Like in Grozny?
"The rubble of downtown Grozny, Sunday.
Russia may not spend the estimated $1 billion required to rebuild the city,
instead letting it stand in ruins as a warning against separatism"
photo essay
Posted on 08/28/2008 9:02:18 AM PDT by djsherin
'Anybody who thinks that Moscow didn't plan this invasion, that we in Georgia caused it gratuitously, is severely mistaken," President Mikheil Saakashvili told me during a late night chat in Georgia's presidential palace this weekend.
"Our decision to engage was made in the last second as the Russian tanks were rolling -- we had no choice," Mr. Saakashvili explained. "We took the initiative just to buy some time. We knew we were not going to win against the Russian army, but we had to do something to defend ourselves."
I had just returned from Gori, which was still under the shadow of Russian occupation. I'd learned there on the ground how Russia has deployed a highly deliberate propaganda strategy in this war. Some Georgian friends sneaked me into town unnoticed past the Russian armored checkpoints via a little used tractor path. We noted that, during the day, the tanks on Gori's streets withdrew from the streets to the hills. Apparently, the Russians thought this gave the impression, to any foreign eyewitnesses they chose to let through, of a town not so much occupied as stabilized and made peaceful.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I wish the US media would get into this story more. This piece is an editorial, although, I personlly think its true. Putin has also started a pr war to say the US really started this skirmish to benefit the GOP candidate and influence the election. Unfortunately the TV networks are instead focused on the drama with the Clinton’s and Obama.
Russia said, “Does this make me look fat?”
Georgia said, “No, you’re doing that all by yourself.”
That’s when the fight started.
Huh? That's the first time I've heard that version of events.
“Our decision to engage was made in the last second as the Russian tanks were rolling — we had no choice,” Mr. Saakashvili explained
Yeah. That is why he shelled their capitol. It was self defense.
Interviewee (I): Andrei Illarionov, former economic adviser to Putin
The West is ideologically divided.
Georgia invasion 'planned since April'
Were you there? How do you know when and where the tanks started rolling? Remember, all they had to do was cross the frontier (between South and North Ossetia) for Saakashvili’s comment to be accurate.
Putin has his useful fools and apologists. I call them Putinistas,..... Why not call them putanas?
Through the tunnel actually. Nobody up till now disputes the chronology of Russian armor movements. Even the early Georgian press releases. And I am sure that due to the miracles of satellite imagery, everyone involved knows exactly when it occurred.
But that wasn’t what I posted about. I commented on the defensive nature of shelling someone’s capitol city.
What precludes someone from shelling a capital city? (Or in this case, more of a county seat).
I like Borscht Brigade. Or if anyone has any better ideas with the “B” (bozo, buffoon, etc.)?
“What precludes someone from shelling a capital city? (Or in this case, more of a county seat).”
So you condone genocide?
Especilly when "peace keepers" place their military bases and gun emplacements in residential neighborhoods. Especially when they fire from those positions with 80mm guns prohibited to both sides by treaty agreement. Especially when the "peace keepers" evacuate the civilians prior to opening fire from the city.
Like in Grozny?
"The rubble of downtown Grozny, Sunday.
Russia may not spend the estimated $1 billion required to rebuild the city,
instead letting it stand in ruins as a warning against separatism"
photo essay
Dude, get a grip. We shelled Baghdad, and we also caused civilian casualties. That doesn’t make us genocidal maniacs.
One more thing. Please answer my question, or explain why you cannot. I have little tolerance for relativists.
I also remember reading about Charlie Wilson and how when Afghanistan was invaded by the Soviet Union Charlie saw himself living up to his hero Churchill's goals. I think Pat "the Putinista" is doing the same thing, but not emulating Churchill. When Saddam took Kuwait, Pat insisted that we let him have it. When Putin asserts himself, in the tradition of Hitler and the rights of minorities, Pat insist we let him have his way. Pat wants to be Charles Lindberg. He wants to have a legacy. This role may do it. Otherwise, he's just the guy who ran for president and got less than 1% of the vote.
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.