Posted on 08/19/2008 3:52:21 AM PDT by maquiladora
Source: Reuters POTI, Georgia, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Georgia accused Russian forces on Tuesday of entering the oil shipment port of Poti on the Black Sea and detaining 20 Georgian police officers.
"They entered the civlian port and kicked everyone out," said Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili.
A Reuters cameraman saw several men blindfolded and placed in Russian armoured personnel carriers (APCs), which then headed east to the town of Senaki.
(Reporting by Matt Robinson; Editing by Charles Dick)
Reports: Georgian Soldiers Held in Poti
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 19 Aug.’08 / 13:14
Servicemen from the Georgian Defense Ministry, reportedly from the MoD’s special purpose unit, have been detained by the Russian forces in the port of Poti on August 19, the Georgian media reports say.
It was not clear how many soldiers were detained, or what was the purpose of their presence in Poti, which has been under the Russian forces’ control over these recent days.
Does anyone else think there is something bigger going on here than just occuppying Georgia? It seems all of their movings are very calculated and we are just sitting here tapping our foot. “Ok, now get out. OK NOW get out. Really, out” and meanwhile they are going about their business.
Yes. There seems to be a great deal of “movements” by the Russian/Syrian/Iran/Venezuela axis - in matters economic and military.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/georgia/2583304/Russia-will-not-draw-a-new-Iron-Curtain-after-Georgia-promises-Condoleezza-Rice.html
No comment...
Time for NATO, the EU and the US to finally realize that Russia has much bigger plans here. There will be more armor and more troops pouring through the Caucasus.
I am sure this was all coordinated well in advance with Iran. I thought that as soon as it happened, if only because Iran suddenly became so quiet.
Hugo is their little sock-puppet and doesn’t have the capacity to do anything on his own. But I think the Russians are going to go ahead and attempt to move missiles to VZ in order to give Hugo a bit more umph, although he’ll still be their sock puppet. The seizure of a Mexican company by VZ was rather interesting, and I think VZ is sooner or later going to attempt to move on Mexico, where it has a lot of leftist supporters who can undermine Mexico from within.
However, be that as it may (and that may be an extreme and somewhat apocalyptic scenario!), it’s very depressing to see how we have quietly retired from Latin America. The only exception is Colombia, our one success story, although this has been opposed every step of the way by the Dems. Our overall passivity, however, has essentially signalled to the Russian/Iranian axis that Latin America is up for grabs, and I bet they are already planning some moves there.
Like you, I also found the seizure by VZ of a Mexican company, worth noting. Yes, there are numerous Marxist supporters throughout Mexico. But, I think there are far more who love their country, Mexico, and are willing to stand and fight for a civil and just country. That's what I observed throughout Mexico and South America via blogs and articles authored by non-fascists.
Our overall passivity, however, has essentially signalled to the Russian/Iranian axis that Latin America is up for grabs, and I bet they are already planning some moves there.
Time will tell, eh? I wouldn't despair. The US has some wonderful allies in every shape and form imaginable inside So. America and Mexico.
Russia sold VZ some arms and choppers, memory here, last year.
I think Oaxaca was very significant, even though there does not appear to have been any overt foreign involvement.
I do think that there would be considerable resistance in Mexico, which has long been in the crosshairs of VZ. IIRC, VZ troops turned up in Southern Mexico about 3 years ago, which created a major diplomatic incident. (They said they had gotten lost while on exercises...yeah, right.) I think it was about the time the Chiapas stuff was going on. So Hugo started probing Mexico early on in his regime, which has always been directed at expansion. I think one of his latest ploys, his “Bolivarian Union,” is typical of this.
We definitely have friends in Latin America, and I don’t think most Latin Americans, particularly Mexicans, want to live in Communist tyrannies. But the Communists have shown considerable skill and persistence in overthrowing capitalist democracies (look at all the work they put into getting Ecuador) from within, using a combination of indigenist groups, labor unions and a leftist-friendly international press and NGO structure to get what they want. If Russia pops in with military support and more overt foreign connections, we will have a significant problem.
I become very frustrated with people on FR, btw, who act as if Latin America is just a nuisance and the US could get along just fine with non-existent or bad relations with Latin American countries. Isolationism is such a tempting dream, and we’ve been fortunate that our geographical situation has long enabled us to feel fairly safe. The Latin America haters here have never asked themselves what happens if this buffer space is destroyed. Strengthening Latin American countries is not just a feel-good exercise, but is essential to our own survival.
You and I are on the same page in re each of your points. Very well put post. I thank you for it. Very well done.
They don’t look like police in the photo above. Military uniform.
Either way, it doesn’t matter what forces they are - Poti is nowhere near the area of original conflict and the Georgians have every right to place whatever forces they wish in their own city.
I have had plenty of this little game. Just kill them.
Many countries utilize military police units for port security, same as airport security.
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