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THE LATEST FROM GEORGIA.
Over the weekend, the Russian Army cleared South Ossetia (and apparently Abkhazia) of Georgian troops. The air campaign that the Russian Air Force started on Friday continues, with reports of air strikes all over Georgia. The Russians have bombed the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which carries Central Asian oil through Georgia to Turkey. There is no indication that the pipeline has been hit, and it would be easy to repair in any case. The Russian Navy is patrolling off Georgia, having delivered troops to Abkhazia and sunk a Georgian missile boat.
The spot to watch now is the Georgian city of Gori. The Georgian Army is dug in around Gori, which is 17 miles south of Tskhinvali, the capitol of South Ossetia. Gori has been subjected to an artillery bombardment, and reportedly to direct fire attacks by Russian tanks. How the Russians proceed in Gori will provide an important clue as to their larger intentions in the war. Right now the Russians control all disputed territory, but destroying the Georgian Army in Gori would cripple Georgian capabilities for the foreseeable future.
Gori also sits on the road to Tblisi, although the 50 miles between Gori and Tblisi are over difficult terrain. Fox News is reporting that a "a senior general says Russia has no plans to move its troops from Georgia's two breakaway provinces into Georgian-controlled territory," but it appears that Russian forces have already moved beyond the borders of South Ossetia. Another area to keep an eye on is Abkhazia, where the Russians have built up forces, possibly in anticipation of opening a second front against the Georgians. If you have access to Google Earth, I recommend taking a look at the geography of the region; it will give a better sense of the moves the two players are capable of making.
International mediation efforts continue. The Georgians have unilaterally declared and signed a cease fire agreement, but the Russians are stalling. US and other Western efforts in the UN Security Council have had a limited effect. 2000 Georgian troops that had been stationed in Iraq are being flown back to Georgia by the United States.
--Robert Farley
COMMENTS (5)
It's fortunate that we have a president who carries so much moral weight in the world. That will help a great deal.
Oh...wait...
Posted by: Noam Sane | August 11, 2008 11:04 AM
The USA and the EU have set an example and laid the framework to the calamity in Georgia.
The fragmentation of Serbia and giving away of Kosovo while bombing the crap out of Serbia was deemed good and proper. Now that the same process unfolds in Georgia it does not seem neither good nor proper.
Posted by: Kalney | August 11, 2008 1:38 PM
Zionists are using this war to keep Russia busy from the upcoming war on Iran. Only Israel benefits from these endless Middle East wars. Iraq is the beginning. As we commit war-crimes in Baghdad, the US gov't commits treason at home by opening mail, eliminating habeas corpus, using the judiciary to steal private lands, banning books like America Deceived (book) from Amazon and Wikipedia, conducting warrantless wiretaps and engaging in illegal wars on behalf of AIPAC's 'money-men'. Soon, another US false-flag operation will occur (sinking of an Aircraft Carrier by Mossad) and the US will invade Iran.. Then we'll invade Syria, then Saudi Arabia, then Lebanon (again) then ....
Posted by: Allen W | August 11, 2008 2:40 PM
Great - and quick, succinct - military rundown of what is happening "on the ground" so to speak. Great type of update for those who want to know, but have little time to read the longer articles - so don't necessarily want to know "who started it", but what to know what is happening on the ground.
Posted by: JC | August 11, 2008 3:35 PM
Drivel.
They HAVEN'T bombed the BTC Pipeline. Where does this little nugget of information come from?
The Russians are only bombing military targets, like the ones which I myself heard get whacked last night, just before dawn.
This morning's entertainment is scheduled to start in about an hour. I'm going to bed.
P.S. there were massive troop movements this evening at about 8pm local time, in a backwards direction, on the outskirts Tbilisi. They looked VERY defeated. It has been very quiet ever since.
Saakashvili looked like he'd been snorting something he oughtn't in his address on TV tonight. This man is crazy and his orders are the biggest threat to the welfare of the Georgian people. His days may well be numbered.
The military leaders would do well to hold their hands up to the Russians.
Posted by: Man in Tbilisi | August 11, 2008 7:49 PM