SOUTH OSSETIA NEWS ROUNDUP.
The situation in South Ossetia remains uncertain, and it's generating a lot of discussion.
- The BBC has footage (from a Russian source) of Russian tanks presumably on their way into South Ossetia, as well as footage of Georgian jets attacking "separatist" positions.
- Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has been all over CNN, explaining (in excellent English) that the conflict is part of a war between freedom and tyranny.
- Jamestown Foundation fellow Vladimir Sucor has a strongly pro-Georgia account of the conflict, suggesting that the fight in South Ossetia was provoked by Russian-supported separatists. Certainly, the Russian response to the Georgian invasion has been very quick; on the other hand, the Georgians were bombarding the capitol of the region only yesterday.
- Nathan Hodge has two posts on the degree of military support that the United States has given Georgia in the past several years.
- Josh Keating argues that the conflict has essentially killed Georgia's chances to enter NATO, and notes that the the situation in Abkhazia (the other breakaway territory of Georgia) may soon also become unstable.
- Wu Wei is blogging directly from Tblisi about the conflict.
- Barack Obama and John McCain have both issued statements calling for a ceasefire, with McCain's being more strongly condemnatory of the Russians. Matt Duss points out that one reason for this might be that Randy Scheuenemann, McCain's main foreign policy advisor, used to be a registered lobbyist for the Republic of Georgia.
It's fair to say that the situation will continue to develop throughout the weekend.
--Robert Farley
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COMMENTS (3)
John Edwards Admits Affair!
From ABC News:
Posted by: Anonymous | August 8, 2008 3:12 PM
Saakashvili is a criminal beyond belief. His forces staged a full-fledged genocide of South Ossetian people. They were killing women and children by running them over with their tanks! A number of women were killed by holding their heads and shooting at their necks before the head separated. These sadists also killed a number of journalists covering the situation. They didn't stage warfare (warfare has rules) - they staged atrocities and ethnic cleansing. Only cowards can do this, they are not men. I am not sure if targeting civilians was part of US-based training of Georgian forces just a few weeks ago but all the evidence suggests that US has intimate interests in destabilizing situation around the strong countries of the world that were its historical opponents. This way all the world's resources can be appropriated or shipped in the "right" direction. US also wishes to engulf post-Soviet Republics into NATO. That way it could have its forces surrounding Russia. The building of anti-missile shield in Eastern Europe is not against Iran as they claim - it's clearly against Russia. Even after all the evidence of ethnic cleansing is clearly presented to the US, they still call it Russian "occupation". They think people are stupid and can be easily brain-washed. In fact the news is twisted every possible way to conceal the atrocities. For example, they mention "the number of people killed" but not even once have they mentioned that the Georgians killed 2000 people. Every psychological trick is used to give a twisted view of reality. In my 10 years in North America I have yet to read one positive piece of news about Russia!
For the US, Georgia is a bit similar to Iraq when it comes to its search for oil supplies. The only difference it is also trying to be its "friend" so that NATO forces can be placed there at the Russian border. It is trying to kill these two birds with one rock, which comes at Russia's expense.
Also, make no mistake about Saakashvili. He is friends with Borish Berezovsky who once needless to say, illegally, controlled 10% of Russians money in early 90's (Read Paul Khlebnikov's book "The Godfather of Kremlin"; it's no surprise the author is no longer with us). Berezovsky is also interested in destabilizing Russia as he is convicted to life in prison there for his criminal activities. In fact he himself stated that, one cannot get that rich in Russia without having to commit something illegal. Some of the personal financial transactions involved in Berezovsky's and Saakashvili's business endeavors were done with Chechen separatists. So both of them have places to hide, where nobody in this world would dare to find them. Berezovsky has proved to be a powerful mastermind when it comes to impacting countries' leaders and gaining control in difficult situations. He might have a small hand to play in this situation considering how close the two are.
It should come as no surprise that the situation in South Ossetia was so much needed by parties external to Russia. Russia was left with no option but to protect its citizens.
Posted by: Serge | August 11, 2008 12:52 AM
Serge,
Where do you get your information? Do you have any evidence, pictures, video? How about citing some sources if you are going to make such wild accusations. That is, if you have any, other that the KGB (or whatever it is being called these days).
Posted by: Paul | August 11, 2008 6:16 AM