Defiant Russia Rolls Into Key Georgia City

U.S. Exhorts Moscow To Honor Cease-Fire And Withdraw Troops, Plans Massive Aid Package

(CBS/AP)  The president said a huge U.S. aid effort was under way, including American naval forces and C-17 military cargo planes, to get clothes, blankets, medicine and other supplies to refugees. The European Union agreed to consider deploying European peacekeeping monitors to the area.

Besides the hundreds killed since hostilities broke out last week, a United Nations agency estimates 100,000 Georgians may have been uprooted. A spokesman said the U.N. refugee agency was helping evacuate about 1,500 people fleeing the Kodori Gorge in the breakaway province of Abkhazia alone on Wednesday.

Saakashvili conducted a blitz of interviews with news outlets at home and abroad and made a series of claims, some of which were disputed as inaccurate or exaggerated.

He said on national television that the U.S. arrival of a military cargo plane with humanitarian aid "means that Georgia's ports and airports will be taken under the control of the U.S. Defense Department."

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell stressed the United States had no plans to take over Georgian airports or seaports to deliver the aid.

"It is simply not required for us to fulfill our humanitarian mission," he said. "We have no designs on taking control of any Georgian facility."

In a sharp response to Bush's speech, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called Georgia's leadership "a special project of the United States. And we understand that the United States is worried about its project."

Russian news agencies quoted him saying the United States would have to choose "support for a virtual project" and or "real partnership" on issues such as U.S.-Russian cooperation on Iran and other world tension spots.

Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili criticized Western nations for failing to help Georgia, a U.S. ally that has been seeking NATO membership. "In a way," he said, "Russians are fighting a proxy war with the West through us."

The conflict centers on South Ossetia and another region claimed by Georgia that leans Russian, Abkhazia. When Georgia cracked down on South Ossetia on Aug. 7, Russia sent its tanks and troops into the two regions and deeper into Georgia proper.

Georgia, bordering the Black Sea between Turkey and Russia, was ruled by Moscow for most of the two centuries preceding the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.

Abkhazia lies close to the heart of many Russians. Its coast was a favorite vacation spot in Soviet times and the province is just down the coast from Sochi, the Russian resort that will host the 2014 Olympics.

Russia has distributed passports to most in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and stationed peacekeepers there since the early 1990s. Georgia wants the peacekeepers out, but Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has insisted they stay.

Jeffrey Mankoff, an adjunct fellow for Russian studies at The Council on Foreign Relations, said it was too soon to tell the real intentions behind Russia's push into Georgia.

"On the one hand this could be a way to set up a buffer zone between the separatist regions, and on the other it also seems there is an aspect of disbanding the Georgian military aspects," Mankoff said.

In defiance, a few dozen Abkhazian fighters, some with assault rifles and one with a dagger, planted their red, white and green flag in Georgian territory across the Inguri River.

"This is Abkhazian land," one of them said. Another laughed that Georgians retreating from Abkhazia had received "American training in running away."

The peace plan apparently would allow Georgian forces to return to the positions they held in South Ossetia and Abkhazia before Aug. 7 and clearly requires Russia to leave all parts of Georgia except South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Nevertheless, Georgian Security Council chief Alexander Lomaia said 50 Russian tanks entered Gori on Wednesday morning. Some of the Russian units that later left to camp outside the city were camouflaged with foliage.

The convoy was mainly support vehicles, including ambulances, although there were a few heavy cannons. There were about 100 combat troops and another 100 medics, drivers and other support personnel.

About six miles away from the camp, about 80 well-equipped Georgian soldiers were forming what appeared to be a new front line, armed with pistols, shoulder-launched anti-tank rockets and Kalashnikovs.

Sporadic clashes continued in South Ossetia where Russians responded to Georgian snipers.

In the Black Sea port of Poti, and Georgian television showed boats ablaze in the harbor. Georgia's security chief also said Russian forces targeted three Georgian boats, while Lavrov said Russian troops were nowhere near the city.

For several days, Russian troops held the western town of Zugdidi near Abkhazia, controlling the region's main highway. An AP reporter saw a convoy of 13 Russian tanks and armored personnel carriers in Zugdidi's outskirts Wednesday. Later in the day, Georgian officials said the Russians pulled out of Zugdidi.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko issued a decree Wednesday saying that Russian navy ships deployed to the Georgian coast will need authorization to return to the navy base Russia leases from Ukraine.

The rights group Human Rights Watch said it has witnessed South Ossetian fighters looting ethnic Georgians' houses and has recorded multiple accounts of Georgian militias intimidating ethnic Ossetians. The report was important independent confirmation of the claims by each side in the Russia-Georgia conflict.

Meanwhile, at the Olympics in Beijing, Georgia and Russia clashed in competition for the first time. Georgia rallied to beat Russia in beach volleyball, two sets to one.

"Russia and Georgia are actually friends. People are friends," said the Georgian beach volleyball team leader, Levan Akhtulediani. "I say once again, its better to compete on the field rather than outside the field.

[keithle1]

Let''s send some troops in! Not like we''ve got anything else going on.

[toldyouso12]

Georgia mistakenly thought that when we said we stood behind them, it meant we had their back--it meant we would use them as shields--that''''s all. Bush dares not do more than bluster--watch those sanctions--how do you sanction someone who you dare not fight (nuclear weapons, huge expense, exposed country and our over extended military) and who has a commodity desperately needed (oil)? THINK ABOUT IT.

Poland take heed--because what you see in Georgia is a prelude to what might happen if you try to accomodate those missile defense system. If a chance of retaliation is "100%" what does that mean? Prepare for an azz whuppin'''' that''''s what. And we''''ll stand behind Poland too--FAR behind. Like somewhere in Western Europe. Where Bush will bleat: "Bad Russia!! Baaaaaaaaaaaaad Russia!" lmao

[toldyouso12]

so.... on those American/ Polish missile sites... think Russia will bomb the proposed areas with limited nuclear weapons (before we build) then wish us luck in building our missles there when the radioactivity dies down in about 13000 years? LOL

[james77773]

America, send all your idiots to the Russian border, don''t forget to send Bush. It''s your only chance to get rid of them once and for all. You will thank Russia later.

[libsluv2spit]

i would really like to see how these liberals and thier poloticians would handle this..they will negotiate europe to russia..remember WW2

[libsluv2spit]

dont worry georgia..the liberals are working hard to stop this..they will start a all night bush whinning vigil

[samsel3]

The Russian invasion of South Ossetia is only for control of the BTC pipelines which sends oil & gas to Ceyran, Turkey. Shareholders in the BTC pipeline are: British Petroleum, AzBTC, Chevron, Statoil, TPAO, ENI, Total, Itochu, INPEX, ConocoPhillips & Amerada Hess.
The Russians are the second largest supplier of gas & oil on the planet.
This pipeline was constructed to circumvent Russian pipelines supplying Europe giving the US Brits et al the lions share of the market.
Taking out Iraq also took a major source of oil away from Russia.
The Russians are now evening the score.

[Stratmaster7]

****, here is an actual quote:

%u201CIn the 21st century, nations don%u2019t invade other nations.%u201D

So says John McCain, as part of his tough talk about Russia%u2019s attacks on Georgia.

Since the "easy" Irag war has gone on so long, maybe he thinks we invaded Iraq in the 20th century

[gaye5]

espnmspn, I wouldn''t be at all surprised I watched the games and China had far more gold than America, but the American media didn''t put that they just put the number of medals won from America over China making America look far better.. a truth but a bit of a twist eh..
The media is not known for its truth espnmspn either from your country, America or mine, it is called manipulation of the masses.. We have to become well learned in many areas and hope that what we are reading is the truth. One thing that I did was to get the Quran and others of the Muslim holy books to see if Islam was really a religion of peace, and was absolutely horrified at what I saw and what I saw that their leader did and said.. We can never know we are not allowed to know. They want to bring us under a one world government and are winning at this stage or at least until the people realise that they are being hood winked and wake up to the fact that it is not a good thing. I would say that we are all numbered already and they know everything that we do..

[nincomp]

Israel could bring Iran to it''''s knees, from day one, and they know it, that is why Iran is trying to get their hands on a Nuke

Posted by wothah at 11:27 PM : Aug 13, 2008
+

Smart Iranians. They know that being prepared is the best defense.

[ioweign]

Putin says: "%u041E%u043F%u044B%u0442%u043D%u0430%u044F %u041C%u0438%u0441%u0441%u0438%u044F"

Translation: "Mission Accomplished"

[gaye5]

BajaJohn1, thanks for your info and I also am worried about our givernments lack of involvement in what is really happening, it seems that they are asleep.
According to one of sadams right hand men, and some others, there was WMD but they shipped them out under the noses of the Americans some in ambulances, and most before the inspectors went in, but to where??? our dear Mr Bush kindly told them that he was coming for 18 months before he did. Was that to give them time to get cleaned up.. No normal army tells the enemy that they are coming.
Have you read the Quran and some of the Muslims holy books??? I am sure that many muslims havent themselves.... after the first quarter the Quran is a horror book, Mohammad went on many raids to collect booty and take land slaughtering as they went.. one scary dude that man was, a pirate on land.. He took over the lands of many villages and skited that he had chased the Jews off their land..

[trrrorislamx]

WHY IS RUSSIA NOT BOWING DOWN TO THE GREAT ANNOINTED ONE???

He ventured forth to bring light to the world

The anointed one''s pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a miracle in action - and a blessing to all his faithful followers
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4392846.ece

The One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mopkn0lPzM8

[trrrorislamx]

the 1993 World Trade Center bombing,,, inside job

the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed five U.S. military personnel,,, inside job

the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military personnel,,, inside job

the 1998 bombing of U.S . embassies in Africa, which killed 224 and injured 5,000,,, inside job

the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 and injured 39 U.S. sailors,,, inside job

talk is no substitute for action,,,

kkklowntoon just gave us the same old tired speech and did nothing else,,,

"We will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to find those who killed our sailors and hold them accountable."

yahhh right

In a moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing. Theodore Roosevelt

[trrrorislamx]

DEMONIC-RATS DO NOT WANT SECRET BALLOTS,,,

For some, right to secret ballot could be lost
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/shared-blogs/ajc/thinkingright/entries/2008/08/13/right_to_vote_in_privacy_could.html

NEVER VOTE DEMONIC-RAT AGAIN,,,

THEY ARE FOR COMMUNISM,,,

Howard Stern vows never to vote for Democrat again due to merger opposition: ''They''re for Communism''...
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080724152511.aspx

some people are slow learners,,,

must be the DEMONIC-RAT controlled public education/propoganda system,,,

[trrrorislamx]

hmmmm is this a 3AM PHONE CALL MOMENT???

who do you really want answering the phone???

Hillary Clinton 3 am Ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-VFA7L2RcE&feature=related

[trrrorislamx]

WHY RUSSIA WENT INTO GEORGIA,,,

Tensions between Georgia and Russia were strained over the Pankisi Gorge, a lawless region of Georgia that Russia said had become a haven for Islamic militants and Chechen rebels.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107564.html

GET SOME RUSKIES,,, GET SOME,,,

NEVER FORGET THE RAPES OF BESLAN GIRLS!

Terror at Beslan
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1316935651894423094

RAPES IN BESLAN: IN MUHAMMAD%u2019S FOOTSTEPS
http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/News/Trifkovic04/NewsST091304.html

Forget Not the Children of Beslan
http://kenlydell.typepad.com/islamic_evil/forget_not_the_children_of_beslan/index.html

Religion of Peace??? More like a cult of death.
http://www.terrorists-suck.org/why_suck/beslan.html

Radical Islamists must be stopped:

comments on the Beslan child slaughter.
http://www.sullivan-county.com/immigration/list.htm

Rapes in Beslan: in Muhammed''''s Footsteps
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1214617/posts

[tootall10142]

Well miss cond leeza i think they just did get away with it.The georgian officals were warned to back off. With the mentality of a cheyene dog soldier the russians came they killed they made thier point and they mean business.If you know antyhing about the dog soldier you know thier lifes mission is to protect the tribe at all cost and without malice.Not many will mess with thier tribal laws, the recoil is often stout.

[trrrorislamx]

%u201CIf you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.%u201D
Joseph Goebbels
Posted by Humanavance at 03:38 AM : Aug 14, 2008

exactly what the liberal controlled media does,,,

MEDIA PROVES TO BE PROPOGANDA RAGS,,,

what media bias,,, follow the money,,,

They produce/report propaganda,,, not news,,,

Putting Money Where Mouths Are: Media Donations Favor Dems 100-1
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=301702713742569

[trrrorislamx]

hmmmm is this a 3AM PHONE CALL MOMENT???

who do you really want answerring the phone???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL7s-zFgXpE