First Georgian Russian War images becoming available

VArious Russian and Georgian news outlets | 8 Augt 2008 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

Here are numerous pictures from various online Russian and Georgian news outlest of the conflict in Georgia where Russia has now intevened on the ground and in the air and invaded Georgia over the Ossetian Seperatists.

Russian tanks and vehicles moving toward and into Georgia

Russian aircraft attackintg Georgia positions

Georgian troops movingn toward the fighting

Burniing Georgian Armor

Georgian forces engaging seperatists

[Citizen Blade]

Russia is not our enemy.

For several years now, the Russians have been selling advanced anti-tank weapon systems to the Iranians.

Those weapons systems have ended up in the hands of Iranian-backed insurgents in Iraq and are responsible for the deaths of American servicemen as well as our allies in the Iraqi military. Not to mention innocent Iraqi civilians.

Russia might not exactly be our enemy, but I see no reason to cheer them on.

[LowTaxesEqualProsperity]

Georgia killed ~1,400 Russian civilians today.

We have no business sticking our noses into the Caucasus, any more than we did in the Balkans.

[Jeff Head]

I do not believe Bush gave them the green light. Putin and his kronies want to rebuild, in some form or another, their Soviet empire and this is a Sudetlenland style gambit in Georgia. We must support Georgia.

LS, your thoughts?

[LowTaxesEqualProsperity]

Lots of armchair generals hear, wanting to stick our noses where they don’t belong.

[LowTaxesEqualProsperity]

Lots of armchair generals here, wanting to stick our noses where they don’t belong.

[Citizen Blade]

I really don't think the Russians want to go toe to toe with us on that front. They know their nuclear arsenal is way inferior to ours, they do not want to be annihilated.

That would be a very dangerous game of nuclear brinkmanship. I don't think Russia would push it that far, but it's not a risk I'm willing to take over Georgia (no offense to any Georgians on this board)

[Jeff Head]

Yes it does...very very dangerous and far reaching situation. Watch Ukraine in this.

[SolidWood]

No doubt Bush has given Putin the green light for this - in return for ???

No way. Would we else have trained with the Georgians just a day before and now voice our support for their integrity?

[Jeff Head]

If it impacts that huge oil line coming into the Black Sea teriminal through Georgia...watch that change.

[SolidWood]

Georgia killed ~1,400 Russian civilians today.

Says who? The traitor-puppet of Moscow Eduard Kokoity "President by Russian mercy of South-Ossetia" claims this. The Russians have been shelling and bombing Georgians today... think no one died?

[mouse_35]

Wrong boyo. Russia has not stopped being our enemy since 1919. The commies were our enemies and Putin and his cronies are our enemies now.

[Natchez Hawk]

“Iran not at war with us?”

Nope, it’s not. It’s a process written in the Constitution, has not happened. Nor are we at war with Syria or Hamas, hell, we’re not even fighting them. Nor are we at war with Russia, and we’re not going to be.

I use the literal definition of war, you may assign it any definition you wish. One, I assume that reinforces you’re fantasy of a state of war between the US and Russia.

But you are right our positions are a million miles away. Whatever has led you to your shrill bellicosity...boredom at work? psychotic delusion? or simple love of the ‘Old Country’ I don’t know or care to know. But in the end you will see that Russia v Georgia does not have anything to do with the US. Just watch.

[LowTaxesEqualProsperity]

This goes back to the early 1920’s, when Georgia ethnically cleansed Ossetians from this area.

You want to get involved in that? I don’t.

[LS]

Agree completely. No one gave---or needs to give---our KGB friend any leeway to do anything. He figures a) Bush is almost out and we are tied up in Iraq and Afghanistan; b) the Georgians can't stand up to the Russian military; and c) the world is paying attention to China and the Olympics.

Now, what CAN we do? Not much. Putin is pretty much right.

[Jeff Head]

Georgai has been a steadfast ally in the WOT. Their people fighting along side our own. If we fail to render help and aid to our ally against a brutalk bully, then we shall soon find we have few allies in our own fight.

Georgia is free, but is also a test of western resolve against a re-emergence of the old Soviet block of nations (apparently by force) under a new Russian confedertation.

This goes way beyond the local conflict that Georgia has with those speratists which Russia is using as a Sudetenland style gambit.

We need to logistacally, materially, and with G2 do every thing we can to help Georgia bloody the Bears nose badly and make it clear to Russia that that is what out intent is.

[eastforker]

If we are not willing to play poker than we should get up from the table. As long as we are a world power with interest around the world, you don’t fold your cards and risk losing the game because of a known bluffer.Kennedy called Russia over Cuba and it’s a damn good thing he did.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Looks like a war to me...!

[serbami68]

“Screw Georgia! Putin and Russia know how to deal with radicals!”

Damn straight.

[Hexenhammer]

Somewhere I saw that there were something like 1,000 US Marines and maybe soldiers as well in Georgia on some sort of joint training exercise with the Georgians. Anyone know if they are still there. That is a “flashpoint” I would not like to see.

Georgia Army National Guard, which confused the hell out of me when reading the headline the first time.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/2008/07/13/georgia_national_guard_.html

[LS]

In so many ways--uncertain and unstable economic markets, small, independent countries seeking to remain free from larger empires---this resembles 1938. I agree with some that we need to choose our battles wisely, and we have. We are kicking the snot out of the Islamofascists.

But we should watch this closely. This is not Serbia/Croatia/Bosnia here. This is Putin seeing an opportunity to re-establish the evil empire, and we must be vigilant to make sure that doesn't happen, while at the same time not getting involved in WW III.