H17996
Russian tanks enter South Ossetia
This is really the ugliest scenario play-out possible.
Ideally the tensions would have presented an opportunity to set a precedent by deploying a regional peacekeeping force that would not have been NATO.
Not the Collective Security Treaty Organisation — for perhaps not obvious reasons — but surely the Shanghai Cooperation Organization could have cobbled something together on the fly.
Perhaps my judgment is poor. I hope so.
Everybody please remember the map and ask yourselves what’s REALLY going on here.
[Posted By microdot]Republished from Al Jazeera
One hundred and fifty Russian tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles have entered South Ossetia, according to the Georgian president.
The separatist region has been under heavy atack from Georgian forces who say they have “liberated” the area.
Georgia’s national security council warned that Moscow and Tbilisi would be in “a state of war” over Russia’s actions.
Russia’s three main news agencies confirmed the Russian military convoy had entered South Ossetia on Friday, quoting witnesses.
Moscow is the main backer of Georgian separatists in the two enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and has a “peacekeeping force” stationed in the region.
Mikhail Saakasvili, Georgia’s president, said: “150 Russian tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles” had entered South Ossetia.
“This is a clear intrusion on another country’s territory. We have Russian tanks on our territory, jets on our territory in broad daylight,” Reuters new agency quoted him as saying.
“I must also tell you that Georgian forces have downed two Russian jet fighters over Georgia’s territory.”
Saakashvili said that most of the breakaway province of South Ossetia has been “liberated” in an overnight offensive.
Posted by microdot
What?











it certainly does leave a large number of armed Russians close to Iran
This conversation has moved here
I’m sorry, I hope that didn’t sound rude. You are cordially invited to join us at the above linked blog of note.
many thanks to deaner for the astute and ominous comment.