Russia moves troops closer to Georgia's capital

[bemildred]

Source: AP

AKHMAJI, Georgia (AP) — At a military checkpoint between Georgia and its breakaway region of South Ossetia, the word "Russia" is hand-painted in pink on a concrete security barrier.

"It will be Russia," said a Russian army lieutenant as the Ossetian soldiers under his command nodded.

"And Georgia used to be Russian, too," said the young freckle-faced lieutenant, who would give only his first name, Sergei. Three armored personnel carriers and a tank were dug in around the checkpoint.

Russia has troops just 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the Georgian capital, in violation of the European Union-brokered cease-fire that ended last year's brief war. And in recent weeks, it has put even more soldiers and armored vehicles within striking distance of the city ahead of street protests against Georgia's president.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jfCx1N9TFck0QbhRQt7fnFP_Da1gD97N2Q6O2

[WriteDown]

1. I'm sure this will end well.

:eyes:

[bemildred]

2. Well for whom? It's a big "Fuck You".

Saakashvili ought to buy himself a clue while he still has that option. I'm not defending it, but you can see which way the wind blows.

[saigon68]

19. Can you say Prague 1968?

Maybe Budapest 1956

[bemildred]

21. It's a long list, but yeah.

I'll never forget Budapest. Fourteen year old kids with Molotov Cocktails fighting Soviet tanks in the streets.

Saakashvili is no Dubcek though.

:hi:

[saigon68]

22. Sadly he isn't Dubcek

And we won't intervene at all there, when the tanks come rolling through

[bemildred]

23. Nope.

Lot's of hand wringing, but that's it.

[JDPriestly]

3. The Russians had better not overreach. It would be unacceptable.

Georgians have have the right to decide for themselves whether they want to be part of Russia.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. They have a long history of over reaching without consequences, why would the be any different?

[AlphaCentauri]

10. "Russia has strongly objected to NATO military exercises scheduled to begin May 6 in Georgia"

?

[Tempest]

26. Just as South Ossetia has the right to decide whether to be part of Georgia

And right now, they want to be part of Russia.

[drchoice22]

39. You are right and why does everyone hate Russia?

Who has more purpose to be in Georgia as a partner during political instability? Russia or the United states?

It is obvious that sakasvili does not have the support of the people and is a dictator.

[amandabeech]

4. Between this and recent reports of Russians getting aggressive with Canadian ships in the Artic,

I feel like the spirits of Krushchev and Breshnev have emerged from the grave and are inhabiting the bodies of Putin and Medvedev.

Maybe it's time to pull out that "Dr. Strangelove" CD tonight for a "back to the future" evening.

[JVS]

6. Go RUSSIA!

[Posteritatis]

11. Yep! It's okay when everyone else does it! (nt)

[drchoice22]

40. I support Russia! Go RUSKIES stop the mean spirited american empire

America by the way has NO business being in Georgia instigating military exercises!?!?!!!

[tomm2thumbs]

7. we invade Iraq and then expect to tell others what to do - Russia has free reign

we got nuffin'

[ConcernedCanuk]

12. zactly - superpower or not, USA lost moral imperative with it's illegal invasion/occupation

.
.
.

and then added the torture thing on top of it.

Pretty hard to press other people/nations to be morally "correct" when you yourself are breaking those same laws . . .

USA can no longer hold themselves as a "beacon" of anything good at the moment . .

certainly not as financial wizards to boot!!

ur right

usa got nuffin'

unless ya get that Obama guy to pull some miracles out of that hope and change thing . . .

we's waiting . .

[Igel]

13. So, what you're saying, is this?

If the US doesn't have moral authority, then nobody needs to follow any sort of moral guidance.

If we aren't perfect, if we sin, let the rest of the world do as they want. We will be in sackcloth and ashes, as other countries are absorbed, since, well, we're not perfect.

Now, there's a problem with hypocrisy, and that is that it undermines the moral authority. However, it's an ad hominem argument, pure an simple: The moral standing of what's taught doesn't stand or fall given the behavior of the preacher. It's a handy way that people who don't like a moral precept have to say, "Well, if he doesn't do it, why should I?" One step below, "Everybody else steals (cheats, etc.), so why shouldn't I?"

It leads to chaos. Now, moral authority in international relations is still, under a thin veneer, "What's in it for me?" Palaver and actions are completely separate things, and it's a crock of stupidity to confuse the two. To be honest, the US's moral authority got us precious little; it got us more in the minds of Americans and some dissidents than it did in the minds of dictators. The threat of force, of embargo, of having the US corral enough people to oppose a dictator had *some* influence--if that depends on "moral authority," good luck. It seldom has; it seldom will.

[ConcernedCanuk]

18. No - I said what I said - YOU decided to "interpret" it

.
.
.

I got a USAmerican landlady up here that does the same thing

"interprets" everything I try to say

SOME people actually mean what they say,

no hidden agendas/meanings

I'm one of them

[Mike Daniels]

20. Yeah, that'll fly with the public when they look to see how Obama responds

[Alamuti Lotus]

8. perhaps why troops were (sort of--actually, not really) pulled out of Chechnya

?

[bemildred]

9. Yes, I wondered about that. All those ships on "maneuvers" too. nt

[ohio2007]

16. Those 22 ships can't stay out at sea for extended periods.

They have a "comedy of errors" safety record as all the world has witnessed in the recent past.They can be their own worst enemy at times.




http://informationdissemination.blogspot.com/2009/04/russia-deploys-black-sea-fleet.html


They'll be watching the NATO movements in another week or so.

[bemildred]

17. Not like a car huh?

I was thinking they might be there to help out if there is a "political crisis" in Georgia. Like, soon now.

[Igel]

14. Are they going to pull a repeat of 1921?

The way I heard it is that there was the official justification of a coup, organized by some Bolsheviks and recognized by the USSR. The plotters didn't take over, they just announced they were officially in charge and invited in the USSR to help. Stalin was happy to help.

[bemildred]

15. Sounds sort of like California. nt

[AlphaCentauri]

24. Oh yeah, the California "revolt", wonder how 4 graders are teach about that act of shame n/t

[Xolodno]

25. Couple of possibilities....

1. Just posturing due to the NATO war games.

2. Asserting themselves and creating some bargaining chips over the missile shield, Iran, etc.

3. Georgia is going to have a political melt-down and a Russia is getting a stabilizing force ready. I'm sure a government that is friendly to Russia will emerge.

Just rolling in with tanks is not fashionable anymore...its so last century. Plus they learned their lesson under the Soviet Union, having them in your empire can be too costly. Better to have them as an "ally" and self sufficient enough on their own.

[drchoice22]

41. I agree but keep in mind as friendly as Russia is

Why wouldn't the georgians want to be a part of Russia?

Russia's just trying to prevent political instability in this pro-bush country and should probably be in control.

[RedCloud]

27. I suppose most of you don't know but that area is part Russia too!

maybe some real famous Russian from Georgia. What his name? Oh yeah, Joe Steel was from there.

Georgia was trying to annihilate those people in that region. Don't trust MSM on this.

I'll see if I can get that video from the other side of the story for you.

[RedCloud]

28. One video coming up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Oj6vx8Q2Q

[ohio2007]

30. Chechnya was once part of Russia also

This is basically a war over whether or not Chechnya is part of the Russian Federation. The Chechens believe they are engaged in a legitimate struggle for independence, while Moscow considers Chechnya a Russian province and brands former Chechen leaders as terrorists. Learn how the deep-seated hostility between the two sides has made ending this brutal conflict so difficult.



http://www.worldconflictstoday.com/?a_username=GCPSS&a_password=GCPSS

I read they like to kill children in Beslan schools in the name of independence .

just a side bar to the story abot controlling the new oil pipelines ;)

[Alamuti Lotus]

32. X

[ohio2007]

34. Y

When are the next "spontaneous" peace protests in Tbilisi to break out ?

[ohio2007]

29. Gunfire exchanged on Georgia-South Ossetia border

Gunfire exchanged on Georgia-South Ossetia border

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) -- Georgia and its breakaway region of South Ossetia have reported gunfire exchanges along their tense administrative border. No casualties have been reported.

The reported shootings occurred before talks with international monitors Thursday on efforts to diffuse tensions in the region following last year's war between Georgia and Russia, which backs South Ossetia.

Georgia's Interior Ministry says a police post in the village of Plavi came under automatic weapon fire for several minutes Wednesday night.

South Ossetia's separatist government says about two hours later heavy-caliber weapons were fired on the village of Otrev, where about 15 families live. A government spokeswoman says villagers sought safety in nearby woods.

http://weartv.com/template/inews_wire/wires.international/39b6d484-www.weartv.com.shtml

[KamaAina]

31. Breaking: Sarah Palin calls for Russia's immediate withdrawal from Atlanta

:dunce:

[TheLastMohican]

33. Imagine the US had a short war with Mexico

And now Russia comes to conduct "war games" with Mexico as if "in your face" attitude.

I understand why Russia is restless. US would be going berserk if the roles were reversed.

Saakashvili is an unstable lunatic with visions of grandeur and occasional homicidal sparks. Keeping him in cage might be the best solution.

[ohio2007]

35. So what yo are saying is Russia plans to have another short war in Georgia?

bc NATO comes to conduct scheduled "war games" with Georgia.

The biggest point being overlooked is the agreement made between Ukraine and Russia.
Sure,
Russia announced their intentions to sail the fleet out of the Ukraine home port as required but,
does anybody remember what Ukraine said about those ships request to return if they conducted attacks on Georgia ?

No ?

Maybe they were just idle threats afterall. Guess this will be a wait and see what happens in the next two weeks kind of situation.

[bemildred]

36. Protests in Georgia's capital go into 3rd week

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — A few thousand Georgians rallied outside the public television station and parliament building in the capital city Friday as daily protests against President Mikhail Saakashvili entered their third week.

They continued to demand the resignation of Saakashvili, the Western-backed president who opponents accuse of concentrating power in his own hands and mishandling last year's war with neighboring Russia, which resulted in heavy damages and a loss of territory.

Outside Georgia's public television station headquarters, protesters demanded fair coverage.

"We are striving for objective coverage of the events," said Georgy Khaindrava, an opposition leader, vowing to picket the station until Saakashvili resigns.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gk5ajtGAIs0qPaXWJy-hhL6hI5WwD97P03O80

[bemildred]

37. Frustration grows at Georgia protests

TBILISI (AFP) — Nerves are fraying in the Georgian capital Tbilisi as local residents grow increasingly frustrated with opposition protests that have blocked city streets and disrupted daily life.

Launched on April 9, the protests have been the biggest and longest demonstrations against President Mikheil Saakashvili's rule since a war last year with Russia.

As the number of protesters has dwindled from some 60,000 on the first day to about 3,000 on Friday, opposition leaders have sought to boost pressure on Saakashvili through a campaign of "civil disobedience."

Protesters have erected mock jail cells along Tbilisi's main street, Rustaveli Avenue, and outside the offices of public television, blocking traffic on several of the city's main thoroughfares.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gxF4FZV62WNDawchSSGHzoP3aMdw

[bemildred]

38. Saakashvili to take part in energy summit in Bulgaria

TBILISI - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili flew to Sofia on Friday, to attend an international energy summit due to open in the Bulgarian capital.

It is crucial for Georgia to participate in this summit, Saakashvili told journalists at Tbilisi airport.

"We have quit the CIS, but we have to be somewhere else. That is why integration in the direction of Europe and Central Asia in the energy sector is highly important to Georgia," the president said.

Georgian officials plan to sign the European Union's Eastern partnership document in Prague on May 7, he said.

http://www.kyivpost.com/world/40178