NO MAN'S LAND; S. Ossetia: a peaceful means of war

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Georgia's official position is: "We will seek peaceful means to reintegrate South Ossetia into Georgia... only under these conditions will we meet for talks." But everybody knows there isn't a single South Ossetian leader who's even thinking of reintegration. That would mean an end to their lucrative livelihood, namely, smuggling contraband. South Ossetian "president" Eduard Kokoity continues to promote reunification with North Ossetia and the Russian Federation. He says his people are willing to "go to the end."

Saakashvili meanwhile, has warned his country to prepare for war with Russia. He has also replaced the old school Chief of Staff, Givi Iukuridze, trained in Moscow, with new school Major Vakhtang Kapanadze, a graduate of the US Army War College. There is a plan to activate tens of thousands of army reserves which would include women, much like Israel. Members of the civil service are currently undergoing military training.

On September 12th, 4,000 Interior Ministry soldiers held an anniversary parade near the conflict zone. Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili reminded the participants that the positions of the enemy are twenty-nine kilometers away. "You are the people who should crush this enemy."

Putin has called Georgia's intention of reunification "stupid" but went on to say "Russia does not intend to take upon itself an inappropriate function and come out on one side or the other." He had also stated Russia was ready to act as mediator in the conflict. But for Georgia, that's like having the junkie guard the stash. Georgia has been pushing for more international involvement and has requested a mandate extension for the OSCE to monitor the entire region, particularly the Roki Pass, which links South Ossetia with Russia. It is here where arms, mercenaries and contraband enter the region, a claim denied by Russia and South Ossetia, who incidentally are opposed to an extension of the mandate.

SOBAKA