Georgia finally engages in a war

[Gelion]

Heavy fighting in South Ossetia
BBC map showing Georgia and its breakaway regions

Georgian forces and South Ossetian separatists are exchanging heavy fire just hours after agreeing to a ceasefire and Russian-mediated talks.

Fighting broke out after a brief lull in a day of heavy gunfire and shelling.

Up to 10 Georgian peacekeepers and civilians have died, Georgia's interior ministry told Reuters news agency.

Russia, which has close ties with South Ossetia, says Georgia is building up its forces to seize the breakaway province, a claim Georgia denies.

Days of heavy fighting have raised fears of new war in the volatile Caucasus.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said there had been many casualties, including some deaths.

In a televised address, he called for the spiral of bloodshed to end, but he also warned the separatists not to try the patience of the Georgian state.

Fighting has focused all day near the town of Tskhinvali in South Ossetia.

A truce was announced, with emergency talks set for Friday. But the BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi said Georgia then accused the separatists of opening fire again a few hours after Mr Saakashvili ordered his troops to stop shooting.

By nightfall, both sides were trading heavy fire.

Georgian soldiers in ethnic Georgian village of Ergneti, 5 Aug 08
Georgian troops protect ethnic Georgian villages in South Ossetia

Georgian officials have claimed separatists in South Ossetia - who have been trying to break away since the civil war in the 1990s - were trying to drag the country into a new conflict and blame Russia for arming them, a claim Moscow denies.

President Saakashvili has vowed to restore Tbilisi's control over South Ossetia and another breakaway province, Abkhazia.

The Ossetians have traditionally had good relations with Russia - unlike some of their Caucasus neighbours - and North Ossetia is part of the Russian Federation.

Russia is hostile to Georgia's ambition to join Nato and has accused Georgia of building up its forces around the breakaway regions, where Russian peacekeeping troops are deployed.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7546639.stm

Tensions have been building the entire summer, small arms fire - for the past 2 weeks. This looks like the time for an all out war. Reactions?

 

[TheLastOne36]

ohh crap.

was expecting it though...

 

[potatokiosk]

I hope Georgia wins.

 

[Adrogans]

Go Gerogia. Though really wish it didn't come to this, even if unexpected.

 

[Gelion]

Go Georgia? I dont know..... when Orthodox-Russian backed separatists are fighting Orthodox-American backed imperialists, I want to cry not cheer for sides!

You guys realize this could be the beginning of WW3?

 

[REDY]

What are doing Russian peacekeepeing units?

 

[Adrogans]

It will not be the beginning of WWIII like Chechnya wasn't either.

 

[Abaddon]

WArH!


.


..What is it gud fur!!?

 

[Gelion]

What are doing Russian peacekeepeing units?

So far (acc to vesti.ru) they are not engaging. However if Georgians manage to break in, I am afraid they will intervene.

It will not be the beginning of WWIII like Chechnya wasn't either.

True RUS vs. US opposition remains, but Georgia has closer ties to US than Chechnya did.... political prestige is at stake.

 

[Adrogans]

Yeah, but I really doubt even then it will escalate too drastically. I admit it will be a hell of a problem for the region but I imagine it will end up being settled without escalating into a full on war.

 

[Masquerouge]

Same old, same old. That's what you get for having dozens of "ethnicities" in such a small area

 

[Kozmos]

Lets hope it gets worse and a regional war breaks out. Iraq is getting to be boring.

 

[Gelion]

I imagine it will end up being settled without escalating into a full on war.

It better....

 

[Azale]

Yes, a separatist conflict in a region the size of Rhode Island (or close enough) will ignite World War III.

 

[Gelion]

Yes, a separatist conflict in a region the size of Rhode Island (or close enough) will ignite World War III.

This is a place where both Russian and American interests collide. You figure the rest....
(http://www.antiwar.com/pat/?articleid=12612)

 

[Azale]

This is a place where both Russian and American interests collide. You figure the rest....
(http://www.antiwar.com/pat/?articleid=12612)

If Korea, the Berlin Airlift, and the Cuban Missile Crisis did not start WW3, I'm not losing any sleep over this.

 

[Bill3000]

Go Georgia? I dont know..... when Orthodox-Russian backed separatists are fighting Orthodox-American backed imperialists, I want to cry not cheer for sides!

I don't see Russia releasing its 3542 Caucasian states...

 

[emzie]

Georgia is over hyped. Florida will put them back in their place.

 

[Ecofarm]

Aside from Georgia being a state in the US, as pointed out above...


What does the US have to do with this? Russia strong-armed the UN into allowing them exclusive peace-keepers in the separatist area. They are basically occupying northern Georgia. Fine, the Russians are involved (heavily even).

So, where are the US troops? Advisors? Anything?

If Georgia wants to prevent a secession, that's their problem. If they want to join NATO, that's their business. Only Russia is involved directly, but... somehow... people want to pretend that the US has a hand in this.

 

[Bill3000]

Aside from Georgia being a state in the US, as pointed out above...


What does the US have to do with this?

Georgia wants to join NATO, ergo Pro-US.