were not gathered and in place there in a few hours.

Neither were the invasion forces on the coast put together in a day and a half. The Russians planned and executed this from the get go with a plan that was made weeks, probably months in advance.

For this reason, in order to deter future adventurism and aggression there by the Russians, the Beorgian military must be modernized and built up...and ugmented by NATO or US forces in country for the forseeable future. I doubt the Russians or the UN will work in our favor as regards those two provinces. If we do that, we can have the neccesary capability in Gerogia to take out the tunnel in the future, and oppose landings from the sea. The Russians will know this and some sense of equilibrium will be restored and the rest of Georgia will be free.

Both Clinton (especially) and then Bush later acted wholly unwisely in the action that severed Kosovo from Serbia and then later recognized it. I expect that to happen here as well now because the precedent was already set.

Sad...wrong...but probbaly the reality and we will have to bolster Goergia now to prepare for it.

[autumnraine]

Yup, that is right.

[dfwgator]

Next they will lose Kamchatka.

[Lurker]

South Carolina once tried to leave the USA. Did you mention this state because of this?

Why yes, as a matter of fact.

How well did that work out for South Carolina? What was the response of the American President at the time?

L