[jhpigott]

Just coming across the wires -

Russian armour massed near Zugdidi-Reuters witness
14 Aug 2008 12:23:39 GMT
Source: Reuters

</SPAN> ZUGDIDI, Georgia, Aug 14 (Reuters) - More than 100 Russian armoured vehicles were massed two km (1.5 miles) from the centre of Zugdidi, a major town in western Georgia, a Reuters witness said.
“I counted 104 Russian army vehicles, including 40 armoured vehicles, most of which are tanks,” Reuters staff photographer Umit Bektas said by telephone from the city.
Bektas said their purpose was unclear.
He said the convoy included weapons such as rocket propelled grenades and was carrying Russian flags. (Writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Melissa Akin)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LE695362.htm

[maquiladora]

Seems like they are still moving around and destorying whatever is left of the Georgian military infastructure in the areas they are occupying.

[justa-hairyape]

If you are going to take the Caucasus you have to take Tbilisi. The Russians cannot afford to leave it intact behind their front lines. They may try to move that Zugdidi force east and then south toward the Turkish border. They could use the cover of night when they get near Turkey. That could be an encircling force to threaten Tbilisi from the south.

[Truth29]

Unless NATO does something now, the Russians have accomplished far more that just crippling Georgia. They have gained great influence over the Caspian sea oil and gas resources and the Eastern European former Soviet states who thought they could turn to the West.

I would suspect that the missile shield bases planned in Poland and the Czech Republic won't get build and the pipelines across Georgia will fall under effective Russian (nee Soviet) control.

Russia is also preparing the geopolitics to separate the Crimean peninsula from the Ukraine. NATO needs to see he larger picture fast.

[iThinkBig]

Just peacekeepers I am sure (sic). There is no doubt the Russians have very big plans in the next few short years. To destroy all credibility and cooperation with the West means Putin feels confident he can go after the big energy prize and international currency peg.