Flashermac Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 MEGVREKISI, Georgia (Reuters) - Tensions over Georgia's rebel territory of South Ossetia exploded on Friday when Georgia tried to assert control over the region with tanks and rockets, and Russia sent forces to repel the assault. Fighting between Georgian forces and Russian-backed separatists raged in and around Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, after Tbilisi sent troops to take back the territory, which broke away in the 1990s. [color:red]A senior Georgian security official said Russian jets had bombed the Vaziani military airbase outside the Georgian capital Tbilisi[/color], and President Mikheil Saakashvili said 150 Russian tanks, armored personnel carriers and other vehicles had entered South Ossetia from neighboring Russia. [color:red]He also said Georgian forces had downed two Russian jets.[/color] The Russian RIA news agency quoted a source in the regional Russian military headquarters as saying Russian armor had rolled into Tskhinvali, which Georgia had earlier claimed to have "freed". There was no immediate confirmation from Russia that it had sent bombers. The crisis, the first to confront Russian President Dmitry Medvedev since he took office in May, looked close to spiraling into full-blown war in a region emerging as a key energy transit route, and where Russia and the West are vying for influence. ... More ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian2 Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 So the former Communist Russia is supporting the former Bolshevik freedom seeking South Ossetians against the Soviet breakaway Georgians. No country, including the US, recognizes South Ossetian independence due to the fact that they don't want it to be part of neo-capitalist Russia. One could go mad just trying to think about this with out a drink Flash. I'll go and get another one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogueyam Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 McCain on "Russia's Aggression": "Today, news reports indicate that Russian military forces crossed an internationally-recognized border into the sovereign territory of Georgia. Russia should immediately and unconditionally cease its military operations and withdraw all forces from sovereign Georgian territory. What is most critical now is to avoid further confrontation between Russian and Georgian military forces. The consequences for Euro-Atlantic stability and security are grave. "The government of Georgia has called for a cease-fire and for a resumption of direct talks on South Ossetia with international mediators. The U.S. should immediately convene an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to call on Russia to reverse course. The U.S. should immediately work with the EU and the OSCE to put diplomatic pressure on Russia to reverse this perilous course it has chosen. We should immediately call a meeting of the North Atlantic Council to assess Georgia's security and review measures NATO can take to contribute to stabilizing this very dangerous situation. Finally, the international community needs to establish a truly independent and neutral peacekeeping force in South Ossetia." If anyone sees a statement by Obama on this situation please post it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogueyam Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 Here's Bambi's weak ass statement. cs' loverboy sure is a pussy. Obama Statement on Georgia-Russia Conflict â??I strongly condemn the outbreak of violence in Georgia, and urge an immediate end to armed conflict. Now is the time for Georgia and Russia to show restraint, and to avoid an escalation to full scale war. Georgiaâ??s territorial integrity must be respected. All sides should enter into direct talks on behalf of stability in Georgia, and the United States, the United Nations Security Council, and the international community should fully support a peaceful resolution to this crisis.â? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelseafan Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 So that means jack-shit will happen then.....mind you Georgia does have oil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 Very little. It does sit on a major pipeline route from the Caspian region. I guess Sahkashvili is betting on NATO backup. McCain's statement looks a little polished IMO. Wonder if he knew this was coming? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogueyam Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 McCain's statement looks a little polished IMO. Wonder if he knew this was coming? That may just be the benefit of experience you're seeing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 Or a good script writer. What McCain says and what Obama says are not substantially different from what the Whitehouse is saying. They all talk about what should happen. Russia and Georgia should stop fighting and discuss their differences at the UN. Brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogueyam Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 Or a good script writer. What McCain says and what Obama says are not substantially different from what the Whitehouse is saying. They all talk about what should happen. Russia and Georgia should stop fighting and discuss their differences at the UN. Brilliant. McCain condemns Russia. Obama condemns "the violence". Not same-same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 Or a good script writer. What McCain says and what Obama says are not substantially different from what the Whitehouse is saying. They all talk about what should happen. Russia and Georgia should stop fighting and discuss their differences at the UN. Brilliant. McCain condemns Russia. Obama condemns "the violence". Not same-same. I would say Obama is more correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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