Clipmarks | South ossetia Clips

Independent Experts Blame Georgia for South Ossetia War

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:16:48 GMT

clipped by: amgumen

The independent commission appointed by the European Union to investigate the war between Georgia and Russia last summer has concluded that Tbilisi is responsible for causing the five-day conflict, SPIEGEL has learned.

According to diplomats in Brussels who are familiar with the contents of the secret document, the EU experts also assign part of the responsibility for the war to Russia, however. The report, which stems from an initiative by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his colleagues from the Benelux countries, concludes that Moscow escalated the conflict through its massive deployment of troops.

The publication of the report is set to spark renewed debate about who is responsible for the war. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has already complained that "some idiots say we started the war." Tbilisi is mainly afraid that the report will reduce the chances of Georgia being allowed to join NATO within the near future.

RA's Daily Russian News Blast

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:54:09 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: US to modify or jettison missile defense plans? NATO chief to meet with Russian envoy; Lukaschenko sends out mixed messages. South Ossetia denies book burning; think tank leader says Putin could be heading for Brehznev-style decades in power; Medvedev finds inspiration on blogosphere.
Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has suggested the traditional ally of Russia must 'move away from dependence on just one country, even one that is near and dear to us'. The Moscow Times reports that the authoritarian leader has emphasized ties with Russia, whilst on a rare visit to EU-member state Lithuania.

The Russian Foreign Minstry has said that the criminal investigation into charges of forgery against RIA Novosti's Tbilisi bureau chief is politically motivated. South Ossetia has denied bonfire-style burning of Georgian books and other classic works at the state university. An op-ed contributor in the Moscow Times is disturbed by what makes it onto Russian bookshelves.

Clip Source: www.robertamsterdam.com

The Wall Street Journal reports that the White House may abandon the Bush-era missile defense plans which have caused consternation in Russia. AP sources quoted on the Washington Post suggest a compromise measure, tempered to Russian concerns. RFE/RL has an entertaining list of the 'dissidents' President Medvedev might like to meet on his upcoming US trip. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Russian envoy to the alliance Dmitry Rogozin will hold an 'extraordinary' meeting today. Bloomberg suggests the impetus behind NATO's desire for increased cooperation is that of curbing nuclear proliferation in North Korea and Iran. The unholy trinity: an op-ed piece by Robert Amsterdam on the Iran-Venezuela-Russia triangle is published today in the Moscow Times. 'It looks as though the Kremlin really does want a war between the West and Iran': Dmitry Sidorov on RFE/RL examines the recent vicissitudes in the Kremlin's Iran policy.

Tags: putin-soviet-style leader, russia, wh abandon missile defense shield

Russia reaffirms S Ossetia pledge

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:55:45 GMT

clipped by: tabsey

Clip Source: english.aljazeera.net

Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, has reaffirmed his country's commitment to South Ossetian independence, saying that last year's conflict with Georgia redrew the map of the Caucasus for good.

Speaking to Russian troops in Vladikavkaz, in North Ossetia, on Saturday, Medvedev also warned that Georgia's leadership would face "retribution" for its role in the conflict.

Medvedev was in Vladikavkaz to mark the anniversary of last year's Russia-Georgia war [AFP]

"I am certain that, in time, just and severe punishment, severe retribution, will come to those people who issued the criminal orders [to attack South Ossetia]", he said.

In the wake of the conflict, Russia recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway Georgian region, as independent states.

"Last year's events have finally redrawn the political map of the Caucasus," he told the 58th Army

"The recognition of South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's
independence was the only possible solution," he said.

Tags: politics

Putin's determined to kill me, says Georgian leader

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:40:17 GMT

clipped by: foxyarse

Clip Source: www.independent.ie

Putin's determined to kill me, says Georgian leader

GEORGIA'S pro-Western president said yesterday that Vladimir Putin remained determined to kill him as part of ambitions to restore Russia's former Soviet empire.

A year after the war between the two countries, Mikhail Saakashvili said that Georgia's survival as an independent state threatened the Russian prime minister's reputation as a strong ruler.

Only continued support from the US and Europe prevented a Russian invasion to install a puppet regime, he warned.

With tensions rising along the front line between Georgian and Russian troops in the breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Mr Saakashvili said the Kremlin was testing the resolve of the West.

"Putin has to break our neck. He has to fulfil his solemn pledge to hang me by a certain part of the body," he said. Mr Putin told President Nicolas Sarkozy of France during negotiations to end the war last August that he wanted to hang Mr Saakashvili "by the balls".

Tags: putin's determined to kill me, says georgian leader

Russia Charges US Is Rearming Georgia

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:49:59 GMT

clipped by: citizenbfk
clipper's remarks: This is abut the USA, Israel and the West trying to get oil and gas from the Caspian Sea.

Georgia is critical for the pipeline.

Amazingly, the Georgian Defense Minister is an Israeli (!) and an Israeli general is a prime advisor to their Georgian Army and was involved in starting last year's war.

U.S. troops also there, on the ground; and NATO as well, even though Georgia is not in NATO but the West is trying to get it in.

This headline is made at the same time, the same day, that Russian nuke subs are reported off the East Coast of the USA, the Cold War quickly being microwaved reheated.

I think we should BUY and oil and natural gas we need and invest and develop more alternative energy and our own oil reserves if we have to.

I hope we don't have to listen to any more propaganda about fighting for "peace and democracy," or twist it around to make it sound like Russia is the aggressor (on it's own border, while we're 12,000 miles from home)

It's another war for B

Clip Source: www.voanews.com

Russia Charges US Is Rearming Georgia

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Alexander Vershbow told a U.S. Senate panel Tuesday that U.S. resources are currently aimed at training Georgian forces. But he said other forms of help could take place in the future.

Moscow has warned it will use "all available force" to protect the pro-Russian populations of South Ossetia and a second breakaway territory, Abkhazia.

Tags: russia, georgia, nato, bp, exxon

Russia backs EU, not U.S., role in Georgia

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:42:32 GMT

clipped by: tabsey

Clip Source: www.democraticunderground.com

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow welcomes the work of EU monitors in Georgia, deployed in the Caucasus state a year ago after the Russian invasion, but is opposed to the United States having a role, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

In a brief war last August, Russia crushed Georgia's attempt to retake its rebel province of South Ossetia. Moscow has recognized the independence of South Ossetia and another rebel region of Abkhazia, taking them under its security umbrella.

Under a peace deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the European Union has sent 240 unarmed monitors to Georgia to oversee a fragile ceasefire. Georgia now wants the United States to join the monitoring.

"The presence of EU monitors on Georgian territories bordering South Ossetia and Abkhazia is an important stabilizing factor and we support such a presence," Lavrov told state-run television channel Vesti-24.

Tags: fair, enough

Le Monde: "Why didn’t the US step in this time?"

Fri, 15 May 2009 08:11:58 GMT

clipped by: ratcatcher2
clipper's remarks: In the past, at least in 2004 and 2006, the US had stepped in to stop a potential Georgian invasion. Why didn’t the US step in this time?

Why did they not yank the Mad Dog Saakashvili's chain as before? Was the Bush attempting to start WW2 to justify remaining as emperor in decline? Did the Russians save us all from further excesses from the 'Axeman of Evil'? How big a hand had the Zionist in this debacle? Why is blubber-mouth still allowed to cause grief?

Clip Source: mondediplo.com

The five-day war in Georgia last August is still much of a mystery

Why did the Georgians send their troops into South Ossetia with the risk of clashing with the Russian forces stationed there?

And why did western capitals, especially the US, not bring more pressure to bear to stop the hostilities?

Clip Source: georgiandaily.com

There had been enough evidence of the build-up of both Georgian and Russian forces in and around South Ossetia

In the past, at least in 2004 and 2006, the US had stepped in to stop a potential Georgian invasion

Why didn’t the US step in this time?

The media began to ask why Georgia had initiated this war

New York Times, citing reports by two military observers from

OSCE), pointed at Georgian responsibility: “Georgia’s inexperienced military attacked the isolated separatist capital of Tskhinvali on 7 August with indiscriminate artillery and rocket fire, exposing civilians, Russian peacekeepers and unarmed monitors to harm”

pledges of €3.44bn, signalling the strong support of Georgia by the EU and US.

Tags: georgia, usa, history, saakashvili

Kremlin: Battles Over Energy May Lead To Wars

Thu, 14 May 2009 10:05:19 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Medvedev's predecessor Vladimir Putin, who is now Russia's powerful prime minister, often accused the West in the past of trying to expand its clout in the ex-Soviet nations and push Russia out of its traditional sphere of influence. The Kremlin has fiercely opposed NATO's plans to incorporate its ex-Soviet neighbors, Ukraine and Georgia.

Russia currently controls most natural gas export routes out of the former Soviet region, but that grip is coming under growing pressure from China and the West.

Intensifying rivalry for influence in the ex-Soviet region fomented tensions and helped stage the ground for last August's war between Russia and Georgia, which sits astride a key export pipeline carrying Caspian oil to Western markets.

The war erupted when the U.S.-allied Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili sent troops to regain control over the separatist province of South Ossetia, which had close links with Russia.

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

A Kremlin policy paper says international relations will be shaped by battles over energy resources, which may trigger military conflicts on Russia's borders.

The National Security Strategy also said that Russia will seek an equal "partnership" with the United States, but named U.S. missile defense plans in Europe among top threats to the national security

"The international policy in the long run will be focused on getting hold of energy sources, including in the Middle East, the Barents Sea shelf and other Arctic regions, the Caspian and Central Asia," said the strategy paper that was posted on the presidential Security Council's Web site.

"Amid competitive struggle for resources, attempts to use military force to solve emerging problems can't be excluded," it added. "The existing balance of forces near the borders of the Russian Federation and its allies can be violated."

The paper didn't elaborate or name any specific nations.

Tags: kremlin energy, competitive struggle for resources, military force cannot be excluded, borders of russian federation

BLOOD STAINS IN THE BOUNDARY ZONE

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:20:11 GMT

clipped by: ellington

Clip Source: video.nytimes.com

Blood Stains in the Boundary Zone

Journalists entered the closed region between Georgia and South Ossetia where there appear to have been ethnically driven killings.

Tags: georgia, south, ossetia

Georgians Rally Against Their President

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:54:12 GMT

clipped by: blueridge
clipper's remarks: This is the fruits and blow-back from his invasion of South Ossetia which provoked Russia to defend and counter-attack and Georgia was defeated in short order (while the MSM propaganda machine blamed Russia for a "unilateral assault" on Georgia).

The president calls for unity to "liberate Georgia" while thousands want to be "liberated" from him! President Saakashvili is Georgia's "Bush".

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Georgians protest into the night

Hundreds of people have been sitting out in the Georgian capital Tbilisi after a mass rally against President Mikhail Saakashvili.

Up to 60,000 people had gathered in the city on Thursday to demand the resignation of Mr Saakashvili.

They blame him for defeat against Russia in August's war and say he has stifled democracy.

'One homeland'

President Saakashvili has refused to resign, urging Georgians to show unity and "work day and night... to finally liberate Georgia".

He linked the events of 1989 to those of last August, when Georgia was defeated in a brief war against Russia over its breakaway province of South Ossetia.

The government accused the men of trying to provoke the government into using force.

Tags: georgia, russia, south ossetia, president saakashvili

TIME's Pictures of the Year 2008 (Part 1)

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:14:32 GMT

clipped by: rudi_fajar
clipper's remarks: Great pictures from Time

Clip Source: www.time.com

Security

John McCain gets patted down before boarding a plane in March, after a campaign stop in San Antonio, Texas.

Clip Source: www.time.com

The Phelps Surge

In pursuit of his seventh gold medal, US Swimmer Michael Phelps (left) races Serbian Milorad Cavic in the 100M Butterfly. Phelps would push past his opponent in the final meter of the race, miraculously beating him by .01 second.

Clip Source: www.time.com

Line in the Sand

The border fence between the United States and Mexico stretches across the Arizona desert, part of a US project to slow illegal immigration.

Clip Source: www.time.com

Dispersed

A Pakistani lawyer runs away from tear gas fired by police officers during a protest in front of the residence of the country's deposed chief justice, Iftikhar Mahmood Chaudhry.

Clip Source: www.time.com

Riot

Protesters set the U.S. embassy in Belgrade on fire in February.

Clip Source: www.time.com

Victim

A Georgian man cries as he holds the body of his relative after a bombardment in Gori, near South Ossetia, Georgia. Five people were killed in the attack.

Clip Source: www.time.com

Untended

Coffins belonging to Georgian soldiers lie in a field

War--Politicians Can't be Taught

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:47:36 GMT

clipped by: baydawg

Clip Source: www.amconmag.com

This is the familiar arc of a poorly conceived war. At first, it looks like necessary defense. The public rallies around in the adrenaline rush of solving an intolerable problem by force. The critics are few, or foreign, and easily dismissed. As time passes, it becomes more difficult to name what has been gained amid the horror. The moral price reveals itself. Criticism becomes mainstream and respectable and is entirely too late. ~Gershom Gorenberg

Gorenberg is referring to the Gaza conflict, but he could just as easily have been writing about the 2006 war in Lebanon or the Iraq war or the Georgian escalation in South Ossetia. What is striking about all of these episodes is how the experience of any or all of them seems to have no effect whatever on how most political and foreign policy elites respond to the next crisis or judge the next conflict.

Tags: war, politics, politicians, wisdom

Georgia on my Mind, Again. Attack each other now!!!

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:04:09 GMT

clipped by: ratcatcher2
clipper's remarks: Ms Burjanadze strongly denied that anyone from her party was involved in buying or storing weapons and said that the government was mounting "a campaign of terror against her".

"We are familiar with such video evidence and how it is made up," she told a news conference.

The BBC's Tom Esslemont in Tbilisi says it is unclear from the government videos whether anyone arrested was planning to use the guns in anti-government activity, and the interior ministry spokesman said he did not want to politicise the arrests.

But they come just weeks before a planned opposition-led demonstration and against the backdrop of an increasingly bitter feud between the two sides, our correspondent says.
... BBC

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Georgian opposition members held

Georgian police have arrested several members of an opposition party for allegedly trying to purchase illegal weapons

The interior ministry released footage of those arrested allegedly discussing how to buy several rifles and pistols.

Opposition leader Nino Burjanadze said nine members had been detained but that the arrests were on false pretences.

Burjanadze, who is planning to lead an anti-government protest next month, is a former ally of the president

Clip Source: www.daylife.com

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

She formed the Democratic Movement-United Georgia party in November, criticising President Mikhail Saakashvili's "increasing authoritarianism" and "bad decision making" - in particular, his decision to go to war with Russia in August over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

A spokesman for the Georgian interior ministry confirmed that 10 people had been arrested on suspicion of trying to buy large supplies of automatic weapons, including some "not very high-ranking" members of the opposition party.

Tags: georgia, saakashvili, despot, russia

Eurovision axes 'anti-Putin' song

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:58:35 GMT

clipped by: drgreenfingers

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Eurovision axes 'anti-Putin' song

Georgia's entry has been ruled unacceptable by organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow, because of some of its lyrics.

The disco-funk song, We Don't Wanna Put In, appears to poke fun at Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Female trio 3G are performing the Georgian song

However, it is against the competition's rules to allow political content in entries.

A contest spokesman said: "No lyrics, speeches, gestures of a political or similar nature shall be permitted."

The event, which is being held in the Russian capital in May, is taking place less than a year after Russia and Georgia went to war over the region of South Ossetia.

Relations between the two countries have been tense for several years.

Georgia initially announced it would not take part in the Moscow contest due to political objections, but the decision was reversed in December.

Georgia accuses Russia of airspace incursion

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:34:12 GMT

clipped by: gppixelworks

Clip Source: www.dw-world.de

Georgia accuses Russia of airspace incursion

Georgia has accused Russia's military of sending combat helicopters into Georgian-controlled airspace near the rebel region of Abkhazia. The interior ministry said the aircraft entered Georgian-controlled airspace on Thursday and photographed Georgian positions, adding that similar flights occurred twice on Wednesday. Tensions remain high around Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia following last year's brief war between Russia and Georgia, and Moscow's recognition of the two regions' independence.

Tags: georgia, russia, airspace, war, military, combat, helicopters