What's going on in Georgia (the country)

[Muttocracy]

Anyone know?

Just saw this - are Russians neutral peacekeepers in former USSR nations?

http://biden.senate.gov/press/press_releases/release/?id=5d99273b-4245-4372-bf46-7b2cdbd865fa

Biden Issues Statement on Recent Outbreak of Fighting in Georgia

August 7, 2008

Washington, DC – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) today issued this statement following the recent outbreak of violence in Georgia:

“Russia should act immediately to restore calm in the Georgian region of South Ossetia. The violence that has erupted there, apparently at the instigation of South Ossetian militants, is a grave threat to regional security. I welcome Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s call for calm and restraint, and strongly encourage South Ossetians, along with the Russian peacekeepers who ostensibly maintain order in the area, to bring an immediate end to the fighting. The world will be watching - and expects Russia to live up to its commitments.”

[Muttocracy]

1. note to self- check BBC first...

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


Heavy fighting in South Ossetia

Russian NTV channel shows South Ossetian troops engaging Georgian troops near Tskhinvali

South Ossetian troops have been trading heavy fire (Russian TV grab)

Georgian forces and South Ossetian separatists have been exchanging heavy fire just hours after agreeing to a ceasefire and Russian-mediated talks.
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More on Georgia/Russia conflict
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7547888.stm

[ColbertWatcher]

2. Where's Condi? Isn't she the Russia expert? n/t

[Muttocracy]

3. I think Negroponte is the real Sec. of State (like Cheney = real pres)

[ColbertWatcher]

6. This is probably true. n/t

[Muttocracy]

7. As a Biden junkie I watch or listen to SFRC hearings often

and she is NEVER there - it's always Negroponte or Burns? (one they sent to talk to Iran) or someone further down.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. How embarrassing. n/t

[Muttocracy]

4. actually, she's probably a Soviet expert rather than a Russian expert. ;)

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Yes, that's true, but kinda a joke on how she wouldn't know the diff. n/t

[malaise]

9. The Cold War

bet on it.

[Muttocracy]

10. Yeah, I guess they decided business wasn't as good for them w/o it. nt