Georgian army flees in disarray as Russians advance

TimesOnline ^ | August 11, 2008 | Tony Halpin

[brytlea]

I did not see this posted. susie

[henkster]

I would have hoped they’d put up more of a fight than this. You’d think they know what it means to be occupied by the Soviets...uh...I mean, the Russkies.

[BenLurkin]

I’m guessing they didn’t want to see too many civilian casualties. Perhaps they were cirle around behind the Soviet columns and cut them off.

[Rick.Donaldson]

They have a force of roughly 14,000 military personnel. I think that includes all the services put together.

The odds for them are... not good.

[austrian]

it was clear that it would only be a matter of time until
the georgian military would lose this fight. to be fair they did never had a chance.

[Bushwacker777]

Maybe they see the stupidity of their corrupt president and are unwilling to die for him.

[tcrlaf]

Fox Reporting the Russians have taken the Oil Port of POTI, as well...

[SolidWood]

They will need every man and every bullet when they have to defend Tblisi.

[Red Badger]

Discretion is the better part of valor............

[MarMema]

I have already posted this a few places, but I got an email from a friend in Batumi who said Russian soldiers are advancing and are in Mtskheta and heading for Tbilisi.

He is terrified and shocked. Me too.

[tcrlaf]

A COMPLETE Army of 26,000, with most of it’s best officers and NCO’s in Iraq...

84 70’s-Era t-70 tanks, and a few German Wheeled AFV’s versus 1,000+ Russian T-80’s and IFV’s.

A few large artillery pieces, without the AA to protect them, in the face of complete Russian Air Superiority...

Not good odds for even a running withdrawal...

[redstateconfidential]

What will Bush do?..............

[leilani]

I’m trying to find confirmation of this.(also heard in on FOX) Have you seen anything anywhere else about Poti being taken?

[Xenophon450]

Hmm, Turkey has been strangely silent. I doubt that they would risk open war with Russia over that pipeline.

[MarMema]

Yes, this is what a friend just told me in email.

I am ready to throw up now.

[MarMema]

My friend said Saakashevili is on tv telling them everything will be ok, to stay in their homes, and that he loves them.

[Xenophon450]

I believe the Georgian forces have arrived back from Iraq today.

[brytlea]

By sheer numbers you are surely correct.
susie

[MarMema]

We have Americans in Tbilisi, some working privately, some contracted, and a US ambassador as well.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Yeah, might have been a bit more than I quoted. I was reading some old data too.

And those in Iraq are enroute home. 1000 to be as close to precise as I can without knowing exactly what’s on the C-17s at this time.