Russia/Georgia Situation News & Updates

Originally posted by Rentor
So as the flag-operation is only hours away I STRONGLY advise to stock up on food and water

Whats going to happen 1 hour later?? did i miss something???

Sorry for the apparently off-topic question, but what colour was the tie (if any) that George Bush was wearing?

[edit on 13/8/2008 by ArMaP]

Darn , getting nuked for a toilet seat wasn't the way I planned to go (

Russia says it is planning for withdrawal from Georgia

They also said they weren't planning an incursion into Georgia.

Who knows?

reply to post by chips


I'm just posting any new stories that pop up. That was the latest one I saw. I have no idea what their intentions are at this point. This whole situation is incredibly confusing and perplexing.

reply to post by buddhasystem


I would agree if the fighting were ongoing. Technically, the situation is one of cease-fire and as long as the US doesn't start offloading large numbers of military personnel and equipment, I think their complaints will largely fall on deaf ears.

Again, I don't particularly like where this is going, but from a strategic and diplomatic standpoint, I think its a very good move. The Russians can't press any further without risking conflict with the US. It gives the US an opening to militarily support its ally without firing a shot.

Of course, the big downside is the potential for an accidental engagement between US and Russian forces or that the Georgians will stir the pot.

[edit on 13-8-2008 by vor78]

Originally posted by vor78
reply to post by Res Ipsa

 

I think its obvious that he's trying to walk a fine line here. On one hand, he's attempting to back the Georgian government and protect them from the Russians, but on the other, he does not want to start WW3 over it.

This action would seemingly succeed in that goal. It sends a strong message to Russia to back off, but also does not immediately commit US forces into combat and gives the US the diplomatic cover. The Russians really can't complain about 'humanitarian aid' during a cease-fire, afterall, although its obvious what's going on here.

I'm not saying I like the idea, mind you, but it makes sense from a 'supporting your allies' standpoint. It puts the ball squarely in Russia's court and will likely (hopefully) force them to back down.

[edit on 13-8-2008 by vor78]

.....no my friend, putting your military in charge of humanitarian aid is not walking a fine line....it is over the line. We could talk tough and still get the humanitarian aid through any number of different non confrontational means.......Involving our military is just asking for trouble.
It is a huge mistake. You are right it puts the ball in Russia's court...are you comfortable believing that they will back down again like the Cuban Missle crisis....I don't see Putin wavering much.....In fact.....

Russia just might have been standing down a bit and just getting things organized and setting up some protection of SO or whatever but they might have thought this crisis was over for the most part....But now Bush wants to poke the bear in the ass and Russia might just turn around and take a swing.

This is a mistake. I think Bush and Amahdinejad both want to die in office, hopefully Putin doesn't.

reply to post by asen_y2k


Where sending military humanitarian aid,which very very easily can be false flag-operation.Saying Russians attack us

Originally posted by Res Ipsa some of you are concerned about the U.S. surrounding Iran??? Iran!??

I can only speak for myself, but having been raised in a religion that habitually keeps one eye on the newspaper and one eye on the book of Revelation, it's hard not to consider the possibility that all those pastors who said 'this and that and this other thing are going to happen' may have been on to something.

I'm just saying.

Just have to live in the moment and see what unfolds.

Well, now we know the next stage there's nothing to worry about. What with battalions of Russian peacekeepers and planeloads full of American humanitarians Georgia is guaranteed peace and food into the foreseeable future.

I know that sounds facetious, but it all belies the fact that the whole scenario is sounding increasingly like a video game. (Anyone remember Red Alert II?)

I say this because everything that is transpiring sounds like more of a parody than real-world. It angers me to see the powers that be playing with people's lives in such lethal ways. Nothing new, but it is still immensely disappointing to watch both Putin and Bush squaring up to each other rather than relying on diplomacy and non-military tactics to achieve their aims. Both have it within their means to put the squeeze on each other without immediate military escalation.

I know the dangers of appeasement. But there are sanctions and indirect measures that do not involve direct confrontation. If Russia had so desired, they could have taken the whole country in a blitzkrieg within days. As it is they may have had a plan A) which is now achieved - the securing of S.O. & Abkhazia and a plan B) to withdraw to those territories if possible without losing face.

The U.S. response is so open to multiple interpretations that it could arguably prevent plan B) from being put into motion.

I only hope we are not entering a period of brinkmanship.

Saw this on interfax

Russian Planes downed by Georgian Systems operated by Ukrainian crews

Not good, could this draw them into the conflict?

reply to post by AceWombat04


Yeah, sorry - I know

I don't know what's going on with this anymore, to be honest.

[edit on 13-8-2008 by chips]

reply to post by buddhasystem


But Russian army (aka peacekeepers) is providing humanitarian aid to South Osetia and it is OK? I guess it is part of Red Cross, then. Currently Russian forces - (aka same peacekeepers) are on Georgian territory. And Georgia did not attack Russia. By pushing out Georgian aggression from disputed South Osetia region Russian forces finished their peacekeeping job. Maybe it is part of that piece (of former USSR) keeping,then.

reply to post by ArMaP


That would have been a plum tie with a blue coat. :shk:

I am guessing that you are inferring there is a correlation of the color of his tie with what he about to do based on past actions? Curious.

---

Well, I've come to the conclusion that we are simply not going to get a straightforward report on what is going on in any one news item from the MSM. A personal thanks to everyone here that is doing an excellent job on keeping everyone up to date.

Still hoping this can be diffused sooner rather than later, but I am believe this is only the beginning of things we are going to see happen more often.

reply to post by Res Ipsa


Then been reports Russia has AA in the region.And to confirm this is Israel Spy planes being shot down

This portion of the Sky News report demonstrates the inconsistency and contradictions coming out of the region during this latest flare up:

Witnesses had earlier said a column of Russian tanks had been seen heading from Gori towards Tbilisi, amid reports killing and looting was taking place.

"A convoy of Russian tanks left Gori, but is not heading to Tbilisi," Eka Zguladze said.

"I'd like to calm everybody down. The Russian military is not advancing towards the capital."

However, the Georgian foreign ministry said in a statement that Russian forces were blocking the main Georgian highway connecting South Ossetia with the rest of the country.

"Unfortunately, we are forced to restate the very fact that the principal agreement reached ... on the ceasefire and the return of the armed formations to the places of their permanent dislocation is being permanently violated by the Russian Federation," the statement read.

Russia had denied its troops were making their way to Tbilisi, however Anatoly Nagovitsyn, the Russian military's deputy chief of staff, had also categorically denied that there were any tanks on the streets of Gori.

Sky News

reply to post by Res Ipsa


Again, I don't like where its going, either. That said, we all knew that at some point, the US would be forced to support the Georgians militarily in some way or lose all credibility with its other allies in Eastern Europe. This is about the most benign way that it could possibly happen and, as we both agree, the possibility of further escalation is in Russian hands.

[edit on 13-8-2008 by vor78]

Originally posted by Rentor
reply to post by asen_y2k

 

Where sending military humanitarian aid,which very very easily can be false flag-operation.Saying Russians attack us

What Bush just said that and in just1 hour the operation is going to start??? Let me confirm? Did you say that the humanitarian effort is starting in 1 hours time??

reply to post by Mammoth


Interfax is a reliable source, as far as I know...

I'm not sure what to make of that.

As viewed from here (Europa), this is a pure suicide for U.S. (esp. U.S. Military) to go there.

Don't go playing in the sphere of a country that has WMD, esp. if you also have.

I dont think that total mutual destruction assurance is a common and shared doctrine today. ..Ugh!