As Russians Attack, Georgians Beg: Help Us!

[dgridley]

As a Russian jet bombed fields around his village, Djimali Avago, a Georgian farmer, asked me: “Why won’t America and Nato help us? If they won’t help us now, why did we help them in Iraq?”

A similar sense of betrayal coursed through the conversations of many Georgians here yesterday as their troops retreated under shellfire and the Russian Army pressed forward to take full control of South Ossetia.

Smoke rose as Russian artillery fire exploded less than half a mile from the bridge marking South Ossetia’s border with Georgia. A group of Georgian soldiers hastily abandoned their lorry after its wheels were shot out and ran across the border.

more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4500362.ece

Just in time for the new president? Hm, WHATWOULDOBAMADO.COM is already taken, but WHATWOULDMCCAINDO.COM is available! Interesting..

Excuse my ignorance, but I honestly don't know the situation there.. what do you, more enlightened people, think?

Iraq has requested a definite timeline for US troop withdrawals.. should we sink more US dollars and blood into another conflict? Who should we back? Russia or Georgia?

 

[NewYorkBum]

Russia does not really care about South Ossetia, its all about power in the region. Putin (yes, Putin is the real commander, Medvedev is just a puppet of his) never liked the idea of Georgia being part of NATO.

 

[GILSAN]

Here's an explanation of the Roots of the South Ossetian conflict:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...rgia-Roots-of-the-South-Ossetia-conflict.html

It appears that the majority population in S. Ossetia is of Russian origin and don't want to be integrated into the Georgian Republic.

Abkazia is another region within Georgia that has a similar problem to S. Ossetia.

Some say that the main problem is an oil pipeline that passes through Georgia and that Russia wants to control. Naturally the US has it's interests there, possibly because of oil.

 

[dgridley]

Thanks for the in-depth.. rep+

Here's an explanation of the Roots of the South Ossetian conflict:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...rgia-Roots-of-the-South-Ossetia-conflict.html

It appears that the majority population in S. Ossetia is of Russian origin and don't want to be integrated into the Georgian Republic.

Abkazia is another region within Georgia that has a similar problem to S. Ossetia.

Some say that the main problem is an oil pipeline that passes through Georgia and that Russia wants to control. Naturally the US has it's interests there, possibly because of oil.

 

[Compassion]

This was done while all eyes were on Beijing on 8-8-8.

http://startnow72.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/us-attacks-russia-through-client-state-georgia/

US forces trained the Georgians who waged a sneak attack on Russia to begin the war.

Georgia was third in troop count fighting in Iraq behing the UK and US, but have since called them back to South Ossetia.


Local streaming news: http://streaming.visionip.tv/Russia_Today

 

[GILSAN]

I would imagine that Russia will flex it's muscles in a typical exagerated way, destroy half of Georgia and leave. It's their way of doing things. They are like an elephant in a glass house. It should be over in a few days.

 

[Achaias]

On a lighter note a Russian billionaire just bought the most expensive house along the French Riviera. If only I had 3/4 a billion to just blow on a house...

Full Story

 

[Joseph]

As a Russian jet bombed fields around his village, Djimali Avago, a Georgian farmer, asked me: “Why won’t America and Nato help us? If they won’t help us now, why did we help them in Iraq?”

Don't start what you can't finish - they only have themselves to blame.

Secondly, why would the USA and UK even get involved? Its nothing to do with them and they're perfectly capable of starting their own wars anyways.

 

[Compassion]

The US trained and armed the Georgians.

The Georgians, EU and US are all calling for a peace treaty right now.

 

[bluearrow]

I think Georgia made a bad mistake attacking S. Ossetia. I means its common sense, you don't do mess with has population a 30 times over you and also someone like Russia. Of cause USA or NATO wouldn't mess with Russia now. They have things up to neck in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

[lovelylovely]

no one help others unless there is something profitable in it for them

especially US will never ever help anyone if its not for some kind of advantage

 

[GILSAN]

Russia is so big - more than 140 million people, compared with little
Georgia's under five million.

It is, probably legitimate for Russia to have retaliated for Georgia's
attack on secessionist South Ossetia, but you can bet it will be heavy handed.

Another reason Moscow decided on the attack could be related to Georgia's
intention to join NATO and the European Union.

The result of this David-and-Goliath conflict between Georgia and Russia; a lot of deaths, destruction and I believe it will be swift. It will probably also involve Abkhazia, a region that also doesn't want to be part of Georgia.

Georgia will come out losing in this confrontation with the big Russian bear.

 

[namebug]

I wonder if it is really wise to extend NATO next door to Russia. It is a mutual defense treaty and the Baltic States are already members . Hope things there don't get as bad as they did during the Chechen Wars for the people there .

 

[John Doe]

There are many people who seem to know exactly what did happen in Ossetia and why... About genocide or huge Georgian attacks against civil population of Ossetia? Have seen any evidence beside Russian claims? Somehow Russian`s attacks we can see live at TV... I don`t know, but there are some things that are pretty clear. If Russia will have control over Georgia, close to 100% of Europe`s oil supply will be under Russian control. Russian troops were ready and mobilized for attacks at borders of Georgia, tension was slowly provoked and escalated over months (actually years). Please remember, today Russia is just bombing cities and killing people of other independent country without any legitimate permission. There are Russian citizens to "protect" all over Europe and it`s not only about Eastern Europe. If I`m not mistaken, there are 200,000 Russians in London. Rhetorics and grounds for Russian attacks are copy paste from pre-World War II Hitler propaganda, before troops came to protect German citizens in Sudedenland (Czechoslovakia). Expect many more "peacekeeping" operations in the nearest future if international community will any way tolerate such behavior. Nobody is expecting US or Nato to start war with Russia. But don`t dream too much that world is completely changed... Today EU and US shall use strong political and diplomatic leverage to influence situation. WWII did happen only because of total ignorance and shortsightedness of UK, US and some others to similar events. Georgia is trying to join EU and Nato, has 3th troop count after US and UK in Iraq - why do you think they do that? Because they have pretty clear understanding for years that this day will come. Russia is Russia and make no mistake, Russia has been lately less aggressive against neighbours only because of their economical weakness. Now they have huge commodity incomes and we`ll start to see their real face again. Reason for conflict has never been too difficult to find... Just wake-up time.

 

[DN BROKER]

2% of the worlds Oil goes through the pipeline ... this is a very important ground for both parties to control

 

[bd77]

Doe's anybody really think that Russia's intentions are only about protecting the South Ossetia people? There just an excuse for Russia to eliminate Georgia as an independent Country. Hell the Russians have even stated that they want a regime change in Georgia.
I guess the Russians don't like a democratically elected governments. Perhaps making Georgia a satellite state with a puppet ruler has always been their intention? I have no doubt this is the case....If I were the Ukraine,Belarus, Estonia,Latvia or any other nation bordering Russia I would be real concerned.

 

[donjuanua]

hi guys
I'm from Ukraine
I see tv news is different in our country and urs

at first sorry for my english

I've read everything u wrote and have some questions to all of u...


Why do u think Georgia started to attack Osetia?
Do u know that in Osetia died more than 2000 people due this 4 or five days?
What ur opinion about this question?

 

[John Doe]

Ossetian people have been there together with Georgians for thousands of years without problems. Russia is just trying to regain his influence over former USSR areas as much as possible. As per Putin "The collapse of the Soviet Union was the biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the century." Also Russia is trying to break down unity of EU and NATO, also US and EU. Simple game, everyone (except China and US) is individually pretty much small and weak compared to Russia.

 

[kemjika11]

just like saddam, Georgia has overplayed its hand, and its paying the cost. Putin is going to try and get everything "straightened" out from here on. ALso, it is c orrect, russia is not going to tolerate any NATO member right on its border. It costs Russia not too much to expend Georgia's resources. Foolish move by GEorgian prime minister. Russia's military has been getting upgrades yearly since Putin came in, and this situation really plays into Putin's patient hands......

 

[dgridley]

Was waiting to see what the candidates might say. McCain weighs in:

ERIE, Pa. — Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Monday called for a multi-pronged diplomatic effort to force Russia to withdraw from Georgia, saying Moscow’s actions could have long-term implications for its relations with the rest of the world.

Speaking to reporters in Pennsylvania, McCain said Russia appears intent on toppling the Georgian government rather than simply restoring the status quo in the pro-Moscow province of South Ossetia, which Georgia is trying to keep from breaking away.

“NATO’s North Atlantic Council should convene in emergency session to demand a ceasefire and begin discussions on both the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to South Ossetia and the implications for NATO’s future relationship with Russia,” McCain said. He also urged NATO to reconsider its decision to withhold a “membership action plan” for Georgia, saying it “might have been viewed as a green light by Russia for its attacks on Georgia.”

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/11/mccain-defends-georgia-in-face-of-russian-attacks/