US warships scrap visit to Georgian port-source

reuters ^

[wk4bush2004]

Appeasement......

[Lurker]

Tactically a smart decision.

There's another port we can use and do an end run around the Russkies.

L

[Truth29]

Nuts. This is validating that Georgia does not control much of its territory beyond South Ossetia and Abkhazia either. Russia also appears to have freedom of movement of its units in much of Georgia. This could easily become a defacto conquest if they cannot be forced to withdraw.

[traumer]

Blink first...

[maquiladora]

Rumor has it that Russia wasn’t happy about it docking since it was carrying weapons. Looks like we either decided not to risk an ‘incident’ or maybe just still deciding what to do. The coming hours will tell. Either way, I’m sure there’s more to this than whats out in public.

[Truth29]

Sure hope there is more to the story. Otherwise, we are recognizing effective Russian control of a major Georgian port and, by extension, other Russian activities well outside of the two disputed territories.

We continue to denounce and talk, but the more we talk and the more tangible actions the Russians continue to take in response. dramatizes our inability or unwillingness to stop the incursions. The very public Russian demonstration of Western weakness will have consequences well beyond Georgia.

[E. Cartman]

There's another port we can use and do an end run around the Russkies.

Precisely. Why pointlessly infuriate The Russkies just for show? Moreover, though in dealing with them the rational person will always "trusts but verifies", why aren't we trying to win them over to our side in fighting our common enemy Islam? Or, must history repeat itself yet again: While West fights East, Islam benefits, just as happened in the 12th century?

[NonValueAdded]

No need for pulling a Wesley Clark II.

[microgood]

My guess is we could probably dock in Poti but would have to leave any goods at the dock and not deliver them inland, in which case the Russians would have them.

[El Gato]

Rumor has it that Russia wasn’t happy about it docking since it was carrying weapons.

Tough titty. We and the Georgians are not happy the Russians are blocking access to and patroling in the city either. We have more right to be there, weapons or not, than the Russians, since we are there at the invitation of the recognized government.

I guess when the Chinese put troops ashore in Baja, and they head north, you wouldn't want to upset them by sending armed ships to "monitor" their progress.

Of course it hasn't actually been confirmed that Dallas and McFaul are not going to put in to Poti. They still might, and they might just be waiting on the Mount Whitney and those German, Spanish and Polish frigates.

[TigersEye]

Strange article. The McFaul unloaded its relief supplies at the Georgian port of Batumi two days ago.

USS McFaul Brings Aid to Batumi, Georgia

[TChris]

Appeasement...

Sure looks that way.

[maquiladora]

Yes, it docked in Batumi on Sunday and some supplies were taken off.

It then left Batumi early today and was due to travel up to coast to dock in Poti but now this is in doubt.

[TigersEye]

Sorry. I guess I missed that.

[TigersEye]

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has earlier accused Washington of delivering weapons to Georgia by sea, but made clear Russian ships deployed near the Georgian coast will not obstruct the operation.

"What the Americans call humanitarian cargoes -- of course, they are bringing in weapons," he told the BBC in an interview, adding: "We're not trying to prevent it."

We should take that as permission.

[webrover]

In reality, who would force them o withdraw?

[who_would_fardels_bear]

"There's another port we can use and do an end run around the Russkies."

Going to Poti should have been Plan No. 2 all along.

No. 1 should be going to Yurinul.

[webrover]

"The very public Russian demonstration of Western weakness will have consequences well beyond Georgia."

You're absolutely right. And it didn't need to happen. Nothing, I can think of, we have done in that part of the world has benefited us.

Putin is a predator. But he'll do business with anybody. It should have been us. That would have been to our benefit. Instead of getting involved with schemes of petty NATO members who can do nothing on their own and cannot be trusted. But that's simply a keyboard warrior's opinion.

[Repeal The 17th]

“...and was due to travel up to coast to dock in Poti
but now this is in doubt...”
- - -
Who knows for sure what the McFaul was and is up to?
Certainly you and I know that her intentions will not
be broadcast in advance for the rooskies to prepare for.
Maybe since she was already unloaded
she just needed to move out of the way
to make more room for the ships coming in behind her?
Maybe she was just doing a little recon?
Maybe she was just messing with the rooskies minds?
Maybe she is playing a game of “if we do this”
then “what do they do”?
Or “if we do this”
then what intelligence about the rooskie command signals
can we detect and collect?
Or if we claim we are going to do this;
then what troop movements do the rooskies make?
My point being, we (you and I) do not really know what she is up to.
You and I are just observers of what we are fed from the news stories.
All we can do at this point is watch the dancers on the stage.
We are not privy to the screenplay or the script.
I expect more surprises over the next several days.