Russians flex muscles in Georgian Black Sea port

Russian soldiers held blindfolded Georgian servicemen at gunpoint on top of military vehicles today and commandeered US Humvees in the key Black Sea port of Poti.

Elsewhere, Russia exchanged POWs with Georgia and pulled back some troops from the strategic city of Gori.

It was a day of deeply mixed messages that left the small, war-battered country full of anxiety about whether Russia was aiming for a long-term military presence in Georgia or was just trying to inflict the maximum damage before adhering to a troop withdrawal that Russia promised under a EU-brokered cease-fire.

At an emergency meeting in Brussels, Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, and her 25 Nato counterparts demanded that Russia immediately withdraw its troops from Georgia, a US ally that wants to join the alliance. The ministers announced that Nato “cannot continue with business as usual" with Russia as long as its troops remain in Georgia.

But it was in Poti - Georgia’s key oil port city - where Russia flexed its military muscle most visibly.

Russian forces blocked access to the city’s naval and commercial ports this morning and towed the missile boat Dioskuria, seen as the flagship of the Georgian navy, out of sight of observers. A loud explosion was heard minutes later.

Several hours later, an Associated Press photographer saw Russian trucks and armored personnel carriers leaving the port with about 20 blindfolded and handcuffed men riding on them. A port spokesman said that the men were Georgian soldiers.

The Russians also took with them four Humvees that were at the port awaiting shipment back to the United States, equipment that had been used in earlier US-Georgian military exercises.

The deputy head of Russia’s general staff, Colonel-General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said in Moscow that Russian forces plan to remain in Poti until a

I’m married to a Russian and I’ve driven a Volga, a beast of a car, awful to drive preatty much a boat. As big as a lincoln town car with half the space. It was made in the 90’s but still had a choke switch, very adventorous. Her dad kept bragging about it being so rugged it can go off road and all. I was thankful to drive it, don’t get me wrong, they live about 24 hours north of Moscow by train and it’s a pretty much rural area.

I love the Russian country side, it’s beautiful in summer and winter, too bad that government doens’t relly want to be part of the civilized world. I may be banned from this site, but there are many good Russian people. We take Putin and his puppet as the only Russians

Hey, since you've actually been there, and know the culture.. tell me if the below is accurate, and feel free to add.

From what I've seen and experienced personally Russians are VERY similar to Americans in what they value in others, want out of life, and see as ideal..or good.

Their outlook on competition, however, seems very “Zero Sum”. They don't think both they and America/West can mutually prosper..one dominates at the expense of the other.

They think American's look down on them as a people, and they seem offended, even jilted by it.

I hope you'll tell me I'm wrong on this. The Russians I met in the late 90s were very affable. The young ones I see now are full of an awkward hubris. (Wearing CCCP T-shrits in COSTCO, ect.)

I'm sorry to give you bad news but yes, I perceived the same exact thing. They are quick to criticize the US on anything and everything, yet the US pop culture is more rampant there than in most places I've been too. Yes the young seem to have an air of hubris. There is an almost pungent sense of patriotism and an awkwardness towards the West. On my first visit (I've been there 5 times), I was with my future wife in a restaurant in a city called Vologda, 12 hours north of Moscow by train. A young Russian in his 20’s saw I was not from around there and started to have a conversation with me. Asked me about US opportunities for life, career and advancement. Then he started this weird thread of questions about race issues, I asked him why he was so interested and he said: “I'm trying to decided whether I should be a racist or not; I was shocked to say the least. Cooperation does not seem to be a goal Russians feel is necessary. The people I've talked to and the friends I've made are very proud people, patriotic and stubborn in many cases. My wife's cousins work in many important areas from Militzia to army to the United Russia Political Party. The cousin who works for United Russia is a gifted spin doctor, if I knew perfect Russian I would love to read his work. From what I get from my wife his style is terrific and entertaining, he told my wife that she is very lucky to live in the US and right before she left he told her not to look back. He said that the farthest you go from Russia the better it will be. You see, he knows the in’s and out’s of the Political System and I take his word very seriously when he talks about the situation in Russia. Hi visited the US this year for the first time and he fell in love with the place (Southern California). They are very resentful at the thought that the whole world looks down on them. They are mad about pretty much the Russian stereotype, women who want to leave Russia, smoking, life style, everything. Anything they excel at they try to brag about it to the max and you have not heard conspiracy theories until you've been to Russia my friend. Yes, they are very much like us. They want the same things out of life, security, peace, wealth, future, and opportunities. They are an ambitious people who are very hard working and even party harder. That being said, their leadership is horrible. For the last elections they do not vote for a single person. It's not like our elections that we choose McCain or Obambi, they pick Republican or Democrat and at the end the Party with most votes gets a free range on anything they want to do. They pretty much sign a check to the government to do their will. That being said Everyone I spoke about, excluding the young 20 year old who was considering becoming a racist, is a great person. They all are welcoming and took me into their homes without question and treated me like family right from the start. Now I see them as my family. The picture painted by their government about this Georgia conflict is of heroism. They are the saviours who rescude all the Russians living in Georgia. They accuse Georgia of commiting Genocide and the people are shocked at the reaction from the West. That is how their government is conning them. The West, especially the US is the great evil who does not care about a genocide and Putin and the puppet saved thousands. They actually held a day of vigil for the 2000 people they say were killed by the Georgian troops. Sorry for the legnth but I think it's necessary.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.