Georgia calls back troops from Iraq amid fighting

[951-Riverside]

Source: The Associated Press

Georgia's president says the country is calling home its troops from Iraq amid heavy fighting in the breakaway province of South Ossetia.

Georgia has 2,000 troops serving with the coalition forces in Iraq, making it the third-largest contributor after the United States and Britain.

But Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili told CNN television Friday the troops would return urgently to Georgia after fighting erupted in South Ossetia.

"One brigade of Georgian forces is in Iraq and we are calling it home tomorrow," Saakashvili said in the interview.

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_10139636

[Muttocracy]

1. Kick. nt

[dipsydoodle]

2. Well at least

some good has come of today's events.

[Taverner]

4. Yup

[SidneyCarton]

5. Depends on who you ask...

Those troops may find they'd have been safer in Iraq...

That's sickeningly ironic isn't it.

[Regret My New Name]

8. I doubt those troops think so...

They probably were far safer in Iraq than they will be if they go up against the Russian military.

[tuckessee]

3. Who is going to transport them back?

Will Russia try to shoot down any aircraft inserting combat troops from Iraq?

[skoalyman]

6. if I were one of them I'd rather defect to the us

[dipsydoodle]

7. Russian forces battle Georgians

Russian forces are locked in fierce clashes with Georgia inside its breakaway South Ossetia region, reports say, amid fears of all-out war.

Moscow sent armoured units across the border after Georgia moved against Russian-backed separatists.

Russia says 12 of its soldiers are dead, and separatists estimate that 1,400 civilians have died.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7550354.stm

Can't see their 2000 troops making too much difference.