Originally posted by ivanhoeHi there,
Hello infomast,
It would be nice if you would give us a report of what these articles are saying basicly. ..... You do speak Russian don't you ?
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Originally posted by Eladar
Evidently, these two links support the assertion that the paramilitary units came from the north first. Notice the d ...[text shortened]... s/lenta/2008/08/05/n_1252317.shtml
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I will, probably, disappoint you, but there is nothing earth-shattering in these two articles. They are taken from two Russian internet sites which are generally supportive of the government position. As you can imagine the Russian internet is overloaded with all kinds of info about the war but there is nothing special in these links.
The first one from the business daily is an interview with the Georgian prime minister who explains how the war started. The first question is: "How come that only a few hours before the attack on Tshinvali Georgia was talking peace?". He answers that the Ossetians provoked Georgia by bombing and attacking several Georgian villages and that the column of "the so called volunteers" was detected entering the region. There's nothing really new here. Personally, I think it's laughable. Firstly, even if true, you don't launch a full scale attack back but respond in kind, especially when the peace talks with Russian mediation are already scheduled the next day. Secondly, the attack of this scale can't be organized in an hour but was obviously well prepared in advance. The Russian press reported later that they were dancing in the streets in Tbilisi as Georgian TV reported on advancement of Georgian forces block by block in Tskhinvali. Another thing that gravely upset the Russians was that the peace-keeping mission consisted of tri-party regiments of Russians, Georgians and Ossetians and as soon as the attack began the Georgian peacekeepers started shooting at their Russian fellow peacekeepers. All this means that it was all planned.
The second one, dated before the war, quotes the North and South Ossetia officials that the volunteers are beginning to come to South Ossetia from the Southern Russia regions to provide support. They should number up to 2 thousand men. To this I just want to mention that the skirmishes on the Ossetia-Georgia border began about a week before the war as Georgia began its buildup. Again, there were plenty of reports in the Russian press that something big is brewing, but there was no mobilization of Russian military whatsoever. This was recognized even by American sources. However, it's hard to forbid ordinary people to free lance on their own when they sense injustice. I doubt that the amateurs played any role in this war where the regular armies were employed.
Originally posted by ivanhoeI think a group of "Observers" from each of the NATO countries should oversee aid operations in the country.
This remains to be seen. There are reports stating that Georgian villages were attacked by South-Ossetian separatists on the 6th and 7th of August. That's the reason why Georgia sent troops to the region on August the 8th. This action was not meant to retake South-Ossetia, but to protect these Georgian villages. The Russians provoked the Georgian actions because they needed a pretext to justify their invasion of Georgian territory.
Originally posted by no1marauderBecause i think our respective governments should put our money where our mouths seem to be....stick a politician from each country in each city/town in Georgia, and if they're all alive next month - world war 3 is averted.
Why were quotes put around the word observers? Who do you want to send into a war zone then?
Originally posted by huckleberryhoundDo you thnk that the west could hold out for a third front considering they are a little over streched in Iraq / Afganistan
Because i think our respective governments should put our money where our mouths seem to be....stick a politician from each country in each city/town in Georgia, and if they're all alive next month - world war 3 is averted.
Originally posted by RSMA1234Considerring half of the European armies are actually sunning themselves on beaches, and doing crap all fighting....yes. If by "the west" you mean Britain and USA, maybe we are a little stretched, If you are including all the other countries that seem to be doing nothing much right now.......i think we would be more than capable as long as China doesn't wade in.
Do you thnk that the west could hold out for a third front considering they are a little over streched in Iraq / Afganistan
I'm not talking about attacking the Russians, just defending the Georgians.
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Originally posted by infomastThanks for your elaborate answer.
Hi there,
I will, probably, disappoint you, but there is nothing earth-shattering in these two articles. They are taken from two Russian internet sites which are generally supportive of the government position. As you can imagine the Russian internet is overloaded with all kinds of info about the war but there is nothing special in these links.
The fi t that the amateurs played any role in this war where the regular armies were employed.
Two facts are important. First of all the coming of the "volunteers" to South Ossetia and secondly the attacks on Georgian villages by South Ossetion separatists before the 8th of August.
What roll do these "volunteers" play, whose orders do they follow and why do the Russian authorities let them get away with everything they do ? ... same goes for the South-Ossetian separatists ..... which brings us to these attacks on Georgian villages from South-Ossetian territory, preceding the Georgion reaction on august the 8th, followed by the Russian invasion of Georgia.
Infomast:"Firstly, even if true, you don't launch a full scale attack back but respond in kind, especially when the peace talks with Russian mediation are already scheduled the next day. Secondly, the attack of this scale can't be organized in an hour but was obviously well prepared in advance."
Don't these thoughts apply as well for the disproportionate response by the Russian army, bombing Georgian cities, harbours, residential areas, etc, etc ? ...
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... and yet another question is what are the Russians doing about the Ossetians who want to break away from Russia and claim independence ? Russia does not want Ossetia to become independent and this fact could explain some events taking place after the Russian "volunteers" entered South-Ossetia and after Georgia "brutally attacking" the South Ossetian area.
Originally posted by ivanhoeAnd let's not forget the recent incursions into Georgian territory to collect Georgian weapons from unguarded depots. There is definitely the risk of these weapons turning up in the hands of separatists, making it virtually impossible to determine with any degree of accuracy who killed whom.
... and yet another question is what are the Russians doing about the Ossetians who want to break away from Russia and claim independence ? Russia does not want Ossetia to become independent and this fact could explain some events taking place after the Russian "volunteers" entered South-Ossetia and after Georgia "brutally attacking" the South Ossetian area.
