Georgian troops retreat from South Ossetian capital

[Scurrilous]

Source: Associated Press

<snip>

"A Georgian minister says Georgian troops have pulled out of the capital of the breakaway province of South Ossetia under massive Russian shelling.

Georgia's Reintegration Minister Temur Yakobashvili says that the Georgian troops left the city of Tskhinvali Sunday to change their location. Yakobashvili said Georgian troops remained in South Ossetia.

He said the pullout would allow to provide a humanitarian corridor to evacuate those wounded from Tskhinvali, which was ravaged by fierce battles which raged since Friday when Georgian troops launched an offensive to regain control over South Ossetia."

Read more: http://www.wlfi.com/Global/story.asp?S=8817096

[Adsos Letter]

1. The Russian military is in the process of handing the Georgian military its ass

[silverlil]

3. I am nervous

about this. I was in WWII as a little girl. Russia could have taken over all of Europe back then...... .
But back to subject
at hand..... WWI was started, not in Georgia... and we atill going to have to deal with the f... Russians.. Russia is playing with the United States of America and I do not like it one bit. Our troops are in Irag, and Afghanistan and the end of my rant is that this latest country spins the oil to sea, and a few pipslines were blown up.

[SpikeTss]

12. But it is NATO surrounding Russian territory

and we are leading wars of aggression against countries in Russia's vicinity (Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran).
I don't see how Russia could be perceived as a threat? If I would be a Russian leader, I would be worried to be the victim of an attack against my territory or interests. And it also doesn't help, that the team of presidential candidate McCain receives money from the Georgian regime, Georgia receives US weapons and that Israeli special forces train Georgian troops shortly before they bomb cities populated with Russian people.

Russia is playing with the United States of America and I do not like it one bit.

[frankieT]

18. wow. it's amazing to read something sane nowadays

imagine what would be US reaction if say mexico or canada forged a strong military alliance with russia ?? I think the reaction would be pretty bad. But the brainwashing western MSM keep repeating the same thing : hoooo, beware the russian bear, he's getting into cold war tactics and getting paranoid because we're converting all his neighbours to NATO (which main purpose is to counter Russia !!!!) planting missiles near Russia borders... What a joke!! It's laughable, I never saw such high levels of hipocrisy !!!

[Dead_Parrot]

2. Hmm

The question now is, will Russian ground forces cross the border into Georgia 'proper', or remain in S. Ossetia?
:shrug:

[Selatius]

4. If they cross over into Georgia proper, they will find an unhappy ethnic Georgian population.

South Ossetians were and still are favorable towards the Russian presence.

More so now than ever before given Georgia's sudden and brutal military assault on their land.

If they go beyond South Ossetian territory, they risk being involved in an ugly, protracted guerrilla war with a population that does not want them there. Russia could ill afford another Chechnya. I would think even the pompous Putin realizes this by now.

[frankieT]

9. that's the question

I think they will obviously stop to south ossetia. It is enough of a small victory against crazy georgian crazy president.

[ohio2007]

14. While your pondering Russia moves, where does Turkey stand on the issue?

Did they make a deal with Russia along the lines Hungary made with Hitler ?

Partition of Czechoslovakia (1938).

1. Germany occupies the Sudetenland (autumn 1938)
2. Hungary occupies border areas (southern third of Slovakia and southern Carpathian Ruthenia) with Hungarian minorities
3. Carpathian Ruthenia received autonomy (autumn 1938).
4. Poland occupies areas Cieszyn Silesia with Polish minority (autumn 1938).
5. In March 1939 the remaining Czech territories becomes the German satellite, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
6. From remainder Czechoslovakia Slovakia is created, becoming another German satellite.




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement

I know,I know,
some posters here say it isn't a fair comparison to what happened 70 yrs ago and Georgia today.

dunno,

Maybe it's time to visit the official news agency of Turkey ?

[tabasco]

20. Why do you hate freedom?

You're a big supporter of Bush's war of liberation in Iraq.

Why shouldn't these areas be free to do what they want?

:shrug:

[davidnc76]

5. Russia confirms Georgian troop withdrawal from South Ossetia

Source: Reuters/Hot News Turkey

Georgian forces have withdrawn from nearly all of the breakaway region of South Ossetia, Secretary Alexander Lomaia told AFP on Sunday.

"We have left practically all of South Ossetia as an expression of good will and our willingness to stop military confrontation," he said.

The pullout followed three days of fighting in a Georgian push to take control of the South Ossetia, which prompted Russia to pour troops into South Ossetia and launch air strikes inside its small neighbor.

A Georgian military convoy carrying troops and towing heavy artillery was seen withdrawing from South Ossetia through the village of Ergneti, just inside Georgian-controlled territory south of the separatist capital Tskhinvali.

Read more: http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/home/9624718.asp?gid=244&sz=34291

[sofa king]

6. Thank goodness for that.

Since taking a look at the Georgian armed forces, it's pretty clear they wouldn't be able to stand up to the Russians for long. They have the ability to hold a localized front, but the Russians can just pour around them with, oh, about a million more troops than the Georgians have.

Interestingly, Joseph Stalin, a Georgian himself, purportedly used to like to say, "quantity has a quality all its own."

The big losers in all this are most likely to be the Ossetians. I suspect that while the Russians are happy to back them as a destabilizing separatist movement in Georgia, they're far less interested in having South Ossetia become an actual recognized independent nation. North Ossetia, on the Russian side of the border, might then entertain thoughts of joining them--and their neighbors the Chechens might be stirred to rebellion yet again as well.

Those Russkis always were chess players.

[Ghost Dog]

7. Yeah. Chess is not quite like Wei Chi or Igo/Go, Baduk, though.

http://www.toycrossing.com/go/index.shtml

"Go is a game with very simple rules, yet has a richly textured play. It is a strategy game that emphasizes the capture or defense of territory using stones as markers. It may have originally been designed as a military game, yet its essentials are not always analogous to military strategy. The idea is not to necessarily overwhelm the opponent (although this can be done). It is rather to control more of the board than he or she does. This can mean leaving large chunks of territory to your opponent, while securing your own..."

[frankieT]

11. the big losers are ossetians,

humanely speaking they just lived hell under the vicious georgian offensive. But politically, it gives them more rights to secede from Georgia. They NEVER wanted to live under georgian rule, they'd rather join Russia with which they always enjoyed good relationships. After Kosovo independance, South Ossetia and Abkhazia are very good candidates. The big loser here is the big gambler Saakashvili. He thought he will regain control of these autonomous regions through brutal force and LOST. The main goal was to enter quickly in NATO but now other NATO members will forget this too nervous friend.

[ohio2007]

13. Georgia says Russia has sent troops and artillery into Abkhazia.

Abkhazia isn't very close to South Ossetia.



http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/home/9624718.asp?gid=244&sz=34291


Is the world going to talk appeasement and allow parts of Georgia to be absorbed into Russia proper ?
hey,just saying
It worked out great for Europe after the Munich Agreement of 1938 ...
ok, it worked for a few months time.

but appeasement did work.






http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovakia
ZZzzzzz.

Is Obama studying or being advised about this current event 'properly' ?

And what are the ex Soviet republics saying about the current event ?

[High Plains]

21. Right. The Russians are Hitler. Give it a rest. n/t

[daleo]

28. It's more reminiscent of WWI, in my opinion

The actions of a relatively minor country threaten to drag a bunch of major powers into war, via formal and informal alliances and entanglements, much like World War I. And the main point of contention seems to be trade and resources (i.e. oil, gas, and pipeline corridors) coupled with nationalism, again much like WWI, rather than ideological fanaticism which characterized World War II. After all, Russia is now formally a capitalist nation.

[ohio2007]

8. No matter, the Russian 'meat grinder' is in motion.

The Pipeline War: Russian bear goes for West's jugular

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1043185/The-Pipeline-War-Russian-bear-goes-Wests-jugular.html

Attacking targets far from this 'breakaway republic make sense?

[Ghost Dog]

10. Sounds like it.

Georgia under all-out attack in breakaway Abkhazia
Separatist rebels and Russian forces launch attack on Georgian stronghold in Black Sea territory

* Luke Harding
* guardian.co.uk,
* Sunday August 10 2008 14:45 BST
* Article history

The conflict in the Caucasus today spread to Georgia's second breakaway province of Abkhazia, where separatist rebels and the Russian air force launched an all-out attack on Georgian forces.

Abkhazia's pro-Moscow separatist leader Sergei Bagapsh said his troops had launched a major "military operation" to force Georgian troops out of the mountainous Kodori gorge, which Georgian forces control as a strategic foothold in the breakaway Black Sea territory.

He said "around 1,000 special Abkhaz troops" were involved. They were attacking and pounding Georgian positions using "warplanes, multiple rocket launchers and artillery", he said.

"The operation will enter the next phase as planned. And you will learn about that," he promised on Sunday, adding that he would create a "humanitarian corridor" allowing residents living in the district to flee.

The offensive appeared to mark a dangerous new front in the conflict between Georgia and Russia - following Georgia's apparent withdrawal from its other breakaway region of South Ossetia today.

/... http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/10/georgia.russia3

:(

[High Plains]

22. Yeah. Saakashitvili poked the bear.

Sometimes when you poke the bear, he claws your face off. I think this guy's political career is about over, and deservedly so.

[maddezmom]

15. Georgia 'calls Ossetia ceasefire'

Georgia 'calls Ossetia ceasefire'

Georgia has ordered its forces to cease fire, and offered to start talks with Russia over an end to hostilities in South Ossetia, Georgian officials say.

Earlier Georgia said its troops had pulled out of the breakaway region and that Russian forces were in control of its capital, Tskhinvali.

Thousands of civilians have fled the area, following heavy fighting that broke out on Thursday night.

The US has described Russia's actions as "dangerous and disproportionate".

US Deputy National Security Adviser James Jeffrey warned that if the Russian escalation continued, it would have a "significant" long-term impact on relations between Moscow and Washington.


more:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7552659.stm

[fascisthunter]

16. Well... if it stops the Killing, it's a good thing

how sad...

[maddezmom]

17. NATO chief: Russia violates Georgia's "territorial integrity"

Associated Press - August 10, 2008 11:43 AM ET

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (yahp duh hohp SKEHF'-ur) says Russia has violated Georgia's "territorial integrity" in South Ossetia using excessive force.

The NATO chief urges Russia and Georgia to agree to an "immediate cease-fire," says NATO spokeswoman Carmen Romero.

De Hoop Scheffer is calling for talks to restore Georgia's control over its breakaway province.

more:http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=8817431

[SpikeTss]

19. That's a funny thing to say

If you remember what happened 9 years ago when NATO bombed Serbia and in the following years urged, bribed and threatened in order to 'convince' the Serbian government to agree on an independent Kosovo.
IMHO there remains one conclusion: If it's in the interest of NATO states, the 'violation of territorial integrity' is an excellent idea and will be supported by them. If against their interests though it's a crime!

Laughable!

[maddezmom]

23. Russia disputes claim of Georgian pullout

TBILISI, Georgia - Russia's foreign minister is disputing Georgia's claim that its troops have pulled out of South Ossetia, the separatist region where fighting with Russian forces has killed hundreds this weekend.

Earlier Sunday, Georgia said its troops were withdrawing and President Mikhail Saakashvili said he was calling a cease-fire.

But Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov disputed that in a telephone call with his Georgian counterpart Eka Tkeshelashvili, a ministry statement said.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080810/ap_on_re_eu/georgia_south_ossetia;_ylt=Aiwy0hwGYLHmLOvrlaPR7BpvaA8F

[Takoia]

24. Russia does not want to stop

There are still much more things Russia wants to destroy. They will dispute formally until they can and afterwards, even when they call a ceasefire, they will secretly pursue their imperialistic goals

[bronxiteforever]

25. But didn't Shrub and the GOP brigade look into Putin's Eyes and see his soul

Using his famous Texan turn of phrase, the US President once again stressed the personal as the pupils looked on.

"The more I get to know President Putin" he said, "the more I get to see his heart and soul ...the more I know we can work together in a positive way".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1659048.stm

[sofa king]

26. It's getting worse.

The Russians are now reported south of the disputed province outside of Gori, which is on the main highway to Tbilisi to the east and also to the other disputed Georgian province of Abkhazia to the west.

It appears as if the Russians have in fact decided to overwhelm the Georgian military. They are now over the mountains and in a position to roll up Georgia before their armed forces can consolidate.

Since the only horses I have in this race are named Peace and Harmony, I can only hope that the Russian objective is the destruction of the Georgian military, and not total re-occupation of the country.

[maddezmom]

27. Peacekeepers say Georgian forces shelling apartments in S.Ossetia

Peacekeepers say Georgian forces shelling apartments in S.Ossetia
14:04 | 10/ 08/ 2008



MOSCOW, August 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russian peacekeepers in Georgia's breakaway republic of South Ossetia said on Sunday that Georgian forces remain in the region, and are shelling apartment blocks in the capital.

Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili earlier said Georgian forces had fully withdrawn from the separatist province.

A spokesman for the peacekeeping command told RIA Novosti: "This statement is a lie, just like Saakashvili's statement on the impossibility of using military force in conflict zones."

Russian and South Ossetian officials say around 2,000 of the province's residents have been killed since Georgia began its ground and air offensive on South Ossetia on Friday.

more;http://en.rian.ru/world/20080810/115933126.html