Russia/Georgia Situation News & Updates

I have a question.

If Russia really does blockage Georgia with the Black Sea Fleet, and they really are flying sorties over Georgia proper, how does the U.S. expect to get those 2,000 Georgian soldiers into Georgia, much less anywhere near the front? Through Armenia?

Also, are there any credible links to the reports of the Russian airmen being executed? I read every page of the thread posted since I went to bed last night but can't find any. There are a lot of rumors posted without links. (Turkey's mobilization as well, for instance.) For that matter, are there even any links regarding the Black Sea Fleet mobilization?

[edit on 8/9/2008 by AceWombat04]

[edit on 8/9/2008 by AceWombat04]

Originally posted by TXMACHINEGUNDLR
reply to post by manson_322

 

Russia would not last 1 month against the US. We have the only real experienced fighting ARMY on the planet. We have more than a million vets at this point to call on that have killed up close and fought in a real war. Russia has not had the money or time to keep all it's weapons nukes too up to date. You are a fool if you think Russia could destroy NATO.

1) Russia cannot/will not destroy NATO.
2) Russia would last more than a month against the US (I presume you mean NATO here)
3)You do NOT have the only real experienced fighting army. Your Army is used to mowing down remanents of bits and pieces left over by massive air assault campaigns. The last true armored battle your army fought was against the Iraqis in 1990, and that too against beleaguered , under-motivated forces.

Originally posted by AceWombat04
I have a question.

If Russia really does blockage Georgia with the Black Sea Fleet, and they really are flying sorties over Georgia proper, how does the U.S. expect to get those 2,000 Georgian soldiers into Georgia, much less anywhere near the front? Through Armenia?

Also, are there any credible links to the reports of the Russian airmen being executed? I read every page of the thread posted since I went to bed last night but can't find any. There are a lot of rumors posted without links. (Turkey's mobilization as well, for instance.) For that matter, are there even any links regarding the Black Sea Fleet mobilization?

[edit on 8/9/2008 by AceWombat04]

[edit on 8/9/2008 by AceWombat04]

There a thread somewhere here on ATS about the Russian Navy in the sea

[edit on 9-8-2008 by Rentor]

Originally posted by AceWombat04
[edit on 8/9/2008 by AceWombat04]

[edit on 8/9/2008 by AceWombat04]

I have been searching since that story broke about the captured airmen and have found nothing relating to it. Russia hasn't even confirmed this. Guess we shall find out soon enough though.

Originally posted by AceWombat04
If Russia really does blockage Georgia with the Black Sea Fleet, and they really are flying sorties over Georgia proper, how does the U.S. expect to get those 2,000 Georgian soldiers into Georgia, much less anywhere near the front? Through Armenia?

Well Georgia's border with Turkey to the south is still open, and the Russians aren't planning a total blockade. There are still civilian aircraft coming in and out of the country - most over the Black Sea from the West.

And Armenia will not allow U.S. forces or assets on its soil.

An interesting note is that Russia has just bombed Tbilisi's main airport according to Georgian reports. This it the main air transport hub for the country. Major runway damage could be problematic for those troops returning from Iraq.

Originally posted by AceWombat04
Also, are there any credible links to the reports of the Russian airmen being executed?

I don't think so. There was footage somewhere of injured Russian pilot in hospital in Georgia - supposedly being treated. I doubt the military will execute Russians, because Russians could follow suit with captured Georgians.

Originally posted by AceWombat04
For that matter, are there even any links regarding the Black Sea Fleet mobilization?

Not in English, only in Russian. It is likely a secret operation, and you won't hear much official news about it.

For those who like analyzes:
New York Times

TIME

Short version: U.S. (obviously) is not going to do anything. Georgia took a gamble and royally screwed themselves.

[edit on 8/9/2008 by The Crow]

[edit on 8/9/2008 by The Crow]

Russia has been planning the invasion for awhile, all Georgia had to do was take the bait.

Check this article from June 19:

jamestown.org...

[edit on 9-8-2008 by jetxnet]

The only way I see the United States getting involved directly is if there is an outbreak between the Turkish and Russian fleets. Armenia be damned, if Turkey invokes the Article under NATO, the United States will launch sorties from Iraq and the carrier group in the straight.

It looks like the Black Sea Fleet is moving into the area as this report now indicates:

economictimes.indiatimes.com...



[edit on 9-8-2008 by jetxnet]

Originally posted by jetxnet
It looks like the Black Sea Fleet is moving into the area as this report now indicates:

economictimes.indiatimes.com...



[edit on 9-8-2008 by jetxnet]

Great find man

Thanks for the clarification guys.

My hope is for peace as soon as possible. This is quite saddening.

Originally posted by jetxnet
The West was helping Georgia.

Yeah by funding a coup which ousted the elected President, and installed a psychopath moron in his place. If that's not help I don't know what is.

And the only thing the West was helping Georgia with after that was funding Saakashvilli's military build up to fullfill his ultimate dream of avenging South Ossetiana and Abkhaz people for the military defeats Georgia suffered there in the 90's.

The West was helping their pupper Saakashvilli, not the people of Georgia.

Originally posted by jetxnet
Georgia did not want to be part of Russia.

Funny Russia doesn't want Georgia to be part of Russia either.

Originally posted by jetxnet
Russia's goal has been to re-acquire the previous provinces of the Russian Empire. .

Here we go again. This arguement is used by the West to critique every single action by Russia. What provinces are you talking about? Russia is not interested in any 3rd world crumbling provinces, which are about as politically and economically stable as Somalia.

What does Russia really plan on doing with the Black Sea Fleet? Surely bringing Russia's arm and leg of the Navy to protect a couple of cruise ships and citizens can't be the real reason.

Do they plan on taking control of the Caspian Oil pipeline and port - as in setting up a blockcade.

A little info on Russia's Black Sea Fleet:

economictimes.indiatimes.com...

11th Anti-submarine Ship Brigade # Type Name Class Year
121 Guided Missile Cruiser Moskva Slava 1983
713 ASW Destroyer Kerch Kara 1974
707 ASW Destroyer Ochakov Kara 1973
810 ASW Destroyer Smetlivy Kashin 1966
801 Guided Missile Frigate Ladny Krivak I 1978
808 Guided Missile Frigate Pitlivy Krivak II 1979
197th Amphibious Ship Brigade # Type Name Class Year
152 Landing Ship Nikolay Filchenkov Alligator 1975
148 Landing Ship Orsk Alligator 1968
150 Landing Ship Saratov Alligator 1966
151 Landing Ship Azov Ropucha-II ?
142 Landing Ship Novocherkassk Ropucha-I ?
158 Landing Ship Tsezar Kunikov Ropucha-I ?
156 Landing Ship Yamal Ropucha-I ?

247th Submarine Battalion
# Type Name Class Year
554 Attack Submarine Alrosa (ex-B-871) Kilo 1990
572 Attack Submarine B-380 (Under Repair) Tango 1980

68th Coastal Defence Warship Brigade
400th Antisubmarine Ship Battalion # Type Name Class Year
059 ASW Corvette Alexandrovets ? ?
053 ASW Corvette Povorino ? ?
071 ASW Corvette Suzdalets ? ?
064 ASW Corvette Muromets Grisha III 1983
060 ASW Corvette Vladimirets ? ?
418th Minesweeper Battalion # Type Name Class Year
913 Seagoing Minesweeper Kovrovets Natya ?
911 Seagoing Minesweeper Ivan Golubets Natya ?
912 Seagoing Minesweeper Turbinist Natya 1972
909 Seagoing Minesweeper Vice Admiral Zhukov Natya 1977

41st Missile Boat Brigade
166th Novorossiysky Small Missile Boat Battalion # Type Name Class Year
615 Guided Missile Corvette Bora Bora 1988
616 Guided Missile Corvette Samum Bora 1991
620 Guided Missile Corvette Shtil' Nanuchka-III 1976
617 Guided Missile Corvette Mirazh Nanuchka-III 1983
295th Sulinsky Missile Boat Battalion # Type Name Class Year
966 Missile Boat R-44 Matka Mod 1978
955 Missile Boat R-60 Tarantul-III Mod 1985
962 Missile Boat R-71 Tarantul-II Mod 1985
952 Missile Boat R-109 Tarantul-III 1991
953 Missile Boat R-239 Tarantul-III 1991
954 Missile Boat Ivanovetc Tarantul-III 1988

84th Novorossiysk Coastal Defence Brigade
# Type Name Class Year
054 Small Antisubmarine Ship Eysk Grisha-III 1987
055 Small Antisubmarine Ship Kasimov Grisha-III 1984
901 Seagoing Minesweeper Zheleznyakov ? 1988
770 Seagoing Minesweeper Valentin Pikul' ? 2001
426 Base Minesweeper Mineralnie Vodi ? 1990
438 Base Minesweeper Leytenant Ilyin ? 1982

[edit on 9-8-2008 by jetxnet]

Maybe the Turks will finally step in
if Russia tried to block off the oil

Originally posted by jetxnet
What does Russia really plan on doing with the Black Sea Fleet?

For one thing it is not the entire Black Sea fleet - not even a large portion of it. There is about 5 to 8 ships in total. Most likely they are there to prevent Georgians advancing on Abkhazia along the coast line. Or to cut off sea transport to Georgia, which could be bringing weapons to Georgia.

Originally posted by jetxnet
Do they plan on taking control of the Caspian Oil pipeline and port - as in setting up a blockcade.

No they do not. What would they do with the pipeline? Its not like oil is coming from Georgia - its coming from Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan would just cut off the oil, and pipeline would be useless. And Russia hardly needs any oil resources - like U.S. does.

Originally posted by Rentor
Maybe the Turks will finally step in

if Russia tried to block off the oil

And do what? Yell really loud? Wave the Turkish flag and pretend they are back in 1800's when Russians wiped out much of the Turkish Fleet?

Turkey has no say in this. If they are desperate for oil they are free to help U.S. invade Iran. We'll see how that goes for them.

[edit on 9-8-2008 by maloy]

Thanks - didn't think it would be the whole fleet.

It's just been rumored across multiple news sites (CNN and Sky) that Western Oil assets were being threatened. I was wonder just how it was being threatened.

Originally posted by jetxnet
I was wonder just how it was being threatened.

Bombs? Russia wouldnt take them over, destory them, perhaps.

Turkey is there to remind Russia no to go to far. Turkey represents NATO in this matter.

There is no breaking news on either Sky News or BBC NEWS 24 which is odd as there has been breaking news all day. Last bit of information to come out was Russian troops waiting until dawn to commence operation. Anyone know what time dawn is in South Ossetia and other possible areas of conflict?