Free Republic

The President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez, officially declared Saturday his country's support of Russia and of their decision to recognize South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's independence. With their President's declaration Venezuela became the second country to officially recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Belarus is the other one - they declared earlier their support of the decision of the Russian government. "We support Russia. Russia has all the right to defend their own interest," Chavez said in a televised statement.

Russia has deployed several SS-21 tactical missile launchers and supply vehicles to South Ossetia, putting the Georgian capital of Tbilisi within their striking range, The New York Times has reported. Citing unnamed US officials familiar with intelligence reports, the newspaper said the launching positions were located north of Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital. The report came as Russian forces continued to man positions along the road from Tbilisi to Gori, including at a checkpoint in Igoeti, only 30km from the capital. An AFP reporter saw a long column of Russian vehicles, including about 25 tanks and 25 armoured personnel carriers,...

Barack Obama claims to have spoken for "months" on the Russia, South Osettia, Georgia situation. There is no evidence of Barack Obama's concern for this region in any statements until now