BBC: Georgia move fails to halt raids

BBC ^ | Sunday, 10 August 2008 22:29 UK 21:29 GMT, | BBC Staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Georgia move fails to halt raids

Georgia insists that all its forces are now outside South Ossetia

Russia has continued air raids deep inside Georgia, after it rejected Tbilisi's announcement that it had called a ceasefire and wanted talks.

Jets bombed targets near Tbilisi, including the airport, and Russia said its warships had sunk a Georgian boat that approached and tried to attack.

Russia earlier took control of the breakaway region of South Ossetia, forcing Georgian troops to withdraw.

The US has accused Russia of seeking "regime change" in Georgia.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili told the BBC his forces had observed a ceasefire since 0500 on Sunday morning, but had still been bombed by Russian planes. He said his government had been trying "all day" to contact Russia to discuss a ceasefire.

Peace mission

Russian jets were still carrying out bombing raids late on Sunday. Witnesses said jets had hit Tbilisi International Airport, as well as a military airfield close to the Georgian capital.

[arthurus]

This is Russia’s golden opportunity to reincorporate Georgia into a re-coalescant empire. If Georgia is taken cleanly the other post Soviet states are openly in precarious positions. Russia will take them one by one. This little move could easily spill over into Armenia.

[Wiseghy]

Welcome to the new Cold War.

The US is considered weak, with
unpopular lame duck President, and a shift in power to Democrats anticipated. Putin figures they have us cornered by holding Iranian arms over our heads.

[ZULU]

And Ukraine, and Azerbaijan, and the Baltic States, and Eastern Europe.

The end result of three administrations in a row run by absolute fools and their accolytes.

[muawiyah]

More the result of too finely split government ~ and a totally unpatriotic Democrat party holding more than its fair share of power.

This can be fixed.

[ZULU]

I wish I had your optimism.

[Redbob]

Lit looks like Saakashvili screwed up big-time, and for no good reason.

Was he up for re-election, or has he got a bimbo problem?

[Bailee]

Couple of Question. Which country owns South Ossetia? Sound like South Ossetia(Georgia?) wants to join North Ossetia(Russia).

Is Russia defending a seccession attempt between North/South Ossetia?

We may not agree but if South Ossetia want to join Russia That is there business not ours.

From http://www.american.edu/ted/ice/ossetia.htm

“In September 1990, the Ossetians declared sovereingty under the USSR and in return, the Georgian government dissolved its recognition of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast. In January 1992, a referendum was held in Tskhinvali, the regional capital of South Ossetia, with a clear majority of the people supporting South Ossetia’s seccession from Georgia and joining Russia. The South Ossetian Supreme Council made these desires official after voting in favor of secession from Georgia to Russia on November 19, 1992.”