U.S. Official Faults Russia for Violent Conflict in Georgia

U.S. Official Faults Russia for Violent Conflict in Georgia

Saturday, August 09, 2008
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Russia's use of overwhelming military force against Georgia, including strategic bombers and ballistic missiles, is disproportionate to any threat from the former Soviet state and could escalate tensions in the volatile region, a senior U.S. official said Saturday.

The Bush administration official, who briefed reporters on condition his name not be used because of the sensitive nature of the situation, said Russia has attacked areas in Georgia that are far away from the separatist province of South Ossetia, where the fighting has centered. The official also said the Russian military is striking civilian targets.

"They have employed strategic bombers — the most potent air weaponry that is in the Russian arsenal .... They actually launched ballistic missile attacks on Georgian territory," the official said. He also said Russia has sent more than 1,000 paratroopers and armor into the region.

Russian bombing has also taken place in Abkhazia, a separate breakaway region of Georgia, far from South Ossetia, the official said.

"This is a dangerous escalation in the crisis," the official said. Russia's military response "marks a severe escalation and is being conducted in areas far, far from the South Ossetia zone of conflict, which is where the Russian side has said it needed to protect its citizens and peacekeepers. So the response has been far disproportionate to whatever threat Russia had been citing."

Article continues here...

Maybe they learned something from the USA... like "shock and awe."

Pale Rider wrote:Maybe they learned something from the USA... like "shock and awe."

Bullshit! Russia HAS ALWAYS been a fuckin bully and are now trying to revive the cold war. Those fuck nuts better be careful what they ask for because they just may well receive it. I told my daughter dont be surprised if America sends out a ship to the mediterranian soon with her on board.

theironlady wrote:

Pale Rider wrote:Maybe they learned something from the USA... like "shock and awe."

Bullshit! Russia HAS ALWAYS been a fuckin bully and are now trying to revive the cold war. Those fuck nuts better be careful what they ask for because they just may well receive it. I told my daughter dont be surprised if America sends out a ship to the mediterranian soon with her on board.

The world is watching. They see Russia using total disproportionate force. But what I'm sayin' is they probably figure if we can invade a sovereign nation and get away with it, so can they.

There is a HUGE difference. Saddam didnt want democracy. Whereas Georgia does. Saddam lived by his terroristic code Georgia is just trying to get into NATO.


People in Georgia want freedom FROM Russia. Whereas people in Iraq begged for America to save them from Saddam.

theironlady wrote:There is a HUGE difference. Saddam didnt want democracy. Whereas Georgia does. Saddam lived by his terroristic code Georgia is just trying to get into NATO.


People in Georgia want freedom FROM Russia. Whereas people in Iraq begged for America to save them from Saddam.

I agree, there is basically zero in common between Iraq and Georgia politically.

This thing is really beginning to create quite a stir in international politics. This could alienate Russia, and hopefully it does. That Putin is a scum bag. He's an old school commie that wants the USSR back.

Damn straight!

Russia calls halt to 5-day invasion of Georgia



Tuesday, August 12, 2008 8:50 PM EDT
The Associated Press
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA and MISHA DZHINDZHIKHASHVILI Associated Press Writers

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Declaring "the aggressor has been punished," the Kremlin ordered a halt Tuesday to Russia's devastating assault on Georgia — five days of air and ground attacks that left homes in smoldering ruins and uprooted 100,000 people.

Georgia said the bombs and shells were still coming hours after the cease-fire was declared, and its President Mikhail Saakashvili said Russia's aim all along was not to gain control of two disputed provinces but to "destroy" the smaller nation, a former Soviet state and current U.S. ally.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, speaking in Moscow, said Georgia had paid enough for its attack on South Ossetia, a separatist region along the Russian border with close ties to Russia.

"The aggressor has been punished and suffered very significant losses. Its military has been disorganized," Medvedev said.

Still, the president ordered his defense minister at a televised Kremlin meeting: "If there are any emerging hotbeds of resistance or any aggressive actions, you should take steps to destroy them."

http://charter.net/news/read.php?ps=1018&rip_id=%3CD92H31H81%40news.ap.org%3E&_LT=HOME_LARSDCCLM_UNEWS

And no... "oil" is NEVER the reason ANY of this ever happens...

Georgia sits on a strategic oil pipeline carrying Caspian crude to Western markets and bypassing Russia. The British oil company BP shut down one of three Georgian pipelines, saying it was a precaution.

Like Rush always says, "follow the money."

Here's a surprise!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/13/georgia.russia.war/index.html

Russian convoy advance flares Georgia tensions


So much for that cease fire.