Russia seizes Georgia base, opens second front

AP ^ | Aug 11, 2008 | MISHA DZHINDZHIKHASHVILI

[Jeff Head]

TBILISI, Georgia — Russia opened a second front of fighting in Georgia on Monday, sending armored vehicles beyond two breakaway provinces and seizing a military base and police stations in the country's west, the Georgian government and a Russian official said.

GEORGIAN FORCES

RUSSIAN FORCES

[isrul]

I don't really care what Georgia did. I do care about the quality of US intelligence. It didn't see Russia massing tanks?

[Tallguy]

Thanks Jeff. I coincidentally found another map. The pipline runs through a town south of Tiblisi, which in turn is south of Gori.

[Canedawg]

Agree with post #20.

[Michael Barnes]

Dude, Nukes? Are you insane?

[Jeff Head]

I am calm. The Russians are in the process of invading and conquering, by force of arms, one of our staunch allies. And an ally that sits strategically astraddle a critical oil line for the Europeans and ourselves.

The allies of Russia that have left them did so by their own choice after the breakup. Georgia certainly is not wanting to be mauled by the Bear.

We need to act in whatever prudent and measured way we can to blunt this land and oil grab. There will certainly be a long term repsone to this...but we do have a window of opportunity before Tiblisi actually falles, to make some progress in the short term.

But that is just my opinion...others clearly feel differently.

Clearly though, how we react to this test, will have consequences in how we are perceived and who trusts us and how much they trust us for a long time to come.

[jhpigott]

this is where the rubber meets the road - it was one thing to let them secure S. Otessia, but a completely different matter to retake Georgia . . .

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I already knew that.. I was just saying in a sarcastic way the irony of the MSM . Liberals of all there BS talk about anti-war, no blood for oil.
It's all anti-American BS .... the Liberals could careless about the people of Georgia.

[elhombrelibre]

Scale, scope, and logistics of this Russian invasion show that this was not some self-defense measure; it was a pre-calculated attempt to force Russia's will on Georgia. Russia has returned to its Soviet/Tsarist roots as an Imperial power. It's sales of uranium to Iran, its sales of weapons including air defense to Iran, its sales of weapons to Syria, its sales of weapons to Venezuela, and its blocking of effective sanctions against Iran all show that it intends to play the role of the supporter of barbarism in the world. Russia is turning inward towards its dark past. Its journalist are murdered and its neighbors are threatened and actually attacked. Putin is an evil man.

[Jeff Head]

Exactly.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

US can not go head to head with Russia without starting WWIII

How about if they assault the Ukraine?
The Baltic States?
Poland?
Germany?
France?
Great Britain?
The United States?

At what point in this progression should we confront them?

[autumnraine]

If he hadn’t made a speech in Georgia and spefically expressed support of them...

[eastforker]

this test, will have consequences in how we are perceived ............................................................................................You got that right Jeff, something in the way of a response has to be made, a message has to be sent.

[DoughtyOne]

IMO, this is payback as much as anything else. Poopin has been itching for some way to bring an ‘in your face’ moment to the United States for a number of perceived insults we have given him. Bombing Serbia, recognizing Kosovo, supporting NATO on his doorstep, missile defense in Poland, military training in Georgia, Poopin was desperate to teach us a lesson.

I do agree with there being ulterior motives. There are certainly bonuses included.

IMO, we would do well to think long and hard about getting involved in Georgia. IMO, we’re not just talking about Georgia here. Poopin is signaling that he will take over any territory he likes if we don’t give in on every subject in the future.

Should we allow that to stand? Do we want to write off every state that left the Soviet fold? Do we want to write off Poland and other nations as well?

I don’t think this is going to be an easy thing to just ignore. Russia needs a bloody nose, before it thinks it can rule the playground.

I don’t like the idea of it, but this could get very ugly if we don’t put our foot down.

This is the reason why we should never have adopted the one theater level of military preparedness.

[Jeff Head]

Spot on...on all counts IMHO. Now, we have to respond toi it...and sweet talk, or low key dimplomacy will not in the least deter Putin.

[Technogeeb]

While we are indeed friends with Georgia, it is ridiculous though to think we should get involved in a direct war with Russia over this

< march1939> While we are indeed friends with Czechoslovakia, it is ridiculous though to think we should get involved in a direct war with Germany over this.< /march1939>

[DoughtyOne]

Strategically, I think you’re addressing the hard truth of this. Poopin is rolling out a new policy, and he either gets his hand cut off here, or he extends this treatment to other states as well. Seems to me this is when you make your stand.

We either make this ass-hat pay, or he’s going to do this again and again.

[Jeff Head]

You are exactly spot on and hitting well within the ring with all of those statments. I agree completely.

[eastforker]

The Baltic States?
Poland?
Germany?
France?
Great Britain?
The United States?
........................................These are all part of NATO, much different scenario, Georgia is not unfortunatley and Russia wants to make sure they never will be.

[DonaldC]

“This is the reason why we should never have adopted the one theater level of military preparedness.”

True that!