Russian, Georgian Forces Wage War
By Wyatt Earp | August 8, 2008
Of course, no one is calling it a “war,” but what else would you call two countries logging rockets at each other, and bombing each other back to The Stone Age?
TBLISI, Georgia — Bombs rocked Tbilisi early Saturday morning as the fight between Georgia and Russia over a breakaway region intensified and moved into the Georgian capital.
Government buildings, including the Parliament, were evacuated when the bombs fell.
A declaration of martial law was likely within hours, Georgia National Security Council secretary Alexander Lomaia said.
Heavy casualties have reported on both sides since Russian forces moved Friday into South Ossetia, a pro-Russian autonomous region of Georgia.
Maybe it’s me, but this sounds like an invasion to me.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, quoted by Interfax, said Russians had died because of Georgian military operations in South Ossetia.
Russia “will not allow the deaths of our compatriots to go unpunished,” and “those guilty will receive due punishment,” he said. “My duty as Russian president is to safeguard the lives and dignity of Russian citizens, wherever they are. This is what is behind the logic of the steps we are undertaking now.” (H/T – CNN)
Oh yeah, this Medvedev guy sounds like someone we can deal with and trust.
Little Green Footballs has more HERE.
UPDATE: Russia is crushing dissent in Georgia, and getting back to its Stalinist roots:
GORI, Georgia (AP) – Russia sent hundreds of tanks and troops into the separatist province of South Ossetia and bombed Georgian towns Saturday in a major escalation of the conflict that has left scores of civilians dead and wounded.
Bombing its own civilians. Yeah, and America is the evil country.
Topics: Uncategorized | 9 Comments »
August 8th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Oh yea… I’m trust him. Wonder if he has a bank? (Heavy on sarcasm!)
August 8th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Kosovo? Is there a reason that Russians can’t save the Russian minority in Georgia? The Tibetan minority in Tibet? The Hispanic minority in America?
Looks like a real war, looks like Russia needs to win it tomorrow, or at least own the control of all that Southern Ossetia, troops on the ground with lots of Air Cover. One doesn’t want to be on the receiving end of those rocket slavos.
When did “breakaway region” become a political reality?
August 8th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Deanna – This is the kind of politician Pelosi and her ilk will look to schmooze. Unreal.
Earl – Apparently, Russia needs to care care of matters at home before worrying about the rest of the world.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Totally unrelated to the post contents, but when the word “Georgian” popped out at me, my first thought was “Oh gawd, what have we done now?”.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Wasn’t the Germans’ reason for invading Czechoslovakia and Poland because there were areas with large German populations that were supposedly being oppressed? Russia has a huge number of secret police, arrests people for being homosexual, officially persecutes Jews and Gypsies, has complete government control over the media, and yet it is Bush, not Putin, who is Hitler. Am I missing something?
August 9th, 2008 at 4:32 am
By the way, according to the official Russian Media, Bush is still evil for invading Iraq, Medvedev is a hero for bravely standing up against the tiny, oil rich, nation of Georgia. I love hypocrisy.
August 9th, 2008 at 6:05 am
Sounds like an invasion to me. I had a student work for me one summer who was from Georgia. He loved jazz and enjoyed reading Rafael Sabatini. A very nice kid. I hope he’s all right. Damn you, Putin!
August 9th, 2008 at 7:54 am
One of the commentators of the opening ceremonies of the Olympics (as Russia was entering the stadium) said that what happened was a “crisis for the Russian military”.
HUH?
Stoooooopid!
August 9th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Snigs – Russia invaded Atlanta because the Braves suck this year. Ha!
Marvin – The Germans didn’t invade. They were “invited.” Cake was served!
Ky person – And he’s sitting at the Games drinking tea. Nice. I’ve always said Medvedev was Putin’s puppet anyway.
RT – Yeah, it was a “crisis” that they started by killing their own civilians.