General Discussion

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PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV Statement on the Situation in South Ossetia

August 8, 2008

The Kremlin, Moscow

As you know, Russia has maintained and continues to maintain a presence on Georgian territory on an absolutely lawful basis, carrying out its peacekeeping mission in accordance with the agreements concluded. We have always considered maintaining the peace to be our paramount task. Russia has historically been a guarantor for the security of the peoples of the Caucasus, and this remains true today.

Last night, Georgian troops committed what amounts to an act of aggression against Russian peacekeepers and the civilian population in South Ossetia. What took place is a gross violation of international law and of the mandates that the international community gave Russia as a partner in the peace process.

Georgia's acts have caused loss of life, including among Russian peacekeepers. The situation reached the point where Georgian peacekeepers opened fire on the Russian peacekeepers with whom they are supposed to work together to carry out their mission of maintaining peace in this region. Civilians, women, children and old people, are dying today in South Ossetia, and the majority of them are citizens of the Russian Federation.

In accordance with the Constitution and the federal laws, as President of the Russian Federation it is my duty to protect the lives and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they may be.

It is these circumstances that dictate the steps we will take now. We will not allow the deaths of our fellow citizens to go unpunished. The perpetrators will receive the punishment they deserve."

Russia uses the old Hitler routine of making citizens out of non-citizens..to "protect them"

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TBLISI, Georgia (CNN) -- Russian and Georgian troops fought Friday over the disputed Caucasus region of South Ossetia as world powers implored the two nations to end the violence.

(Georgian troops fire rockets at South Ossetian rebels near Tskhinvali, teh South Ossetian capital.)

Fierce clashes were seen between Georgian and Russian forces in South Ossetia, a pro-Russian autonomous region of Georgia.

"I saw bodies lying on the streets, around ruined buildings, in cars," Lyudmila Ostayeva, a resident of the South Ossetia capital, Tskhinvali, told The Associated Press.

"It's impossible to count them now. There is hardly a single building left undamaged," she said after fleeing to a village near the Russian border, AP reported.

One U.S. State Department official called the conflict a "very dangerous situation" and said diplomatic moves are afoot around the globe to stop it.

Georgia -- on the Black Sea coast between Russia and Turkey -- appealed for diplomatic intervention. Watch Georgian minister describe fighting in South Ossetia »

Georgia asked the United States for planes to return its 2,000 troops serving as part of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, a U.S. official said. "

This is not minor.....

You seemed to omit the part of the story that states 150 Russian armored vehicles, to include tanks and armored personnel carriers, are all that has crossed the border into Georgia. The units depicted in the picture on MSNBC are of a Russian reconnaisance unit, the pictures you post show T-80 tanks.

10 T-80 tanks form an armored company. Thus it would appear that the Russians have crossed the border in support of their own peacekeepers with approximately an armored battalion, probably a motorized rifle battalion, complete with recon and support elements. This is less than one American Brigade, and is hardly indicative of a major invasion force.

The Russians also have a tad bit more aircraft then the number that have been reported flying sortees.

Wake me up with alarm when the Russians commit a Guards Tank Army with aircraft, Spetnatz, and airmobile forces. Until then, this is just a sideshow.

Oh well, I guess the Brits won't be scaling down it's troop deployment anytime soon (again).

wow, thats pretty intense. I dunno what can be said. I mean i can see why russia is just going into that one city(not sure if its a full invasion). And i am really not opposed to it, although i do NOT agree with the decision to target civilians. This reminds me of that thread about Mexico and the U.S. ...... except we didnt invade mexico....

How did they get to Georgia without getting through South Carolina or Florida?

Where's Patrick Swayze when you need him :(

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Originally posted by Enigma
Where's Patrick Swayze when you need him :(

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WOLVERINES!!!

Originally posted by cityzen

 

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Originally posted by Enigma
Where's Patrick Swayze when you need him :(

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WOLVERINES!!!

 

hehe. dirty dancing wolverines in a barfight at the roadhouse.

Russia always seems to be in perpetual conflict with it's former territories.