Posted on 08/08/2008 10:43:34 AM PDT by 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
Other facts. Georgian troops have been combating Islamic terrorism in Iraq, while previously Putin attempted to block any and all meaningful military action against Saddam, plus Moscow continues 'assisting' Iran's nuclear weapons quest against the West, and arming all of our and Israel's worst enemies.
“Sounds all the world like Hitler and the Sudetenland in 1938 in that regard.”
Right. While there could be genuine concern about hostilities between Georgia and Ossetia, I agree that there could be other motives. Oil would be a good one. A strong message would be troops, but not for attack.
This might be a good excuse/reason to give weapons to Georgia though. But from my meagre understanding— evil would be done with those weapons against Ossetia. The Russian people would hate us for that too. If we don’t send troops and just weapons, I believe we would look cowardly as well.
Yep, they were supposedly at Vaziani, which was hit yesterday or Friday. Supposedly they went out for “Field Exercise” on Thursday so hopefully they weren’t (or most of them weren’t) around when the bombings started. That was on open sources last week. Hope no Marines got hurt. The Russians are tubing this but will probably win anyway. Not a very subtle strategy and will make the Euro-weenies reassess their alliances and friendships.
I don’t claim to be an expert on the Russian mind. But I have an inkling of how they think: many Russians don’t believe in ducking when they witness gunfire. Those who trust in fate and face risk earn their respect. That’s why I think actual troops would earn the Russians respect. Best I can tell, they think in terms of ‘personal presence’ and courage. Planes and supplies while ‘hiding’ irritates most people [such as Iran using others as proxies], but with the Russians, I suspect it is repugnant. Even a few troops would suffice to display some level of courage and Russian-style honor.
Just heard that as well. Roki tunnel blown up? Could be an interesting development
Its not a radome for air to air radar, its a laser target designator for ground attack.
This time Comrade Putin is using Adolph's script concerning the poor persecuted 'Russian minorities' as his excuse to invade south, in order to expand his neo-Soviet energy empire, plus be closer to his Iranian comrades.
History really does repeat.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2059345/posts
“Pictures thread (Georgia)”
http://images.google.com ^ | August 2008 | http://images.google.com
Posted on August 10, 2008 1:08:32 AM PDT by Maelstorm
You’re very welcome.
Russian sources claimed that the Georgians killed 1,400 S. Ossetian civilians in the first 24 hours.
That's almost certainly a load of crap.
The entire population of S.O. is only 70,000. That (1,400) would be 2 percent!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2059350/posts?page=3#3
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2059350/posts
“Report: Russian navy blockades Georgia”
ap ^
Posted on August 10, 2008 2:03:43 AM PDT by maquiladora
MOSCOW (AP)
Prayers for our Georgian friends.
With the numbers supporting the different sides, the timing of prepositioned forces, and the waiting for US forces to depart, it appears to be a convoluted picture.
Strategically, this IMHO, isn’t good for the US (unless we’ve been forming it all along).
US political interests are obviously to favor Georgia over Russia.
The political persuasion of aggressors in Georgia, the separatists, are closer to terror based revolutionary groups we are fighting in SoAsia. They also are akin in political style to act as allies, emmissaries or puppets of Russia, although the Islamic leanings may be uncertain.
If the conflict broadens, there is incentive for all the Islamic states to begin to shape future, very long lasting formative structures.
US is strapped economically, has interests in the region and recognizes the strategic parties and alliances being formed, is likely to promote an an Islamic regional grouping to counter a Russian advance.
Russia is likely to support a counter pro US Islamic groupings, as well as advance revolutionary terrorist elements within the Islamic nations keeping in the traditions of socialist political science, while maneuvering to procure options for more warm water ports to the south.
The oil pipelines, IMHO, are merely temporary, highly visible exploits, which IMHO, though valuable economically, have far more valuable propaganda resources to provide plausible deniability of the conflict’s ulterior motives.
If Obama gets elected, count on the SoAsian region becoming much more Islamic and permanently controlled by independent Islamic concers, with future worldwide goals of religious domination.
If McCain gets elects, it isn’t as certain.
The Conspiracy theorists who suggest this is all about oil, have one thing right. Oil is involved and the major issues are not as obvious as they publicly may appear, but IMHO, the game has been forming for at least 12 years and our forrays into Iraq and Afghanistan have merely placed us in a better position of strength on the ground, than simply being a third party observer.
IMHO, The far ranging consequences of the Georgian conflict may reveal more about how well planned our State Dept has been, our Intel operations have been, as well as possibly revealing lack of insight.
If the US wants to get involved, but lacks resources, it naturally will favor the promotion of Iraqi, Turkish, and So Georgian forces into an alliance, while Russians would naturally support insurgent movements, Iranian, Syrian coalitions.
Albeit all of these would be tenacious and convoluted at best, the USSR couldn’t control such alliances when Georgia was part of the USSR with more centralized command and control.
If the US becomes isolationist, there remains a pro-Islamic bent in the region becoming more anti-US than ally, with possible Russian-Iranian domination in the region, then China possibly feeling a bit more threatened.
Nevertheless, all of this tends to redirect SoAsia into a more heavily pro-Islamic grouping of states, than western models of democracy.
I agree with your assessment and parallels to Germany in the 30’s. Had Russia disapproved of activity, it could have been handles quite indirectly and covertly, with separatist controllers removed from power.
Sorry, friend, but you are the one who is wrong. Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution deals with the War and Treaty powers of the nation. Sole power to declare war is invested in the US congress. The President commands the Armed Forces and can do so without a declaration of war—but it is not war.
We call that “Sitting around waiting for another 9/11”"
We call that "Sitting around waiting for another 12/7/41."
"Didn't realize they got that far."
Interesting note.
The whole purpose of Hitler's 1942 southern offensive was to reach the oil fields, cut off one of Stalin's sources, and increase his own desperately short supplies.
If I remember right, Soviets blew up their oil wells, and Hitler's engineers were able to send Hitler only one barrel of oil from the Caucuses before German defeat at Stalingrad forced them to retreat.
"The USA is bankrupt as a nation. If you don’t know this by now you need to do some homework."
Pure 100% hogwash. The US is in vastly better condition today -- economically and militarily -- than we were during the 1930s Great Depression. There's no comparison.
During the 1930s Depression, pure Isolationism was the DOMINANT political philosophy. Today that idea is restricted to just a few nut-cases on the left and right wings -- from the likes of Kusinich to Paul.
"I had no idea we had so many Soviet loyalists here."
"Soviet loyalists"? Maybe a few. Most sound to me like Ron Paul Isolationist Libertarians, and some Dems sowing disinformation.
Nut cases all!
I thought so also. There are other picts of Anglo looking solidiers with US gear.
"...IMO we do not have a dog in this fight."
It wasn't "tangles of alliances" which produced World War One. It was Germany's long standing plan to defeat Russia and France, SIMULTANEOUSLY, before they (especially Russia) grew too powerful to make that possible.
Germany had several opportunities before 1914 to launch their plans, and each time the Kaiser backed down. But by summer of 1914, the German government seriously believed, "it's now or never." They chose "now." Britain then came to the defense of her allies France, Russia and especially little neutral Belgium.
As to whose "dog" today is in this fight -- sadly, America's "dog," (our values) is at stake in almost every fight these days.
If America's values (our "dog") lose any serious fight, we can be certain they will be challenged again, sooner rather than later, and the next time FAR MORE SERIOUSLY.
Look around a map of the world -- do you see Taiwan, Israel... lots of small countries bordering on large aggressive neighbors.
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