It's war.

[Darius871]

Wait wait, how did this happen? You can't mess with our lapdogs like this!!!1

[Gatekeeper]

Does South Ossetia want true independence, or do they simply wish to secede from Georgia and then immediately apply to become part of Russia?

Looking at the maps, I can see why Georgia might not be enamored with the latter possibility. Such a move would put Russia within, what?, 50 or so miles of Georgia's capital, not to mention end up being a "spear" of Russian territory poking right into the middle of Georgian territory.

But if South Ossetia is seeking the former ... hmm, well, it becomes a whole lot more muddy, IMO. After Kosovo, how could the West really deny such aspirations?

Sheesh. It's enough to make one's head spin, the amount of history entwining the Caucusus region.

Gatekeeper

P.S. BTW, I see Chechnya borders Georgia — how's life there for the population?

[Lancer]

Georgia should have kept quiet, put up with the provocations, and let Russia have the pieces that didn't want to be part of Georgia anyway while at the same time achieving full NATO membership. Then, get a brigade of Germans, a brigade of Americans and French and Brits to do border duty and see if anyone still dares to shell them. As it is, Georgia might well be no more after this.

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by Lancer
Then, get a brigade of Germans, a brigade of Americans and French and Brits to do border duty and see if anyone still dares to shell them.

Since you want to put french troops in, I assume that they will surrender.

If there are no frenchies, well, what would you suggest they should do _ Nuke the the attackers _

Edit, dammit, my pc has retarded to yanky mode, those _ are supposed to be question marks

[PLATO]

Looks like Georgia may be facing the inevitability of Bear Fighting...

Is the war between Russia and US-allied Georgia drawing to an end? According to reports, Georgia has withdrawn its forces from the separatist region of South Ossetia although the fighting still continues.

Georgian Interior Ministry said that all troops had withdrawn to positions at or south of those held on August 6, when the current hostilities began.

The Russian ambassador to Georgia has said that as many as 2,000 people have been killed in South Ossetia's capital.

Earlier, Dozens of Russian warplanes bombed civilian and military targets including the Georgian town of Gori, which is located on the border with South Ossetia.

A joint delegation of the US, EU and the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe is now heading to Georgia in the hope of brokering a truce

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080060842&ch=8/10/2008%2010:10:00%20AM

[Lancer]

Originally posted by BlackCat


Since you want to put french troops in, I assume that they will surrender.

If there are no frenchies, well, what would you suggest they should do _ Nuke the the attackers _

Edit, dammit, my pc has retarded to yanky mode, those _ are supposed to be question marks

You misunderstand. If Geogia had not invaded, ie no war, and joined NATO then NATO forces would be patroling their border and the Russian cross border provocations would have stopped. As it is, Georgia attacked and now my guess is that Putin won't stop until all of Georgia is his.

I do not advocate putting NATO forces in at this point.

[onodera]

Originally posted by Victor Galis
From the NYT article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/wo...ed=2&ref=world



I'm wondering if that's what this whole thing is actually about. Cutting that pipeline would make Western Europe a lot more dependent on Russian-controlled pipelines and probably make any sort of intervention harder and less likely.

The pipeline has already been attacked, successfully, by Kurds, if I'm not mistaken.

What puzzles me the most is the slow progress of our troops. Why does Georgia still have artillery and tanks left?

UPD: There are reports of negroid casualties from the Georgian side. Military advisors?

[Victor Galis]

Originally posted by onodera

The pipeline has already been attacked, successfully, by Kurds, if I'm not mistaken.

What puzzles me the most is the slow progress of our troops. Why does Georgia still have artillery and tanks left?

UPD: There are reports of negroid casualties from the Georgian side. Military advisors?

Well, if the Times is to be believed, Georgian Anti-air defenses aren't completely worthless. They're saying you guys lost two planes yesterday. I'm not sure how many are involved. I also suspect that Russia's holding back in hopes of keeping the West out of the conflict.

[Lancer]

That's at the ass end of nowhere for the west. Either we're there at the start, which we are not, or the place is gone if Russia really wants it. The only way to get there would be through Turkey up from Iraq/Afghanistan. Good luck with that.

[Ben Kenobi]

What does Russia hope to gain here?

If they annex South Ossetia, that means they go to war with NATO. Brilliant job, Putin.

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
If they annex South Ossetia, that means they go to war with NATO.

Nonsense. Nobody will lift a finger.

[onodera]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
What does Russia hope to gain here?

If they annex South Ossetia, that means they go to war with NATO. Brilliant job, Putin.

We hope to gain a new, pro-Russian Georgian president. And independent Abkhazia you will be able to visit during the Sochi Olympics.
South Ossetia is not something we need for ourselves.

[onodera]

Originally posted by BeBro


Nonsense. Nobody will lift a finger.

Nah, a finger will be raised, like this: , but nothing more will be done.

[EPW]

The US would not allow a pro-Russian Georgian government; not as long as the oil pipeline is there.

[Victor Galis]

Well, from a strategic perspective, it looks like currently the mountains separate Georgia from Russia. If Russia controlled South Ossetia either directly or indirectly, the best line of defense against Russian aggression would be breached before any future fighting starts.