Posted on 08/09/2008 11:10:06 PM PDT by neverdem
GORI, Georgia — The conflict between Russia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia moved toward full-scale war on Saturday, as Russia sent warships to land ground troops in the disputed territory of Abkhazia and broadened its bombing campaign across Georgia.
The fighting that had sharply escalated when Georgian forces tried to retake the capital of South Ossetia, a pro-Russian region that won de facto autonomy from Georgia in the early 1990s, appeared to be developing into the worst clashes between Russia and a foreign military since the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
Shortly before dawn on Sunday, Georgia’s Interior Ministry said that Russian bombers had begun striking military facilities adjacent to the civilian airport at Tbilisi. The explosions could be heard in the city, said Shota Utiashvili, a ministry official.
He said that Russia had built up large forces in Abkhazia and South Ossetia — breakaway regions that have support from Moscow — including as many as 300 artillery pieces in South Ossetia alone. Russian forces, he said, were also poised just over the border at Larsi, a checkpoint, where they could open a third line of ground attack.
As Russia moved more forces into the region and continued aerial bombing, it appeared determined to occupy both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Georgia’s president, Mikheil Saakashvili, said Russia’s ambitions were even more extensive. He declared that Georgia was in a state of war, and said in an interview that Russia was planning to seize ports and an oil pipeline and to overthrow his government.
Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin of Russia left the Olympics in China...
--snip--
Georgian officials said that Russian warplanes had attacked the major Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, operated by British Petroleum, that carries oil to the West from Asia, but that the pipeline had not been struck...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Wake up...there is nothing to be trusted about this conflict from the internet or the Russian/US Media.
It’s just a big disinformation cesspool!
watch what the major powers do.
WildcatClan,
Well come on, we both know that the activist fringe left isn’t going to do this. We need to do this ourselves. Where’s Protest Warrior at? I’m serious. We need to start making some noise. The people supporting this madness don’t seem to have a problem doing so.
Write to your congressmen (for what its worth). Write letters to the editor for your local and state newspapers. Get the word out. Get into the streets. If people are asleep to this problem, it’s time to wake them up.
Georgia better get armed to the teeth soon. They’re going to need Javelin missiles and every man-portable weapon system that we make. Crazy Ivan & Friends don’t like to play nice.
Are you suggesting the USA get involved or a NATO nation - who is the “we” you write about?
Bingo! Good to see someone thinking clearly out there.
This highlights AGAIN why we should be using all available domestic sources of oil and gas, OCS and ANWR, and building nuclear power plants as quickly as possible. The DemoSocialists, Pelosi, Obama, Kennedy, Reid, et cetera, ad nauseum, are out of touch with reality. There are probably more than 250 million gasoline or diesel powered vehicles in the U.S., so we are going to need more oil for years to come. I also like Boone Pickens’ ideas - see www.pickensplan.com
All of the equipment is Soviet vintage. Russia’s military spending goes to sustain what they have and not to add more, because they cannot afford to.
Production rates for the T-90S in Russian service is only about 20 per year. Back in the day, it would have been closer to 1000.
In 20 to 30 years, almost all of it will obsolescent (if it isn’t already) or too worn down to be of any use. The Russian military machine is living on borrowed time.
Yeah...I think the Europeans are collectively soiling themselves. Worse, if we don’t do something (and that something is limited militarily by the fact we’re up to our necks dealing with the ME right now, has to be done, but we are busy), then I don’t think our new Eastern European allies are going to think much of our word with regards to Russia. Putin is a sharp cookie..evil, but sharp.
I think the Georgians will soon surrender because besides the obvious issue of many Georgians still prefer to be allied with Russia for economic stability reasons, they need the access to the technological expertise of Russian petroleum companies like Gazprom and Lukoil (both of which have gotten access to modern Western petroleum production technology since the early 1990’s) to modernize the Baku petroleum field.
I would agree but in this age of US$115/barrel oil, the Russians now have the money to start up their military factories again to modernize their increasingly-obsolete military.
I tried to watch RT, but it looks like a Soviet CNN...
LOL! Do you work for the NYT??
The word that you need here is surrender...
>But, no ... gotta have a war over South Osettia ...
Clears the logistical chain to Iran.
Why isn’t Obama flying out there to talk with the leaders?
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Georgia says its troops are observing cease-fire in South Ossetia.
Now we know how Russia felt in 1999. We need to drop recognition of KosovO.
The Russians value of human life was never established in the first place. Some seeds existed for that thought proces in the last several hundreds years but never gained root in the soil. That the Internet exists with camera phones is a good thing. At least nations cannot permantely hide behind propoganda. In other words, a nations true intentions are revealed far more quickly.
The Obama amateur hour response to this was to respond to McCain’s blaming this on Russia, by noting that a McCain foreign policy expert has investments in Georgia.
If we let Obama win this campaign, not only will we lost the War on Terror, but Russia will have half of Eastern Europe back in its sphere of influence in a new Warsaw Pact.
The empty suit of Obama is being colored by the empty suit and pony tail of David Axelrod.
That’s the point, there is a ton of energy resources in this area. They want the energy and the BP Pipeline. They are kicking Exxon out of Russia as well. Once Russia has consolidated enough energy they shall attack Europe. The USA would be wise to go energy independent now to support the military buildup we need and have an economic recovery.
I think if any of the trade off exists tne it’s more like this:
Putin: You got Iraq, I get former Soviets sattelites with oil.
Exactly. KGB is as KGB does.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.