"So?"
Posted on 08/22/2008 12:16:24 PM PDT by XR7
TBILISI, Georgia: Russian tanks and troops swept along main highways out of Georgia on Friday, abandoning the main military camp and checkpoints outside Gori. On Friday night Russia declared its withdrawal complete and said it was in full compliance with a cease-fire agreement, but the United States and France immediately voiced strong objections, saying Russia had not gone far enough.
"Russia is not in compliance and Russia needs to come into compliance now," Gordon Johndroe, the White House spokesman, told reporters in after President George W. Bush spoke by telephone form his ranch in Crawford, Texas, with and the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, who helped negotiate the agreement.
Russian units said they had orders only to fall back as far as South Ossetia and some platoons were still dug in near roads outside Gori, while Russian troops bearing new peacekeeping badges dominated the main east-west highway, a key trading artery. A senior Russian official said Russian military checkpoints ringing South Ossetia would be permanent.
While Russia seemed to show good faith in pulling back from Georgian territory as it defines it and quitting the main cities it had occupied, the latest movements mean Georgia and the West will likely face a long-term Russian presence that includes the two disputed enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and control of the country's main roads.
Russia may still use its hold on the main transport and trading routes to keep a headlock on the whole country, possibly applying economic and military pressure toward its strategic aims in the region and an ultimate goal of unseating Georgia's president, Mikheil Saakashvili...
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
"So?"
Gallic ping (sort of).
In related news, the sky is blue.
Russians being Russians.
Rice, the Russian expert, seems surprised by the Russians.
Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk!!!! Isn’t it obvious that these diplomatic requests and pleas aren’t working?
You’re kidding.
"Compliance."
Sheesh.
“Mommy, he’s not playing nice!”
Make us leave....I dare you...Goorj Boosh....
The Rooskies are smart enough to know we AIN’T GONNA DO SQUAT.
While Russia seemed to show good faith in pulling back from Georgian territory as it defines it”
And therein lies the rub. Pull back slightly but maintain control over disputed areas and primary roadways to economically choke Georgia. Putin didn’t come all this way just for S. Ossetia and Abkhazia although they are nice strongholds for future deployments.
Have Obama send an email! That should have the Ruskies shaking in their boots!
Simple solution. Have everyone take a bombing run on Russian positions - US - followed by the French - followed by the British - followed by the Germans - followed by the Poles - Italians - followed by the Spanish - etc. - etc.....
Ping.
Thanks! Have a great weekend.
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