Russian Troops Continue to Arrive in South Ossetia

[tekisui]

Russia carries on pouring extra troops and tanks into South Ossetia.

This is despite claims from the Russian president Dmitry Medvedev that his country's military operation in region is nearly over.

In response, Georgia has continued its shelling amid claim-and-counter-claim about air strikes and the responsibility for civilian casualties.

Georgia says it has withdrawn all its troops from South Ossetia, with Russian troops and tanks taking control of the capital Tskhinvali yesterday and powering forward through the border of the breakaway region, almost as far as the Georgian town of Gori.

Several thousand people are fleeing the fighting, with refugees heading both north into Russia and south into Georgia.

With increasing diplomatic calls for a ceasefire, President Bush has described the violence as unacceptable.

A second battleground is also emerging in Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia.

link: http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/russian%20troops%20continue%20to%20arrive%20in%20south%20ossetia%20/2393072

[bushmeister0]

1. Gori is the main transport hub.

They take control of it they cut the country in two. Maybe, they'll share a piece with us?

[tekisui]

2. Not likely. Russia is growing.

Growing in geographical size, and growing in public anger at the US.

dickie is looking to kick them out of the G8.

[AllentownJake]

3. Said yesterday the Russians weren't going to stop

till the depose the Georgian President.

[tekisui]

4. That seems to be the goal.

They have the country surrounded, and are cutting Georgia off. Georgia is pleading for help, and are unmatched by Russia's military.

Russia now holds all of Ossetia, with eyes on the Georgian capital.

[bushmeister0]

5. Now the fun begins!

AP:

"Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is criticizing the United States for airlifting Georgian troops from Iraq. Putin said Monday that the U.S. move will hamper efforts to solve Russia's conflict with Georgia over the breakaway province of South Ossetia. The U.S. military has begun flying 2,000 Georgian troops home from Iraq after Georgia recalled them.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080811/ap_on_re_eu/georgia_south_ossetia

Like I said last night, it's all too easy for the Russians to accuse us of being combatants. We're using US military aircraft to transport troops into a war zone! WTF?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3773919&mesg_id=3773919

man, you leave Cheney in charge for a few days and everything goes to hell.

[DFW]

6. A few days?

Cheney has been in charge for eight years, and things HAVE gone to hell!

[bushmeister0]

8. LOL!

I wonder if troops is the only thing we're transporting in those planes?

If there are tanks or anything else of a hostile nature, be sure the Russians will take note.

Russian bombs aren't as smart as ours, who's to say one or two go off target and hit one of our planes on the ground.

Then what, Dickie?

[tekisui]

7. We are transporting Georgian troops from Iraq at thier request.

They have the third largest deployment of troops in Iraq and we "owe" it to them for being a loyal ally in Iraq.

Unfortunately, we are somewhat indebted to assisting Georgia. I fear how much assistance has been or will be agreed to. We don't have the troops or where with all to give much more.

Not to mention a proxy war or all out war with Russia would not be quick or have a happy ending.

[bushmeister0]

10. Well, if we lose a plane or a few troops it won't be a proxy war.

It'll be the real thing.

Since we don't have the ability to put boots on the ground against Russia, I predict an embarrassing backdown.

Putin seems bent on spanking us over this whole former vassels into NATO thing (and the missile defense thing too) he might be willing to gamble we won't dare push back.

Putin is a coldblooded killer, evidence what he did to Grozny, I wouldn't put it past him to roll the dice.

[AllentownJake]

11. Yesterday alot of people were saying this was a humanitarian mission

and the Russians would stop after securing S. Ottesia.

:rofl:

Sometimes some liberals deserve the stereotype.

[Median Democrat]

12. Isn't It Amazing That The US Was Caught By "Surprise" By Georgia's Offensive?

Here is a thread discussing whether Georgia's initial offensive was known or encouraged by the US? Did the US know? Did the US actively participate?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3774608&mesg_id=3774608

[AllentownJake]

13. If it was encouraged

It was surely done incompetently.

You'd think we'd give them some SAMs to take care of the bombers.

[Median Democrat]

14. All A Coincidence Or A Tie Into Iraq?

You have to ask what caused Georgia in the midst of tensions to commit the third largest number of troops to Iraq:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6433289.stm

Maybe this is all a collasal coincidence in which the US had no idea that Georgia was going to launce a "surprise" offensive despite the presense of 2000 Georgian troops in Iraq and 150 US military trainers in Georgia. Likewise, as noted in the thread I linked, the US and Georgia both seemed oblivious to Russian threats back in 2006 that it would attack Georgia if Georgia launced an offensive into the breakaway province.

I mean, I am not a foriegn policy expert, but it does not take braille to figure it out that Russia was going to attack if Georgia launced an offensive. Yet, Georgia did.

Why did Georgia commit 2000 troops to Iraq in the midst of the tensions with Russia? Because they really love the US? Or, was there a promised quid pro quo?

[daleo]

15. Think of Gulf War I

Bush I annihilated the Iraqi army, went part way into Iraq itself, then withdrew after rendering the Iraqi army irrelevant, as far as its neighbors were concerned. This may be what the Russians will do here, after installing a congenial regime.

[izzie]

9. Gee a super power going after a smaller country

How odd is that?