Russia's Medvedev halts military action in Georgia

http://news.yahoo.com/i/514;_ylt=A0wNcyCvUqFIT5sAYAxZ.3QA ^ | AP

[Flashlight]

Russian news reports are quoting President Dmitri Medvedev ordering a halt to Russian military action in Georgia.

[rbmillerjr]

“That is also why we will not pledge to defend them through NATO.”

We already have Vlad. Don’t you get news on Pravda, I’m sure they noted that the US supported NATO membership for Ukraine and Geogia.

The UK has already talked about speeding up the process and the Georgian elected President has stated that Georgia is now withdrawling from the CIS. Try to keep up.

[Natchez Hawk]

Those who commit crimes against women, old people, and children should not be punished?

[rbmillerjr]

You are correct. We give them too much credit by calling them Russian, most are likely Serb cannon fodder puppets of Putin’s.

They aint worth spit. Some have already been banned but the Moderators like to keep some mice to play with lol.

[FreeReign]

...NATO will not be so keen to undertake the reestablishment of this fallen lady.

If McCain is elected, this country will vote "yes" on Georgia and NATO. I suspect other countries will too.

[Cold Heat]

They shelled the major town, torched homes, and displaced 30k women, children, and old folk.

That's not how it happened, and if you get your nose out of Pravda, you might be able to balance out your assertions.

[Natchez Hawk]

UK, huh? What about Germany and France? They’re the reason Georgia isn’t in now. They didn’t want to get caught up in...this war. You think they’re going to change minds now?

[FreeReign]

Just pointing out that worrying about KGB, USSR, et. al. is a little old-fashioned.

McCain's remark was about the man Putin and his relationship to the former KGB. Putin is still here.

It was an appropriate comment.

[Natchez Hawk]

Sorry, I don't watch cnn.

[Girlene]

Those who commit crimes against women, old people, and children should not be punished?

Georgia: Atrocity Claims as Bodies Burn in Street

"The bodies of dead Georgian soldiers are being burnt in the streets according to the first eyewitness accounts from the war-ravaged capital of South Ossetia.

Parts of the city of Tskhinvali are still in flames after last week's Georgian attack and the fierce fighting that followed during the Russian counter-offensive.

A Russian journalist described how one militia fighter, Beslan Sanakoyev, took her to a pile of Georgian bodies on the pavement. One of them had been set on fire and in the ashes only legs and hands were left. ....."

[rbmillerjr]

You were right on with your McCain and KGB comment. The KGB operate still today under different apparatus. The Russians don’t even have a free press any longer.

The Russians and Serbians are nothing but two bit war criminals. Serbs being their proxies, having the elite status of being the most sought after war criminals in the world. Well, until a month ago when they captured Karadzik.

[Cold Heat]

Mostly Germany.

Reason?

They get 50% or more of their Nat gas from Russia, and Russia put everyone on notice during this decision process that they would gleefully turn off the taps on anyone who pisses them off. Or at best raise the price to the sky.

So.........they were intimidated, and it was not a decision taken with any other reasoning.

[FreeReign]

Mostly Germany. Reason? They get 50% or more of their Nat gas from Russia, and Russia put everyone on notice during this decision process that they would gleefully turn off the taps on anyone who pisses them off. Or at best raise the price to the sky. So.........they were intimidated, and it was not a decision taken with any other reasoning.

"Natchez Hawk" hearts Russian intimidation.

[FreeReign]

July 22 2008 | NATO Secretary-General Scheffer:NATO welcomes Ukraine`s and Georgia`s Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership in NATO, We agreed today that these countries will become members of NATO.

Link

[ichabod1]

How can we let Georgia into NATO unless we’re ready to go to war for her? If we are not now, what will be different in three years? NATO is not a social club. It’s mutual defense pact. Now that the latest Kremlin Bull has been nailed to the door, it seems to me that acceptance of Georgia, the Ukraine, or any other former satellite into NATO would be tantamount to a declaration of war. And from the Baltic it starts again.

[indepthinker]

1) Georgia was baited into their attack...
That’s like a rapist’s claim that the rape victim ws dressed provoktively. I guess your argument is not that the attack was wrong but that Georgia govt and military could not control themselves.
2) Russin peacekeepers taking pot shots at Georgian villages...
Do you have any proof of that? Were there any journalists in S. Ossetia?

[FreeReign]

How can we let Georgia into NATO unless we’re ready to go to war for her?

Are we more so, ready to go to war for Bulgaria, Estonia and Turkey.

Seems to me you are looking for excuses not to let Georgia into NATO.

[FreeReign]

1) Georgia was baited into their attack... That’s like a rapist’s claim that the rape victim ws dressed provoktively. I guess your argument is not that the attack was wrong but that Georgia govt and military could not control themselves.

The Russian backed So. Ossetian rebels have been firing on ethnic Georgian enclaves inside of So. Ossetia for weeks. Georgia finally responded.

Your claim that Georgia is the rapist -- isn't right.

[romanesq]

“I’m shocked that we have so many Russian apologists on Free Republic! Putin is acting like the former KGB boss that he was and folks here are making excuses for him”

It’s both Russian apologists and nationalists. The cloak of communism was removed but the imperial ambitions have not.

And a lot of blood, tyranny and bodies under that bridge. With apologies from neither I might add.

[American Quilter]

Georgia, trying to settle all its "ethnic" differences, declared Georgian the official language of Georgia. So. Ossetia felt "dissed". And began rebelling against their own government -- Georgia. So. Ossetia refused to vote in Georgian elections and began holding its own elections, with its own leaders.

Excellent post, Alia. And the quote above strikes close to home. A country without an official language, used by everyone, cannot be unified. The growing minority of Hispanics in the U.S. who speak no English are damaging our own unity.

It seems to me that Georgia was dealing with an internal problem, and was within its rights to do so. The Russians had no right to attack Georgia, and their claim that they were supporting Russian nationalis from oppression is ludicrous.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Where’s Putin?