Medvedev tells Bush Russia aims to force Georgia to accept peace

[DogPoundPup]

Source: RIA NOVOSTI

MOSCOW, August 9 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian president told his U.S. counterpart on Saturday that Russia's ongoing military operation in Georgia's breakaway republic of South Ossetia is aimed at forcing Georgia to accept peace.

Bush's phone conversation with Dmitry Medvedev came after the U.S. leader called on Russia to stop bombing targets in Georgia, and voiced concern over the escalating violence.

Medvedev was quoted by the Kremlin as telling Bush: "Acting within our peacekeeping mission, and in line with the mandate issued by the international community, Russia is engaged in the task of forcing the Georgian side to accept peace, while defending the lives and property of its citizens, as is required under the Constitution and laws of the Russian Federation, and the legal standards of any civilized country.

Georgia, the main U.S. ally in the Caucasus Region, launched a major ground and air offensive to seize control of South Ossetia on Friday, prompting Russia to send in tanks and hundreds of troops. Georgia imposed martial law on Saturday after Russian warplanes began bombarding military bases.

Russia says 12 of its servicemen have been killed in the violence, and 2,000 civilians in South Ossetia have lost their lives. Around 30,000 refugees have flooded across the border into Russia to escape the violence since Friday morning.

A senior Russian diplomat said on Saturday that the country may ask the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights to investigate war crimes committed by Georgia.

"I do not rule out that the Hague and Strasbourg courts and institutions in other cities will be involved in investigating these crimes, and this inhuman drama that has been played out," Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told news agencies in an interview broadcast on the Vesti-24 TV channel.

Read more: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080809/115925621.html

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Another article from http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/09-08-2008/106046-russia_georgia-0

"Russian officials believe that it was the USA that orchestrated the current conflict. The chairman of the State Duma Committee for Security, Vladimir Vasilyev, believes that the current conflict is South Ossetia is very reminiscent to the wars in Iraq and Kosovo."

[msongs]

1. wish we could our american war criminals investigated lol nt

[RC]

2. Russia may do it for us.

They do not seem too pleased about the situation.

[deminks]

3. So, that's what Pooty Poot told the Smirk (photo)

"I know what you did this summer."

[FarCenter]

9. There were large numbers of US military advisors in Georgia recently

The US contingent seems to be down to 130 from 1000 to 2000 earlier in the summer. I haven't see figures on the number of Israeli advisors.

Most likely they were there to prepare for the attack on South Ossetia.

Most likely the Russians also knew all about the preparations.

Of course, there is also the possibility that the Israeli's have sold out the Georgians in return for Russian help with the Iranians.

[Lindsay]

4. The bombing will continue

until peace ensues.

No wonder Bush likes the Russians.

[gratuitous]

8. It has to burn, though

Can you imagine how Bush felt when he realized that he'd never voiced the idea of using force to bring peace? Ooooh, that's gonna leave a mark!

[AlphaCentauri]

10. but he likes the Georgia president more

[Frisbee]

5. I'd love to have heard that phone call...

Every time I hear that Bush has talked to another leader, I think to myself, how badly did he embarrass us this time. It doesn't even matter if he's right or wrong (though I'd guess wrong more often than not), he has to come across as a unintelligent buffoon, who thinks that just because he says something, everyone will do as he says. He has been an embarrassment on so many levels it makes my head spin. And to think, if McInsane were to somehow win in November, we'd have four more years of this bullshit.

[angrycarpenter]

6. Where is our moral authority

To tell them this is wrong? We no longer have any. It was bought out in a hostile takeover and sold off piece by piece.

[happygoluckytoyou]

7. first Georgia... next Florida... close the borders!!!! my name is John McCain, & i forgot my message