SS-21 "Scarab"
Posted on 08/17/2008 8:23:59 PM PDT by maquiladora
Russia has deployed several SS-21 tactical missile launchers and supply vehicles to South Ossetia, putting the Georgian capital of Tbilisi within their striking range, The New York Times has reported.
Citing unnamed US officials familiar with intelligence reports, the newspaper said the launching positions were located north of Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital.
The report came as Russian forces continued to man positions along the road from Tbilisi to Gori, including at a checkpoint in Igoeti, only 30km from the capital.
An AFP reporter saw a long column of Russian vehicles, including about 25 tanks and 25 armoured personnel carriers, parked outside Gori. A Russian soldier told AFP the forces were peacekeepers and would be staying.
But The Times, citing western officials, said elite Russian troops were now being moved into positions in the region, or being prepared to move there.
A battalion from Russia's 76th Guards Airborne Division has been deployed from Pskov to Beslan, a city in North Ossetia, the report pointed out.
Several additional battalions from the 98th Guards Airborne Division based in Kostroma also appeared to be preparing for possible deployment to the Caucasus region, the paper said.
In addition, several Bear-H bombers have carried out training missions over the Black Sea, according to the report.
The planes, capable of carrying non-nuclear cruise missiles, appeared to simulate a missile attacks against Georgia, said The Times, citing intelligence analysts.
The paper said the actions are seen in the Pentagon as muscle flexing designed to make some NATO members more skeptical about accepting Georgia into the alliance, and are not viewed as signs that Russia intended to take Tbilisi.
Looky...
Time to review over armed services budgets and manpower.... the Cold War is back, and it's starting off with a hot phase.
From Pskov!
Tom Clancy must be blowing his beverage of choice out of his nose.
It looks like things are getting real interesting in the Republic of Georgia.
The Prophet is right again!
Might be, but I wouldn't assume any such thing. I'd watch 'em like a hawk and plan for the worst.
My read, and advice, would be.
SS-21 "Scarab"
It’s all several day old news except perhaps for the part about the Bear bombers.
From Tuesday or Wednesday:
What does Bohica mean?
8/14/08
“Russia Fires SS-21 Ballistic Missiles at the Republic of Georgia”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2061997/posts?q=1&;page
Putin must be reading his books ;-)
Bend
Over
Here
It
Comes
The 'news' part of this is that these missiles are in Georgia and are in range of the capital. Previous SS-21 missiles were fired from inside Russia.
From the original NYT :
The Russian military deployed several SS-21 missile launchers and supply vehicles to South Ossetia on Friday, according to American officials familiar with intelligence reports. From the new launching positions north of Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital, the missiles can reach much of Georgia, including Tbilisi, the capital.
James F. Jeffrey, the American deputy national security adviser, told reporters earlier this month that President Bush was informed on Aug. 8 that two SS-21s had been fired into Georgia. He said Mr. Bush “immediately” met with Russia’s prime minister, Vladimir V. Putin, who was also attending the Olympics in Beijing, to express concern over the Russian military actions.
Fragments of an SS-21 missile have been found near a police station in the port city of Poti. The rocket struck a police vehicle in front of the station.
But those missiles were fired from Russian territory, an American official said Sunday. In recent days, the official said, SS-21 missile launchers, as well as supply vehicles, have driven south through the Roki Tunnel into South Ossetia and been deployed on an elevated area about 10 miles north of Tskhinvali. That would put them within range of much of Georgia, including Kutaisi, Georgia’s second-largest city, and Tbilisi itself, adding to Russia’s ability to intimidate its neighbor.
http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6093&Itemid=65
Bend Over here it comes again.
Standard equipment of any peacekeeping force, of course.
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