Posted on 08/08/2008 3:41:39 AM PDT by edpc
TBILISI, Georgia - Georgian troops launched a major military offensive Friday to regain control over the breakaway province of South Ossetia and the president accused Russia, which has close ties to the separatists, of bombing Georgian territory.
A Russian official denied the bombing. But Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the Georgian attack will draw retaliation and the Defense Ministry pledged to protect South Ossetians, most of whom have Russian citizenship.
An Associated Press reporter saw tanks and other heavy weapons concentrating on the Russian side of the border with South Ossetia and villagers were fleeing into Russia.
"I saw them (the Georgians) shelling my village," said Maria, who gave only her first name. She looked shocked and was reluctant to speak. She said she and other villagers spent the night in a field and then fled toward the Russian border as the fighting escalated.
The fighting in South Ossetia has raised fears of an all-out war that could draw in Russia, which has peacekeepers in the region. Putin said an unspecified number of the peacekeepers have been wounded.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Keep the snide comments to yourself. I am fully aware that the aggressive Russians are always up to havoc. But our involvement in the Serbia-Kosovo matter gives Moscow an excellent argument. If the West supports the secession of Kosovo what argument do we have to deny it to Ossetia!? I am not saying that we should cowtow to the Russians now and let Ossetia secede. We should fully support Georgia for their sovereign rights. But the issue of the Balkans needs to be adressed. At the very least majority Serb areas in Bosnia should be given to Serbia in exchange for losing Kosovo.
I hope that (at the least) we are selling heavily discounted arms to the Georgians at this very minute. A ground war in Georgia would be brutal, but if the Georgians are up for it then we should do our part - and make sure the Turks don't gain influence there in our stead.
There are lots of Americans in Georgia, though, not just military.
And may peace come to them all, Lord have mercy.
You are right, the Kosovo precedent will haunt us perhaps for decades.
Very troubling situation. Wonder if Europe will step up to the plate? It really should fall to them to help Georgia before America has to step in imho.
What I said is the truth. You don't like it, ok, continue not to like it. You have your first amendment rights, so do I. You exercise yours, and I'll exercise mine. And don't try to tell me not to.
Please be so good and read my comments on the other threads on Russia-Georgia. If you suggest that I am a “Blame America” person, you my good are an joker.
Spare me your constitutional lectures, professor.
stop drinking the vodka you make in the bathtub.
You're throwing gutter level insults. Protected by 1st Amendment? Yes. Do I have to take it? No.
Funny thing is on other threads they hurl abuse that I am a Neocon Russophobe... well can't make it right to everyone.
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