Posted on 08/11/2008 1:29:34 PM PDT by brytlea
Georgia’s army was in complete disarray tonight after troops and tanks fled the city of Gori in panic and abandoned it to the Russians without firing a shot.
As Russian armoured columns rolled deep into central and western Georgia, seizing several towns and a military base, President Saakashvili said his country had been cut in half.
For the first time since the crisis erupted last Thursday, Russia admitted that its troops had moved out of Abkhazia, the other breakaway region under Moscow’s protection, and seized the town of Senaki in Georgia proper.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Well, I went and looked at an atlas this afternoon to refresh my memory of local geography.
Georgia, much less these “breakaway provinces,” is about as big as a pimple on the Bear’s ass. Not surprised they find the gap in military might a wee bit daunting.
And, yes, you are quite right about those memories of the Soviets.
And we, the world that is, would not need to, if we hadn't been sticking our head in the sand for the last 30+ years, since the '73 Arab oil embargo.
But no, even on the eve of this action, "saving the gay whales" is more important to the DemonRats in Congress.
I take it that if the U.S. were invaded, you would welcome our new communist overlords.
Not many Frogs left alive that remember the details, I’m afraid. :(
As you say, that was day one. How many are there now? How many on the secondary front to the northwest? How many more aircraft do the Russian have than the Georgians. What sort of armor and aircraft?
The first shots were fired on Friday night. An unidentified number of Georgian troops moved into South Ossetia to restore there the control of the central government. Moscow’s response was as immediate as brutal: some 150 tanks and armored vehicles, supported by the air force and navy, were sent to help the pro-Russian republic.
In Russia, as in most countries, you don't whistle up 150 armored vehicles and however many aircraft and have them on the road or conducting strikes in the rear areas, in 24 hours. Doesn't happen. You don't sortie a fleet, especially the current Russian Black Sea fleet, in that much time either. But they did. That means they had it all laid on *before* the S. Ossetian "separtists" broke the cease fire, which was the cause for the Georgian response.
This is irony. I know Georgia is our ally, but you’re suggesting them to do what Al Quaida and other terrorist organizations have been doing. I’m at a loss.
Yes, Putin is most certainly corrupt.
Not the same at all. The terrorists kill people to create terror. The Georgians, like the Afghans before them, would be attacking *military* and some "infrastructure" targets. Not the civilian population. Not to win hearts and minds through terror, but rather to make trouble for the regime "back home".
Oh there was another war where one side was vastly inferior in numbers and military prowess. They had a guy they called "The Swamp Fox" who fought a guerrilla war and tied down lots of troops, until help could come. That was mostly in South Carolina, but in Georgia and North Carolina as well. The "Swamp Fox" was General Francis Marion, of the Continental Army.
I meant the strategy of attack then run and hide. Same thing.
I’m just waiting for the lame brained idea of someone to suggest arming terrorists to fight Russia for us. It’s happened before.
4th gen warfare baby, best way to beat Russia.
It depends, I suppose. Bismarck once said that Russia is never as strong, nor as weak, as she seems to be. Right now they're acting "strong," but I think they may have made a strategic error with respect to how their actions will be seen outside of Russia.
More interesting to me is the possibility that this action could possibly have been taken for internal -- Russian domestic -- reasons. (Along those lines, it is said that the Russo-Japanese war was in part an attempt by the Czar to generate nationalism in the face of increasing domestic unrest.)
With a series of such victories, Putin could no doubt cement his position as the "new Stalin," at least for a while. Up 'til now, I have to think his activities have generated a lot of unease among the Russian populace.
Why?????????? Putin's domestic popularity is at 110%. Why would he start an external military engagement to increase his popularity even further??
This was a message to all neighbouring countries and the West about who has control in the area.. Kinda like our message to the Ruskies about Cuba in 1962..
Not at all. It is however, exactly what the Swamp Fox did. Even in the initial confrontation between British Regulars and Massachusetts Local Free militias starting at Concord bridge, the Americans attacked, from cover, then ran down the road a bit then hid, and attacked from cover once again.
“...Hopefully they were also issued a few hundred Javelins and/or TOWs...”
Hmm, yes TOWs!
Make the Russians suck Georgian TOWs!
And interestingly.....Russia has already named the US, Turkey and Israel has co-conspirators with Georgia. The want to make sure all their propaganda machine is firmly established, if this does indeed escalate. Russia won't screw with the Turks, they know that will give every reason for NATO to bring the hammer down, and for us to sortie airstrikes from Incirlik, Merzifon, Diyarbakır etc. However, I fear you're correct that we will do nothing but sit on our hands until/if the make a move toward the south of Georgia.
Russia is in for a world of hurt if it attacks Poland. Very different animal. They’ll fight.
eloquently said.
They are getting killed, and this would seem their only sane choice. When going up against an enemy like Russia, unless you can match their numbers, and weapons, you'd better start looking at other methods real fast.
Then again, the Russians can be brutal, and they'll wipe out entire villages/towns if guerrilla strikes find good targets.
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