Russian Soldiers Take Prisoners In Georgia Port

Yahoo News ^ | 19 Aug 2008 | DMITRY LOVETSKY and CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA

[edpc]

RUISI, Georgia - Russian soldiers took 20 Georgian troops prisoner at a key port in western Georgia on Tuesday, blindfolding them and holding them at gunpoint, and commandeered American Humvees awaiting shipment back to the United States.

The move came as a small column of Russian tanks and armored vehicles left the strategic Georgian city of Gori in the first sign of a Russian pullback of troops from Georgia after a cease-fire intended to end fighting that reignited Cold War tensions. The two countries on Tuesday also exchanged prisoners captured during their brief war.

[14erClimb]

and commandeered American Humvees awaiting shipment back to the United States.

Not too bright, are they?

[edpc]

ping

[wideawake]

The Russian army stole US Army property.

[TLI]

Doesn’t look like they are going anywhere, much less back north.

[redstateconfidential]

But polls suggest most Russians approve of their government’s actions.

A survey by the respected Levada Analytical Center showed 71 percent of respondents supported Russian-backed South Ossetia in the conflict, with 21 percent neutral and only 2 percent support for Georgia

[edpc]

The deputy head of Russia's general staff, Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said Russian forces plan to remain in Poti until a local administration is formed, but did not give further details. He also justified previous seizures of Georgian soldiers as necessary to crack down on soldiers who were "out of any kind of control ... acting without command."

Very conveniently open-ended.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

I can’t figure out why American Humvees would be sitting in a Georgia Port to be shipped “back” to the U.S. If they were coming from Iraq, they would have had to be shipped across Turkey and Georgia to get there and that doesn’t make much sense, because there are many shorter routes.

[wideawake]

I can’t figure out why American Humvees would be sitting in a Georgia Port to be shipped “back” to the U.S.

They were probably lent to the Georgians for humanitarian purposes in the context of this Russian invasion.

[edpc]

There were American forces in Georgia assisting with training up until a few weeks ago, just before everything happened.

[SJackson]

Needless to say Russia is keeping Poti, along with Gori.

[Truth29]

"and commandeered American Humvees awaiting shipment back to the United States."

"Not too bright, are they?"

Actually, I think the jury is still out on that question. If the US doesn't do anything concrete and the Russians stay or leave with the spoils of war at a leisurely pace, then they have gotten away with it.

[jagusafr]

Because we’ve had ongoing exercises with the Georgian military for the last 2 years, and we had over 1000 boots on the ground in Tbilisi when the war started.

Colonel, USAFR

[Bringbackthedraft]

and commandeered American Humvees awaiting shipment back to the United States. ........................... Because they’re cool, fun to drive and more comfortable than a BMP? sarc.

[Thunder90]

We want our stuff back, Ivan.

[SJackson]

We still have about 140 training personell on the ground, said to be out of danger.

[Semper911]

I'd like to know how many humvees they took. If it is two, that is one thing, but if it is like thirty, that is something else all together.

Americans should familiarize themselves with the story of Sergei Tretyakov. He has a lot to say about US/Russia relations. For example:

"I want to warn Americans. As a people, you are very naive about Russia and its intentions. You believe because the Soviet Union no longer exists, Russia now is your friend. It isn't, and I can show you how the SVR is trying to destroy the U.S. even today and even more than the KGB did during the Cold War."

Read more here: http://cicentre.com/Documents/sergei_tretyakov.html

There is also a link there to listen to an interview with him (podcast). Chilling.

[Jeff Head]

RUISI, Georgia - Russian soldiers took 20 Georgian troops prisoner at a key port in western Georgia on Tuesday and commandeered American Humvees awaiting shipment back to the United States after taking part in earlier U.S.-Georgian military exercises.

This is pretty blatant stuff and Bush needs to continue to pour not only supplies, but personnel and equipment into Tiblisis and fanning out from there.

F-22 CAP over Tiblisi out of Turkey, with AWACS support on the Turkey side of the border.

F-15Es and F-216s ready fro ground pounbd if need be.

All of this could be accomplished out of Turkey.

That type of thing is all the Russian Bear will understand and respect. Just word, just speeches, will only be scoffed at and ignored.

GEORGIAN CONFLICT 2008

[Old Retired Army Guy]

I was aware of that and I would expect some of those to return eventually, but shipping old Humvees back to U.S. from that Black Sea port doesn’t add up. Not important though. Wonder what they are going to do with those captured policemen?

[TLI]

It strikes me as what the Russians are doing is not what they are saying. If you listen to what they are saying you would expect them to take the entire country. So far they are and have been pretty much holding a north south line from just ease of SO, south to a east west line from Mtskheta to Gori then straight west to the coast which puts them right there in Poti.

There is another major oil port south of Poti which is Batumi. The Russians must be absolutely drooling to get down there but Batumi is only 10 miles from the Turkish border. They seem to be keeping a goodly distance from Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

Gotta be a reason.