Posted on 08/24/2008 1:40:23 AM PDT by Jeff Head
BATUMI, Georgia (Reuters) - The first U.S. warship to bring aid to Georgia arrived in the country's main Black Sea port of Batumi on Sunday, in a strong gesture of support for the ex-Soviet republic in its conflict with Russia. The USS McFaul, a guided missile destroyer, is loaded with humanitarian aid including beds and food for the tens of thousands displaced by the confrontation that erupted on Aug 7-8 over Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
That’s not why they went to this port. A poster on another thread in Georgia explained why not Poti. And it’s not to avoid confrontation...there are several citizens of Georgia posting here ask them....I believe their analysis is quite enlightening.
Nope. Georgia is set up to be a proxy war. We just need to arm them (and insure that the Russians can't over-escalate), which is why I said that we'd come in at Bat'umi instead of Porti.
In comes the aid. Arm the Georgians. Let the Georgians take care of Russian outposts in Georgia later, after the Georgians have imported enough anti-aircraft, anit-ship, and anti-tank missiles to bleed the Bear.
Timing matters.
The primary mission for these vessels is 1) To get the humanitarian supplies to the Georgians, and it can be easily accomplished at Batumi. 2) To show our support and send a message of resolve to the Russians, which they do wherever they offlaod. 3) To send a force that can do 1 & 2 and also protect itself if necessary.
I speak with Georgians each day. Lasha posts on these threads regually. If there are other reasons, pleasse share. It would be much appreciated.
Most all of the heavy forces have pulled back into the Provinces and even back into Russia.
This humanitarian effort will be able to bypass those forces up by Poti entirely in any event, and when you consider the potential port blockage and sabotrage at Poti, this docking was clearly the best in any case for delivery of the material.
Southack hits the target. My son in law who is an active army MI officer has the identical analysis as Southack.
The small Russian force at Poti is intended to provoke the Georgians such that the Russians can justify invading all of Georgia to save their own Russian troops from “the attacking Georgians.”
It’s important that the Georgians not be baited into attacking Russians for some time (i.e. not before Georgia has re-armed).
If you look at the hot heads on most of the Georgian threads, many are blaming Bush for not shooting down Russian jets over Georgia “right now” and other such nonsense, but that’s what the Russians are trying to provoke.
Poti is bait. Any mouse that takes it early will be crushed.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Joe_Biden_Homeland_Security.htm
“[We should] cut somewhere in the order of $20 billion a year out of the military for special programs, from Star Wars, to a new atomic weapon, to the F-22, to the Nimitz-Class Destroyer. You can save $350 billion. That would allow me to do everything I want to do — my priorities on education, health care and the environment — and still bring down the deficit by $150 billion. “
And once a new five star hotel is up and running, the UN will hold some meetings and try to take over operations.
Lets hope we send lots more “humanitarian” aid to Georgia.
Its a short step from that to military aid and active military assistance if the ignorant thugs in the Kremlin are stupid enough to resume hostilities.
And the more “humanitarian” vessels there like this guided missle cruiser, the more effective we can be.
And lets hope Ukraine is rapidly moved in to NATO followed by Georgia.
SCREW YOU MEDVEDEV and PUTIN!!!!!
Thanks for the ping and the photos, Jeff.
Is it just me or is anyone else having a problem with the phrase Port of Poti?
Port city of Poti, perhaps? ;-)
Great photos! Thanks, again.
Thanks for the ping and great pic’s!
Bump.
Hope there is a ‘shoot on sight’ order against any Russian soldiers...
Bookmark
Thanks for the update Jeff.
I really appreciate it.
Thanks much for the Ping! I’m trying to keep up with this series of events. Obviously, the MSM doesn’t give a fat rat’s backside about it.
Does the Mount Whitney carry a significant number of Marines. Say a Company, better yet two.
Does the Mount Whitney carry a significant number of Marines. Say a Company, better yet two.
Connie, after all you've been through, I wouldn't think that a Port of Poti would even phase you ;o)
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