Via the BBC:Georgia ‘pulls out of S Ossetia’
Georgia has said its troops have pulled out of the breakaway region of South Ossetia and that Russian forces are in control of its capital, Tskhinvali.
But Russia said that while heavy artillery had been seen leaving the territory, Georgian troops were still present in other areas of the region.
Georgia’s foreign ministry said it had ordered a ceasefire, and called for immediate talks with Russia.
[...]
Russian PM Vladimir Putin earlier suggested it was unlikely that South Ossetia would re-integrate with the rest of Georgia, saying the country’s territorial integrity had “suffered a fatal blow”.
The US is warning long-term effects on US-Russian relations. What that exactly means remains to be seen, but clearly Russians assertiveness continues to be on the rise, which will have long-term implications, to be sure.
The article also states that Russia troops have entered Abkhazia, another Georgian province that borders Russia, but that is not contiguous to South Ossetia (see the map at the BBC story).
The death toll stands as follows:
Russian and South Ossetian estimates put the death toll on the South Ossetian side at more than 1,500, mostly civilians. Georgian casualty figures ranged from 82 dead, including 37 civilians, to a figure of about 130 dead.
There are also thousands of displaced civilians as a result of the fighting.
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This whole episode illustrates the danger of NATO enlargement. The concept of enlargement seems like a good thing and has received little critical scrutiny, but the responsibilities therein are enormous.
It’s one thing to have congratulatory meetings to welcome new members, but would there be stomach to send troops to defend a member of a mutual defence pact when the time comes. Accepting responsibility to defend a far away country is like cosigning your brother-in-law’s loan — it may seem like a good gesture at the time, but the responsibility that comes with such a gesture can be enormous if things go bad.
Would there have been stomach to send troops to Georgia if there application had made it through Brussels? Doubtful, just like it’s doubtful that we’d be interested in intervening in Estonia (currently a member) if they meet the same bear as Georgia.
Comment by Buckland — Sunday, August 10, 2024 @ 11:52 am
August 7, 2024 at 12:38 AM
Finally to fall upon before the computer. Today was a very difficult day. The guys who came with me in Tskhinval, were forced to leave. Nakalilas situation to a critical level. On urban streets except for military and journalists almost nobody. Now comes a mortar attack Ossetia by the Georgian villages. In the village of Tsunar still goes exchange. Talk that the war has already begun in an open manner. Hard to say that it would be by the morning. The remaining people in the city without panic down in basements.
August 8, 2024 at 8:50 PM
I am alive! Thank you all for your support, we all now it is very necessary. The city completely destroyed, as in Stalingrad, are fighting for every house. As long as all possibilities of going to write more … But do not promise.
Telephone almost died. Will be an opportunity to write. Now Rossiskie okrayne troops in the republic. In trimming the forest. We selected 2 Georgian tank and a couple burned. A heavy night! I do not know whether alive sister and parents. In my eyes burned in a car and the child’s father, but before shooting them half the skull, brains everywhere …
UPD 1 (09.08.2008, 06:30):
“Ready to defense. They say that saakashvili wants revenge. Today Yanika killed my neighbour and his father. Yanika U remained 2 child, a daughter and son godik and four years. From my platoon, I found a 6 people after the battle! Others missing. I can not find a friend, he took part in battles near the village of Pris and after the battle is not left to us. Georgians are very animals. Today, I saw how they shot at the car with an infant. Father and child killed by tank rounds. They burned the car. Vyzhila only mother. She rvala to imagine asking themselves why hair remained alive. ”
UPD 2 (09.08.2008, 08:00):
“The city began firing artillery shells! Say, Georgians want infantry stormed the town, we’ll vtrechat.”
UPD 3 (09.08.2008, 20:29):
“Georgians stormed the city all day. Until we discourage. Sozhgli several tanks. A shot of the day, castles and tanks. Polurazrushenny city finally razed to the ground. Now listen sit declaration. Our troops face in one of the closest villages. It is not yet clear that will continue. ”
UPD 4 (09.08.2008, 21:43):
“Many people have lost. Pogiblo lot of guys. Podbili lot of guys Georgian tanks. I’ll go in the bunker. Afternoon held in the basement, on the morning run from the tanks. In the hands of just automatic. More nothing. Ele phone charges, here with this big problems There is no light. No gas. Almost no homes have been a target. Skidyvayte news, then blocked all information! Ele working relationship. “
Comment by BD — Sunday, August 10, 2024 @ 9:44 pm
August 10, 2024 at 12:08 PM
This morning we broke down warehouse with weapons. Now almost everyone has a trunk.
Russian troops finally arrived. Off the entire city. Georgian troops, we broke out of the city. Now take a position on the city.
Today sent the remaining women and children. A lot of deaths.
Prisoners of war Georgians said yesterday from 500 tankista only 100 survived. He himself mechanic at the tank. Their tank was taken guys, it planted over the hatch and go shoot Georgians. Prisoners of war fought hard.
Such cases.
August 10, 2024 at 9:08 PM
Now comes the shooting! Georgians began to bombard the city from “Castle” and mortars. Today, Georgians wanted to do for air Tskhinval, but so far only worked gunners.
People were sent to Vladikavkaz in trucks. In the ears constantly terrible roar and weeping women. The other day Georgians burned alive in a car shot mortar family of 4 people, two small children (one year and four years) and parents. Already 3 family completely destroyed over the past 2 days on my eyes.
In the village of Tsunar tank asking a mother and long after they have their utyuzhil obezzhiznenye body.
Eat, that there are at hand, opened shops, army ration, canned in basements.
Comment by BD — Sunday, August 10, 2024 @ 9:54 pm
Saakashvili is a criminal beyond belief. His forces staged a full-fledged genocide of South Ossetian people. They were killing women and children by running them over with their tanks! A number of women were killed by holding their heads and shooting at their necks before the head separeted. These saddists also killed a number of journalists covering the situation. They didn’t stage warfare (warfare has rules) - they staged atrocities and ethnic clensing. Only cowards can do this, they are not men. I am not sure if targeting civilians was part of US-based training of Georgian forces just a few weeks ago but all the evidence suggests that US has intimate interests in destabilizing situation around the strong countries of the world that were its historical opponents. This way all the world’s resources can be appropriated or shipped in the “right” direction. US also wishes to engulf post-Soviet Republics into NATO. That way it could have its forces surrounding Russia. The building of anti-missile shield in Eastern Europe is not against Iran as they claim - it’s clearly against Russia. Even after all the evidence of ethnic clensing is clearly presented to the US, they still call it Russian “occupation”. They think people are stupid and can be easily brain-washed. In fact the news is twisted every possible way to conseal the attrocities. For example, they mention “the number of people killed” but not even once have they mentioned that the Georgians killed 2024 people. Every psychological trick is used to give a twisted view of reality. In my 10 years in North America I have yet to read one positive piece of news about Russia!
For the US, Georgia is a bit similar to Iraq when it comes to its search for oil supplies. The only difference it is also trying to be its “friend” so that NATO forces can be placed there at the Russian border. It is trying to kill these two birds with one rock, which comes at Russia’s expense.
Also, make no mistake about Saakashvili. He is friends with Borish Berezovsky who once needless to say, illegally, controlled 10% of Russians money in early 90’s (Read Paul Khlebnikov’s book “The Godfather of Kremlin”; it’s no surprize the authour is no longer with us). Berezovsky is also interested in destabilizing Russia as it convicted to life in prison their for his criminal activities. In fact he himself stated that, one cannot get that rich in Russia without having to commit something illegal. Some of the personal financial transactions involved in Berezovsky’s and Saakashvili’s business endeavors were done with Chechen separatists. So both of them have places to hide where nobody in this world would dare to find them. Berezovsky has proved to be a powerful mastermind when it comes to impacting countries’ leaders and gaining control in difficult situations. He might have a small hand to play in this situation considering how close the two are.
It should come as no surprize that the situation in South Ossetia was so much needed by parties external to Russia. Russia was left with no option but to protect its sitizens.
Comment by Alex — Sunday, August 10, 2024 @ 11:28 pm
Your story is really good. For not being the truth it might even win a fiction award. Good job. I couldnt have thought up a better story myself and i must say i am damn good at story telling fibs.
Thanks for the laughs.
Keep up the good job. Will check back later to see if you are being invaded by space aliens.. that would make the story even more interesting.
Thanks again.
Comment by dave — Sunday, August 10, 2024 @ 11:43 pm
ou boy, i dont know whether its already in western media but sakasvilli said regarding one sided geogian cease fire:
“we had our soldiers there, and we moved them from the region, after they fullfilled the task of cleansing… basically, they are away”
i am speechless. really nice ally you have there … but well its not as if you were torturing people, ou well …
Comment by lala — Sunday, August 10, 2024 @ 11:54 pm
How is this for coincidence. At the same time that Georgian troops are pulling out of South Ossetia, I was pulling out of my long-time life-partner Tom Snyder in Atlanta Georgia.
Who says that Log Cabin Republicans get nothing done with their unique brand of back-door politics?
Comment by Dr. Ted Baehr — Monday, August 11, 2024 @ 12:03 am
Whoa.
You think you know where a thread is going . . .
Comment by Captain D — Monday, August 11, 2024 @ 12:36 am
Обращаюсь к Русским Американцам, кто успеет прочитать это сообщение, переведите на английский и расскажите кому сможете.
CNN и другие мировые средства массовой информации оболванивают население земли и в особенности США, Вам показывают “красивые кадры выступления Саакашвили”, На самом же деле грузинские войска убивают Осетинских женщин, детей и другое мирное население, грузинский танк раздавил убегающих бабушку с двумя детьми, Грузинские солдаты заживо сжигают мирных людей, РЕЖУТ им горло, словно животным на бойне. Все ето финансируется США, которое пытается установить своё господство на земле. Это всё может привести к 3 мировой войне. Вы не видете по тех ужасов, которые творят Грузинские военные. ЭТО ГЕНОЦИД. 11 сентября уже повторилось для осетинского народа.
Россия мирная страна, нелзя Россию обвинять в насилии.
США истинный огрессор, США финансировала все последние войны.
Не позволяйте себя обманывать, не превращайтесь в быдло, оплачивающее налогами уничтожение мирного человечества…
Comment by Pavel — Monday, August 11, 2024 @ 1:19 am
Я взял голосование. Россия была объявлена как самое агрессивное и большинство войны mongering нация за прошлые 200 лет. Жаль, если Вы не добирались, чтобы голосовать. Между прочим, Германия вошла в секунду, если это заставляет Вас чувствовать немного лучше. Имейте хороший день.
Comment by Pavel the real — Monday, August 11, 2024 @ 1:57 am
For those who does not know, the small historical inquiry:
Ossetia, Abkhazia, Adjariya, Svanetiya etc. in XIX century were exposed to persecutions from the authorities of Tbilisi. Only presence at first imperial armies on kavkaze, and then and Soviet has helped to keep indigenous population.
Concerning last events small chronology:
From 02.08 till - from the Georgian party occurs artillery bombardments of capital of Ossetia and all its territory
From 04.08 - from Ossetia evacuation of local residents begins
07.08 19:00 - Saakashvili declares, that stops bombardment of territory of Ossetia and is ready to sit down for a negotiating table.
07.08 22:00 - Georgia begins the massed artillery bombardment of capital of Ossetia and its territories with application of the weapon of mass defeat
In the morning 08.08 Georgian armies go over to the offensive and moving ahead from different directions to capital of Ossetia completely wipe about all buildings and structures, destroying thus unarmed local residents. Fire is conducted and on the peace-making contingent located in Ossetia, there are killed.
08.08 09:00 - the authorities of South Ossetia ask Russia about protection
08.08 from 09:00 till - the Russian authorities call the USA, all countries of NATO, IOK to influence Georgia for the termination of offensive operation. Reacts only IOK.
08.08 from 17:00 - because of world community inactivity Russia enters the armies on territory of Ossetia and begins operation on expression of armies of Georgia with territory of Ossetia.
Simultaneously foreign news agencies inform on an attack of Russia to Georgia.
And WHERE YOU WERE EARLIER WHEN GEORGIA HAS SHOT MORE THAN 2024 INHABITANTS OF LOCAL INDIGENOUS POPULATION (living there centuries)?!?!?!
Those shots with ostensibly bombardment of Georgia which you see, actually night bombardment by the Georgian party of capital of Ossetia. REALLY TO YOU SO HAVE WASHED OUT BRAINS, THAT YOU ARE MEANINGLY READY TO GET RID 2024 OSSETIN, VICTIMS FROM HANDS OF THE GEORGIAN ARMIES FROM 07.08. LESS THAN FOR 12 HOURS by GEORGIA IT IS KILLED 2024 PEACE PERSON, AND YOU AT ALL DO NOT NOTICE THEM!!!
THERE IS NO SOVIET UNION MORE!!! FORGET ABOUT IT! NOT WE HAVE UNTIED THIS SLAUGHTER-HOUSE!!!!!
Comment by Andrey — Monday, August 11, 2024 @ 1:59 am
In August 1924, the small nation of Georgia, occupied by Soviet Russia since 1921, rose up against Soviet rule. On Sept. 16, 1924, The Times of London reported on an appeal by the president of the Georgian Republic to the League of Nations. While “sympathetic reference to his country’s efforts was made” in the Assembly, the Times said, “it is realized that the League is incapable of rendering material aid, and that the moral influence which may be a powerful force with civilized countries is unlikely to make any impression upon Soviet Russia.”
“Unlikely” was an understatement. Georgians did not enjoy freedom again until 1991.
Sounds like 17 years before back under USSR rule to me.
Comment by dave — Monday, August 11, 2024 @ 2:17 am
I don’t know who is going to read this message. I’m just feel awful and I want to speak. I’m not going to persuade everybody that Russia is better than it is in reality. Of course, many countries do not like Russia because of different reasons, but I don’t think that this is enough to accuse Russia in what it never have done.
Nearly all Russian people sit in front of their televisions all day long, we know and we see what kind of reports take place on American(and many other) channels, and we also see ruined houses in Osetia and thankful people of Osetia, who are glad to see Russians and who are upset because of actions of Georgia. There were no separatists in Osetia as Georgian president has said. There were no reason to start an operation in Osetia, but they did. And I think, that Georgia has done it intentionally in order to weaken the position of Russia in the international area.
The propagation on international channels is certainly the part of a plan, which we don’t know.
And I ask you, please, find half an hour and look for the information about these events on other sites, nor American, but Russian, find something to change your view. We have already seen the Georgian militaries, who were captivated by Russian soldiers, and they said what task they got - to kill everybody, to shoot no matter who. We have already seen American journalist, who was wounded by the Georgian militaries and he is stiil in the ruined hospital in Tshinvale!We have already seen the American, who is married to a woman from Osetia and he has seen everything himself. He is now in Russia with his wife, because their house is ruined by the Georgians.
Do not you want to see all this? To understand that this is all a game against Russia?
Athis reminds me a movie. You must know it. It is an American film - “Wag the Dog”. I love this film, but I have never thought, that it could become a reality.
Comment by Anastasia from Russia — Monday, August 11, 2024 @ 4:03 am
http://ru.youtube.com/watch?v=PLHrhMDtx7A this is about the beginnig of Georgian actions in Osetia
http://ru.youtube.com/watch?v=AjOiN76yHN8&feature=related this is about the propagation on the international channels, by the way, Germany and Italy are more adequate about this situation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS0js2ubsCs&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSIf2M7BHwc Georgian military fires Russian soldiers near Tshinvale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUQ4DHvPGnQ ruined Tshinvale
Comment by Anastasia from Russia — Monday, August 11, 2024 @ 4:28 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUdz36VSVCQ&feature=related the first day of the war in Southern Osetia
I’m sorry all these videos are on Russian, but you don’t always need to hear, just look and feel
Comment by Anastasia from Russia — Monday, August 11, 2024 @ 4:31 am
http://ru.youtube.com/watch?v=epQTYfR8mCo&feature=user this one is in English
Comment by Anastasia from Russia — Monday, August 11, 2024 @ 6:24 am