Posted on 08/18/2008 5:22:37 PM PDT by justa-hairyape
IGOETI, Georgia — Despite assurances that it would withdraw troops from Georgia starting Monday, the Russian military operated with impunity as its forces moved convoys in and out of the city of Gori and plowed through a police roadblock in this town some 25 miles northwest of Tbilisi , the capital.
In Washington , senior defense officials cited "troubling" intelligence that Russia had set up short-range ballistic missile launchers in South Ossetia . The SS-21 missiles have a range of 40 to 70 miles, meaning they can reach the capital from practically any part of South Ossetia , which Russian forces now occupy.
The officials, who refused to be identified due to the sensitivity of the subject, also said there was no significant Russian movement out of Georgia.
The scene at Igoeti made plain the Russian eagerness to demonstrate its military prowess.
A Russian army officer approached a Georgian police checkpoint leading off the main road and demanded that the Georgians clear the way.
"You have five minutes to move your cars," he told the Georgian policeman. And then it was three minutes. The Georgian, addressing the Russian as "Mr. Colonel," pleaded: "I have an order, I cannot move my cars."
A few minutes later, the Russian waved his hand, and an armored fighting vehicle plowed through the roadblock of Georgian police cars, its tracks crushing into their sides.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Any minute now they will! Any minute now! /s
Yesterday (Georgian time) the MSM had the ridiculous title on some articles that stated the Russians are PREPARING to start Leaving. That was when they should have been leaving. This is so 1921. Deja vu all over again.
The Russians have vastly overplayed their hand on this. Had they pushed the Georgians out of the disputed areas and stopped, little would have been said or done. But now they are playing a very dangerous game of brinksmanship by continuing to push further into the country while their “leaders” either lie or dont know what is happening when they say the army is withdrawing. Ukraine has not caved and now an emergency NATO meeting will convene tomorrow. Every day the Russians play this deadly game will bring us all closer to a point of no return.
We are at the point of no return already whether everyone recognizes or not. If we appease the Russians, we will end walking down the path of World War II. If we do a tit for tat with the Russians, we will end up walking down the path of Cold War II. If we stand up to the Russians, well, last time that ended Cold War I. This time it is somewhat unpredictable because of the psychotic behavior of the Russian Prince of Princes. Putin.
Russia moves SS-21 missiles into Georgia: US defense official
....But the US defense official said several SS-21 launchers and associated equipment entered the enclave after the fighting came to a halt last week.
"We're seeing them solidify their positions in South Ossetia and Abkhazia," said the official, adding that "more troops and more equipment" were evident in the enclaves.
The official said at least 10 battalions of Russian troops were in the enclaves and in Georgia, putting the number of Russian troops at close to 15,000.
Updated report by Staff Writers Washington (AFP)
RasPutin.
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