denied any Russian military involvement, saying that
just 500 Russian peacekeepers were in the province.
Posted on 08/08/2008 11:40:31 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
VIENNA, Austria: Russian and Georgian officials at a leading European security organized sparred Friday over who is to blame for the bloodshed in the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia.
Georgia's ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Victor Dolidze, accused Russia of "clear, open, military aggression from one OSCE country to another — its neighbor, unfortunately."
But Vladimir Voronkov, Russia's top delegate to the Vienna-based body, denied any Russian military involvement, saying that just 500 Russian peacekeepers were in the province.
"I can't speak about any Russian forces present: This is a very obvious trick of the Georgian side to place Russia as a side of conflict," he said. "There are two sides of conflict in this conflict: South Ossetia and Georgia," he said, adding that Moscow would like to "stop the bloodshed."
The two spoke separately to reporters after a special, closed-door meeting of the 56-member body.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
fyi
The former KSZE at work.
Useless organization, full of useless people, from useless states, talking about how relevant they are, but powerless and inept what will ever be decided? What will ever be done, besides convene for another meeting of course!
Poor Georgia.
“But Vladimir Voronkov, Russia’s top delegate to the Vienna-based body, denied any Russian military involvement, saying that just 500 Russian peacekeepers were in the province.”
Yahh, those pictures of 150 Russian tanks that entered Georgia today that are currently pasted all over the world wide press is an optical illusion. Those bombed out military bases near Georgia’s capital are just an optical illusion as well.
just 500 Russian peacekeepers were in the province.
When did the rebels get Migs?
Still from Threads (1984)
That’s a good one:) Just make me LOL.
While there are many regions of the world of strategic concern to US interests, South Ossetia is NOT one of them. This is Russia and Georgia’s fight. Not ours.
Oh look. Its the Russian peacekeepers.
I would like to know what Russia is trying to prove...other than NATO is weak...?
The Russians are SOB’s, but this isn’t our fight.
They still flyin the Frogfoot? I guess...
What other areas are on your list to be ceded to Russian and Chinese military dominance? To think that Georgia isn't a strategic area is to not understand the Middle East at all. A Democratic Georgia, allied with the United States is very strategic. Look at a map.
Was the Sudeten issue just a matter between the Czechs and the Germans in your book? If Russia gets what it wants in Georgia, it won't be long before Russian tanks are re-invading the Baltic countries to protect the "oppressed Russians" there.
I'm certain that a big part of this is payback for what we did to them in Kosovo almost a decade ago and for recognizing Kosovar "independence" last Spring. Our "best and brightest" have allowed us to become overly enmeshed in matters unimportant to US interests.
I'm certain that a big part of this is payback for what we did to them in Kosovo almost a decade ago and for recognizing Kosovar "independence" last Spring. Our "best and brightest" have allowed us to become overly enmeshed in matters unimportant to US interests.
They both have nukes.
It may not be our fight, but:
1) Georgia and its government have been strong allies of the US.
2) They have over 2000 troops in Iraq and have been a solid member of the coalition.
3) Georgia will be joining NATO in 2009.
We repeatedly give assurances first to Soviet and then Russia leaders starting in the first term of Bill Clinton that we had no wish to expand NATO yet repeatedly did. Now, watch how quickly Europe backs down from supporting Georgia even if they will be joining NATO in 2009. (With their gas pipeline, Russia has old Europe by its proverbial gonads.) As philosophically abhorrent as it is even to me, realpolitik will prevail, and that we decided to extend our sphere of influence into regions not historically of our concern nor which we were willing to support will show the amateurishness of this current State Dept.
Ask the central Europeans if they are naturally in the Russian sphere of influence (required to kowtow to Moscow) and you will find that they actually consider themselves free peoples. Go figure.
The Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Hungarians, etc. entered NATO not because we are trying to force Russia’s borders, but because they do not want to be left out in the cold to deal with an aggressive Russia on their own.
NATO expansion did not take off until Moscow headed back toward totalitarianism. At which the free people in central Europe and the Americans (to our credit) saw a window of opportunity to provide a measure of safety to them. Had they not been included in NATO when they were, I’m sure that we would already be seeing well funded militant movements throughout these countries.
The Russians/Soviets may be paranoid, but that doesn’t excuse their behavior. We extended the olive branch and more to the Russians after ‘91 and they chose instead to climb back within the dark paranoia of the past.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.