Heavy damage in Tskhinvali, mostly at gov't center

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

TSKHINVALI, Georgia (AP) — Gutted and shrapnel-scarred buildings testify to fierce street battles and heavy rocket and bomb attacks in the separatist capital of South Ossetia. But there is little evidence civilians were specifically targeted by Georgian troops, as Russia claims.

During a visit Tuesday arranged by the Russian government, journalists from The Associated Press and other Western media were escorted into the city aboard armored vehicles.

Reporters witnessed more than a dozen fires in what appeared to be deserted ethnic Georgian neighborhoods and saw evidence of looting in those areas.

The heaviest damage from the recent fighting appeared to be around Tskhinvali's government center. More than a dozen buildings in the area were little more than scorched shells.



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gfKSNGP_oBDsRC17UgXw34xQBhNwD92H0NE80

[panader0]

1. Russia's goal was to destroy Georgia's military ability

[Karenina]

2. Expend some of that hardware given them

by the Amis and Israelis. See if they REALLY know how to use it.

[Dead_Parrot]

3. A theatre and a typesetting school?

The Georgians have declared war on on Chekhov! I knew there was more to it than oil!

Mind you, anyone who's sat through Uncle Vanya will appreciate why. Who hasn't wanted to stick some HE rounds into Serebryakov? And Voynitsky is clearly working for Al Qaeda...

[bemildred]

4. "We had no idea there were people living in that city! "

"What a shock it was when we discovered that we had killed innocent civilians.!"
:puke::puke:

[maddezmom]

7. Georgia pushed this

but Russia is not without fault either.

[bemildred]

8. It is possible to take neither side, and just criticize bad behavior where you see it.

I'm sure none of the dead people care much now about who are "the good guys" and who are not. It's hard to interpret Saakashvili's actions in any light that is complimentary, and the Russians have never been noted for fancy footwork when it comes to combat. There seems little question that Russia was ready and willing to pursue a bit of military theater once Saakashvili was foolish enough to give them a just cause to do so.

My own view tends in the direction of the idea that there are no good guys, in the way that term is usually applied; all governments are more or less corrupt, venal, incompetent, and self-interested. But some do a better job than others, and one may venture opinions about that, and about the current context of who did what to whom and why, and who got what they came for and who did not.

[maddezmom]

9. as usual

I agree with you.. :hi:

[ohio2007]

5. Georgia angered by Russian move ( April 16, 2008 artice )

Georgia has accused Russia of trying to annex the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with its decision to seek closer ties with them. Moscow said it would intensify social and economic co-operation in the regions and recognise businesses and organisations registered there.

But Georgian Foreign Minister David Bakradze said this amounted to "de facto annexation" of its provinces. Last month,(March) both regions called on the UN to recognise their independence. Tbilisi responded by warning Moscow not to take any step towards recognition.

A senior MP in the Georgian parliament, Shota Malashkhia, said it would lead Russian peacekeepers to be "outlawed" in Abkhazia and South Ossetia


snip

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana was said to be "concerned" by what were described as "these unilateral decisions". "We have always supported Georgia's territorial integrity," his spokeswoman Christina Gallach said.

Georgian TV reported that the country's Security Council convened in emergency session. Moscow said its decision to recognise some documents issued by the republics' authorities was in the interests of their mainly Russian citizens and was not intended to inflame the situation.
Our actions with regard to Abkhazia and South Ossetia do not mean that Russia is making a choice in favour of confrontation with Georgia," a foreign ministry statement said.

Abkhazia's Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba said Russia's decision would lead to a "breakthrough" in resolving economic, social and security issues.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7350442.stm

To protect and patrol the new pipeline running through Georgia, the security plan called for the use of small squads of mobile ground troops and UAV's but the UAV's fell out of favor and were not used.

A few days after the emergency session;


Russia 'shot down Georgia drone'
21 April 2008
A Russian fighter jet has shot down an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft over the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, Georgian authorities say.

Georgia's defence ministry has released video showing what appears to be a Russian MiG-29 shooting down the unarmed Georgian drone on Sunday.

A Russian air force spokesman said the claim was "nonsense" while Abkhaz rebels said they had downed the drone.

Russia's leader asked why a drone had been present in a "conflict zone".

snip


(nice video )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7358761.stm

Guess the video was photoshopped? ;)

[AlphaCentauri]

6. CNN use footage of Tskhinvali ruins to cover Georgian report

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVNblG9PJMk