Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
Armed Cossacks pour in to fight Georgians
Hundreds, possibly thousands, of volunteer fighters from Russia were mobilising to enter the war in Georgia’s breakaway republic of South Ossetia last night.
Units of armed Cossacks from across the North Caucasus region which borders Georgia were poised to join the battle for the separatists’ capital, Tskhinvali.
In North Ossetia, the region of Russia which shares cultural links and a border with South Ossetia, lists of men willing to fight against Georgian forces were drawn up. Vitaly Khubayev, 35, from the capital, Vladikavkaz, told the Guardian: “There are already two busloads of fighters leaving for Tskhinvali every day. They give you a uniform on the way and you get issued with weapons once you arrive. If I didn’t have three children I’d have gone.”
The two Ossetias are historically inseparable and residents of the northern republic were furious yesterday at what they described as the “Georgian fascist attack” on their neighbours.
Many said they were willing to take up arms and travel to defend their relatives across the border in South Ossetia. Valentin Tekhti, 67, a teacher, said: “Our Ossetian brothers are dying. If we get the call, every man who can stand on two legs will go to fight.”
Amiran Khubetsov, a doctor, said: “A nation is under bombardment in the land it has occupied for hundreds of years. The world must not ignore this aggression.”
At a special meeting of the UN security council yesterday morning, the United States called on the Kremlin to prevent irregulars entering South Ossetia via the 4km Roki tunnel, the republic’s only link with Russia. But at a meeting with the US president, George Bush, in Bejing, the Russian prime minister, Vladimir Putin, admitted “many volunteers” were heading to South Ossetia and it would be “very hard to maintain peace”.
Under Russia law, Cossacks - the descendants of runaway serfs and outlaws who in the past were employed to protect the country’s southern border - are allowed to carry arms and carry out policing functions in cooperation with interior ministry forces.
At the headquarters of the Terek Cossacks in Vladikavkaz yesterday a group of men sat under portraits of fierce looking warriors with drooping moustaches watching television coverage of Georgian artillery shelling Tskhinvali. One man said there would be a meeting today to discuss forming volunteer units.
In Volgograd the leader of the Don Cossacks, Viktor Vodolatsky, called on all Cossacks under 40 to volunteer. Reports said 100 men from the region had already left for Tskhinvali. “We must help our South Ossetian brothers,” he said.
Irregular troops from the north Caucasus played an important role in the conflicts that saw both Georgia’s breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, secede in the early 1990s.
In Abkhazia, Cossack and Chechen units fought side by side against Georgian troops, despite being historical enemies. Abkhazia has promised to help South Ossetia in its conflict with Georgia.
Ossetians in Vladikavkaz yesterday said they were hoping for a decisive strike by the Russian army to drive Georgia’s forces out of South Ossetia. There were emotional scenes in the city, as hundreds of protesters, mostly women, gathered outside the regional government headquarters and shouted, “Russia, save us!”
Aelita Dzhioyeva, 41, a lawyer who fled Tskhinvali on Thursday evening, showed text messages on her mobile phone from relatives still sheltering in a basement in the city. One message read: “We are dying. Ask the government for help.”
Dzhioyeva said: “Our men will stay and fight until the last drop of blood, but our old people and children must be saved. We are calling on the Kremlin to intervene and create a humanitarian corridor for them to escape.”
Shota Kochiev, 60, said:** “This is America’s doing. They are supporting Georgia’s mad lust for new land - our land.”**
About 2,000 refugees from South Ossetia, mostly women and children, have so far been bussed to Russia and are staying in hotels around Vladikavkaz.
Armed Cossacks pour in to fight Georgians | World news | The Guardian
Georgia is now withdrawing all of its forces from Iraq (it's the third largest contributor to the Occupation, behind only the USA and the UK). Gerogia's govenrment seems to have decided that troops are better used when defending their own country than occupying other countries....
Interestingly, though Georgian troops in Iraq fought and died to help US troops occupy Iraq, the USA has already announced that none of its 100 troops in Georgia are or will be involved with fighting against the Russians. You scratch the USA's back and the USA......
Haha Bush is stupid but not stupid enough to go to war with Russia, especially when the US are fighting two wars currently and the rest of the world hates them.
Even if he wanted to do something, Bush cannot do anything. The US army is stretched so thin, stop-lossed soldiers in Iraq, it is not possible atm. We love to hate America for a lot of things, but now everyone is calling on the US for help, little ironic i think.
Russian tanks roll in to Gerogia
Once again… the decaded of 60’s 70’s coming back?Is Russia planning to show off the world that their military might is not faded?
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
The Russians just want to show-off the world that It still can interfere anywhere.
I believe Russians had it for a show when their MIG plane was shot down a couple of months back,by Georgia.
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
Kind of remind of East Pakistan war in 1971, when India had intervened.
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
Seems like USA won't just be mum about the situation. USA has vested interests in Georgia because the pipeline are said to run through Georgia to decrease dependency on Middle-East oil and bypass Russia.
But how far will USA go to protect its' interests? UN called for Russia to pull back troops yesterday, and Russia refused to. Several key locations have been bombarded, and it's still going on...
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
This appears like a good and balanced article in Time.
Has Georgia Overreached in Ossetia? - TIME
This is predicting a victory by Moscow. After reading this article, I then went back and read all the replies in this thread again, and now I can better follow what you guys are talking about.
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
damn...never thought that the access and control of Central Asian oil will become as much of a poltical tussle as middle east oil...afghanistan, Pakistan. now this area..
the cold war that is colder than the old cold war between US and USSR (oh yeah..it may be in pieces, but Russia is still USSR in its mind)
crazy stuff I tell ya
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
So my brave Nato's why you don't send your humanitarian bombers like you did over Serbia in 1999.
NATO, my ass.
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
new nick same stuff ;)
strategic interests then and there vs here and now.
just like other leashes attached on upstart kiddies, thats the way the cookie crumbles
So my brave Nato's why you don't send your humanitarian bombers like you did over Serbia in 1999.
NATO, my ass.
You don't back up a player who makes a horribly risky bet. Georgia is going to lose this bet but they aren't going to lose their house.
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
Georgians are known to be traitors. There's a saying in Russian that they'll smile to your face very kindly and as you turn, they'll stab you in the back. That's exactly what they did.
I hope Moscow wins this.
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
A strike on Iran is imminent,in this context?
I think it's improper to negate an idea like this?why?Very clear.Russia has showed off at Georgia.Georgia happens to be a staunch supporter of U.S and vice versa.Now Iran is backed by Russia.If these forces do not support Georgia(U.S and it's allies,they can expect a similar response from Russia on Iran).................
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
Russia is using the foolish act by Georgian president (who got a bit too excited and underestimated the Russian response while overestimating the backing of US/Nato) to make an example out of Georgia for others with such ambitions to see what can/would happen. Georgian President sought to regain Autonomous territory and bring it under the control of Central Govt. (one of his Campaign promises)....unfortunately, it could not materialize.
Funnily enough, President Bush has nothing but words in support of Georgian president. :)
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
Georgia is better off with the mother Russia.
all hail Stalin.
all hail mother Russia.
all hail communism.
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
Georgian girls are smokingg hott!!! I got my maggic stickk ready for em.
On the topic = Georgia has already given up.
On the topic = Georgia has already given up.
No, Georgia is trying to give up and beg for peace. But looks like Vlad "The Impaler" Putin is in no mood to accept surrender. Russia's continuing to pound deeper and deeper inside Georgia.
It really does look like he is trying to send a strong message to any country that Russia considers to be in Russia's sphere of influence, that if you try and align with the West there will be consequences.
Ukraine would do well to pay attention to events in Georgia, lest it continues to try and push for closer ties to NATO and the EU too.
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
I mean, in all seriousness, does anyone really think that a unipolar world dominated by USA is actually a bright idea? I don't think Russia is a stellar epitome of balance and foresight, but together with China, it will probably help the world being multi-polar where one deranged super power can't mess up whole regions just to avenge an attack on "daddy".
Re: Georgia under attack by Russia
To Russian relief,there is going to be no `Jihad' in sight on this issue..