Russian forces destroy key Georgian bridge ( What ceasefire comrade?)

LA Times ^ | 8-16-2008 | Megan K. Stack

[82ndABNOfficer]

IGOETI, Georgia -- Russia and its allied forces today destroyed a key railway bridge linking war-weary Georgia's capital to the Black Sea coast, effectively severing all east-west transportation routes within the small country, the Georgian Foreign Ministry announced.

[TLI]

On the edge of the strategically important city of Gori, Georgian soldiers pointed their weapons at Russian forces, and explosions and small arms fire broke out in the distance.

Georgia claimed Russians had left the oil port city of Poti, but hours later some forces were still there.

The U.S. said a move toward Kutaisi would be a matter of great concern, but two defense officials told The Associated Press the Pentagon did not detect any major movement by Russia troops or tanks.

In a way this makes no sense as Kutaisi is mid-way between Gori and Poti (east - west line) which implies they are already there (Kutaisi). If the presence is small enough it is of no concern. A major push to the southwest, well that would be another story.

Cutting the route by blowing the bridge at Gori does imply they are going to keep the S.O. region with some buffer zone. I wonder what the lines look like on the east side, from Mtskheta to Dusheti and north?

[musicman]

Good post!!

IMHO, wouldn't a "temporary" closing of the Roki Tunnel also help to create a more "target rich enviornment" for the Georgians?

[MarMema]

Good video at that link. Thank you.

[MarMema]

Mtskheta is still occupied, per a friend I have there.

[Bobalu]

Great image! Deserves a closer look...

[lodi90]

The President needs to make a very clear statement ASAP that the US is monitoring these activities and anything the Russians break the United States of America will speedily replace.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

It is a Russian style ceasefire.

You cease, they fire.

[rodguy911]

My guess is the KGB is all over each and every country(including Georgia) that Russia lost. If we don't do the same with our cia we are truly naive.

[lodi90]

“Send some humanitarian aid in the form of night vision equipment, anti-tank weapons and MANPAD anti-aircraft missiles to the Georgians”

If the Georgians fight back at this point the KGB will just send their armor into the capitol and depose the Georgian government.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

FNC Steve Harrigan reporting Russian forces within 14 miles of capitol this afternoon and not moving.

It was 35 miles yesterday. I hope the West has an evacuation plan for the Georgian president.

[rodguy911]

We need to use some “special” weapons on them just to get their attention. Just a little reminder to let them know who they are fooling with.

[USNBandit]

I wouldn't supply them with U.S. weapons, I would supply them with the latest Russian stuff. SA-18, Kornet, the latest RPG. If you can't get it from what was captured in Iraq then have somebody buy it from the Chinese. Throw in a couple thousand explosively formed projectile type IEDs based on the Iranian design.

A couple things make this a better plan than equipping them with the latest American gear. First it doesn't allow the Russians to capture/buy a Javelin. The second is that it rams their own support of our enemies back down their throat.

[filbert]

If the Georgians fight back at this point the KGB will just send their armor into the capitol and depose the Georgian government.

That's what the anti-tank weapons are for. If I were Bush or Rice today, I would be telling the Russians in no uncertain terms that if they don't withdraw their forces to the two provinces that they've already stolen from Georgia, we'll turn the rest of Georgia into another Afghanistan for them. That's the bear trap I refer to.

[Lilith Incubus]

At least Bush, here late in the game, has seen how Putin has used him and abused his trust, and he (Bush) is now responding appropriately.

I kinda feel sorry for Bush, looking from a European perspective, can I offer my opinion?

Bush Jr's' entire presidential period seems to have been littered with issues left for him, that he was obliged to try and finish off.
The war in Iraq should never have been, it was probably the one facet of middle East rogues that could genuinely have waited.
If it wasn't for Saddam having snubbed Bush Sr so many times, I don't think the US would have been militarily involved in Iraq under Bush Jr.

The stark differences bteween Putin and Bush are so obvious, even the photo above that was posted shows tension.

Putin is a chess master, he's a fearless, manipulative, hard nosed right wing Communist, who's nationalistic goals are fully supported by his attitude, commitment and more importantly, his political colleagues and his people.
He is a true leader of a Nation, whether one likes where he is taking them, or not.

Then you have Bush Jr, a Republican, who as mentioned, has spent years trying to save face for previous presidents, exudes a modicum of right wing policy, but tries to balance it with other left wing idiocy to keep immature voters happy.
He's seen as rather deficient in European circles, from the aforementioned settling of scores, to the way he obviously struggles to speak publicly with a fluent grasp of English pronunciation.
The way that he tries to offer balance against his true beliefs, and how he's trying to keep alive some Nationalistic influences in a Country which is adamant on charging swiftly to the extreme left, fundamentally compromises him.

I think if he'd had a clear slate, he'd have developed much better as a personality, which would have made him a much better President, when looking retrospectively.
After all, as far as issues in a Presidential term go, he's had a hell of a lot to deal with, maybe more, and more serious issues than any other President in history.

I just wish he'd have been more honest and resolute.
When he said he wanted a war on terror, he should have gone to war with real terrorists, and their funders, rather than spending years, colluding with the Marxist idiot Blair from England, dealing with major life and money losses playing out the facade that is the war in Iraq.

I think Bush knows what's needed, it's a similarly strong response to the rogue Countries of the World, but after Iraq, there's no way the increasingly Liberal US will have the stomach for it, unless Russia, N.Korea, Pakistan or Iran light the fire first.

[gogogodzilla]

Since when does the Georgian government need to run out of Tblisi?

They can be located anywhere, as long as they have good lines of command, control, and communication. Their border with Turkey would be a pretty safe place, as I doubt the Turks would put up with armed Russian tank brigades and infantry divisions anywhere near them.

[Allegra]

Bush got 9/11 less than eight months into his presidency.

It changed and colored his entire approach. Any plans he had for our nation prior to that had to be modified.

As annoyed as I have been with some of his domestic policies, I believe his keeping the war on terrorism out in front has kept our country safer.

[rodguy911]

That is all pootie understands but I don't know just how effective the Georgian military is even with our equipment.

[rodguy911]

Probably the worst thing the President has done(or not done) is not to fight back every time he was attacked from within by the DNC/rats.

From WMD's on down he should have stuffed it all up their butts every time they attacked him and gave him the blame for everything that has ever happened.

[what's up]

The war in Iraq should never have been, it was probably the one facet of middle East rogues that could genuinely have waited

Nonsense. If Saddam hadn't been taken out, the world would have sunk deeper into fear these last 8 years, convinced that he was developing WMD.

Besides, he deserved to be taken out just on shooting at fliers in the no-fly zone and oil-for-food abuses alone, even though kicking out the inspectors was enough.

he should have gone to war with real terrorists, and their funders

Under this President, thousands of terrorists have been killed as they were drawn like flies on honey to Iraq. And the money sources which were revealed and shut down are too many to mention.

He may not talk as well as you would like, but he's been incredibly effective in the WOT.

[TLI]

Mtskheta is still occupied, per a friend I have there.

"Russian soldiers occupying the central Georgian town of Gori also pushed forward 14 miles toward the capital, Tbilisi, setting up positions on the country's main east-west road 25 miles from the capital."

If the article quote is accurate then they should reinforce Mtskheta but not move on to Tbilisi. If the "buffer zone" theory is the correct scenario, that is.

It may mean the Russians will give up Mtskheta in a "pull back" deal.