Georgia conflict over control of South Ossetia widened beyond the breakaway region

[seemslikeadream]

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iCfhJssgmIaH1dmSChGAGOm-yvgw

TBILISI (AFP) — Russian warplanes on Saturday staged bombing raids across Georgia as a conflict over control of South Ossetia widened beyond the breakaway region and Moscow appeared to rebuff a call for truce by Tbilisi.

Georgia's president declared "a state of war" and the United States led international calls for Russia to halt its military assault.

But Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev said his country would "force the Georgian side into peace" and accused Georgia of causing thousands of "victims".

Russia backs the separatist government in South Ossetia and sent in tanks and troops on Friday in response to pro-Western Georgia's military campaign to take back the province which broke away in the early 1990s.

Georgia said a Russian air raid had "completely devastated" the Black Sea port of Poti in attacks that the country's UN ambassador likened to "a full-scale military invasion".

This was followed up with air raids on Gori, the main Georgian city closest to South Ossetia and another near the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline -- the world's second longest -- which Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze told Georgian television was "miraculously" not damaged.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili told CNN Saturday his country was ready to "cease fire immediately, provided the other side stops to shoot and to bomb," and accused Moscow of war crimes against his people.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3761536

[doublethink]

1. A very good article to add to your thread that I just read here .....

Is this the First War between Russia and a Former Soviet State?
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,571079,00.html

Gives a very good synopsis on background. Also Scott Ritter had a lot to say about this 'area' up there concerning the caucus states, the BTC pipeline, Georgia, Azerbaijan etc... etc... above Iran, in his book "Target Iran" and a few other articles online the last few years.

on edit: fix link.

[seemslikeadream]

2. Thanks

:hi:

[doublethink]

4. Your very welcome.

:kick: :hi:

[BeHereNow]

3. TPTB in the region- what NO one is connecting to the situation.

http://www.usacc.org/content.php?type=page&id=2&chi=5&par=3

The attack on the embassy in Baku, same cast of characters, also went under the radar.

WWW III has started, but hey John Edwards had an affair,
so no time to discuss the seriousness of the situation in Georgia.

BHN

[seemslikeadream]

5. I think so BHN

I've afraid you are correct







9 hours ago: A wounded Georgian woman lies in front of an apartment building, damaged by a Russian airstrike, in the northern Georgian town of Gori, on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008. According to photographer the wounded woman was later helped by her neighbors and evacuated her to a safe area. Russia sent hundreds of tanks and troops into the separatist province of South Ossetia and bombed Georgian towns Saturday in a major escalation of the conflict that has left scores of civilians dead and wounded. Georgia, a staunch U.S. ally, had launched an offensive Friday to retake control of breakaway South Ossetia. Russia, which has close ties to the province and posts peacekeepers there, responded by sending in armed convoys and military combat aircraft.

[bushmeister0]

6. MFG! What a rogues gallery.

[BeHereNow]

7. And they've been over there a LONG time.

But don't worry about what this little skirmish over
there implies- John Edwards had an AFFAIR!

BHN

[bushmeister0]

8. I hope there's a stained dress in this story!!!!

[Karenina]

9. Oh, HALLO!!!

:hi::loveya::scared::hide:

[BeHereNow]

10. From the archives- Attack on US Embassy in Baku

I posted as much information as I could on this thread
when it happened, apparently no one cared to learn.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3046912

Perhaps now some people will connect the dots
as far as what is happening in Georgia.

Not holding my breath after reading some of the threads
today though.

It's serious folks, very.
But perhaps ignorance is bliss.
None-the-less, I feel obliged to continue to try.

BHN

[KharmaTrain]

13. Ajerbaijan and Armenia Have Unfinished Business, Too

The lines on a map don't do justice to what's taking place here. South Ossetsia is a predeminately Russian enclave inside the Internationally recognized borders of Georgia. There are many similar enclaves throughout the region...Nagoro-Karabah is one bloody example...and still unresolved. It's a clash of religions, different cultures and a lot of bad blood and history. Add to this caldron the big profits of oil and pipelines and the current situation only gets bloodier.

[bushmeister0]

11. NPR's Ivan Watson just reported Georgia's cell phone network has collapsed.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93473071

Interesting quote in the Times from a "senior American official":

"Russia has become 'a revisionist and aggressive power,' and the West 'has to be prepared to push back.'"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/weekinreview/10traub.html?hp

Push back? So many wars to start, so little time.

[seemslikeadream]

14. Thanks bushmeister0

[BeHereNow]

21. Any bets on which PRICK of an official that would be?

My bets are on Cheney.
Mr. Azerbaijan himself.
BHN

[Muttocracy]

23. I dunno - is Condi still there? They were sending some unnamed "envoy" there too.

[Monk06]

29. Thanks, the NYT link is a very comprehensive and even handed backgrounder.

[BeHereNow]

12. This needs to be read by all who want to learn-

http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/DA26Ag01.html


Years ago, many of us pointed out that Russia would not
stand by if it came to this.
We were right, and to hell with those who made fun of us then.

BHN

[Junkdrawer]

16. Russia just bombed the pipeline...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3764580&mesg_id=3764580

[seemslikeadream]

17. and the cell phone towers

[BeHereNow]

19. Fuckity-fuck. It's ON.

But now we really must get back to
discussing where Edwards puts his penis.
You know, stuff that MATTERS.

BHN

[BeHereNow]

15. More-

"1 October 2006 - Today.Az – The United States has always tried, for strategic reasons, to build gas pipelines, excluding Russia's participation, in order to prevent Europe from depending on Russian gas, which currently covers one third of its total needs of gas. Given the presence of key oil and gas fields in the Caspian Sea States, the US government has supported a consortium of oil companies (called the BTC Pipeline Company) to build the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the trans-Caspian gas pipeline. The two projects led to a convergence of interests between Iran and Russia, due to their growing concern to see both Azerbaijan and Georgia in close cooperation with NATO. This desire led the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to decide in its meeting in Istanbul on November 1999 to go ahead with building an oil pipeline, linking the Caspian fields with the Mediterranean (Baku-Ceyhan). This was followed by another resolution calling for the establishment of a gas pipeline crossing through Turkmenistan to Baku and then to Turkey. On July 13, 2006, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, 1,760 km long, was inaugurated to transport more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil from oil fields in the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of companies contributing to the financing of the pipeline as well as two Israeli representatives. Israel imports from the pipeline about 20% of its oil needs that is expected to increase from the Caspian Sea region in the future. In addition, Israel is playing a key strategic role in protecting the regions the pipeline passes through to outside Ceyhan. In other words, its role can be summed up in controlling the upper zone, east of the Mediterranean. The Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which is administered by the US-British oil giant, BP Company, has changed the geopolitical situation of the Eastern Mediterranean Zone that is associated with the corridor of the Caspian basin. The pipeline, which carries the oil and gas of Central Asia to the Eastern Mediterranean under the protection of Israel's military, was primarily designed to weaken the role of Russia in Central Asia and isolate China from the oil sources in Central Asia. It also helps transport part of the supply when the processing sources in the Middle East are interrupted. It also aims to isolate Iran, in addition to placing Israel as a new strong player in the global energy market through the new alliance between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Israel. Israel is now part of the British-American military axis that serves the interests of giant Western oil companies operating in the Middle East and Central Asia. Part of the oil transported via this line goes to Israel. Israel aims not only to obtain part of the Caspian Sea oil for the purpose of consumption, but also considers playing a key role in re-exporting the Caspian Sea oil to the Asian markets through its port on the Red Sea. This is reinforced by the coordination and the ongoing negotiations between Turkey and Israel over linking the Ceyhan Port in Turkey with the port of Ashkelon in Israel. This link is to be achieved by creating projects for the transport of oil, natural gas, water and electricity through four undersea pipelines, bypassing Syrian and Lebanese territories. The Baku oil is transported to the port of Ashkelon, India and the Far East through the Red Sea. There is a military cooperation agreement between Tel Aviv and Ankara that supports supplying Israel with water from the Tigris-Euphrates basin in Anatolia. It is a long-term strategic objective of minimizing Syria, Iraq and maximizing the influence of Israel on them. Reports have indicated that secret negotiations are underway between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Russian President Vladimir Putin through Olmert's multi-billionaire friend, Benny Steinmetz, in order to secure natural gas equipment for Israel through a pipeline under the Mediterranean linking Turkey with Israel. The Russian gas will be transported through the Russia-Turkey pipeline, which was established by Russia two years ago, across the Black Sea in order to increase Russian leverage in Turkey. President Putin seeks to gain some influence in Israel in order to counterbalance the unilateral US power over Israel's policy. Energy is no longer a pure national issue in the world today. It is difficult today for a State to contain the difficulties caused by energy alone in a world where policy has become increasingly managed in the form of battles over energy sources that do not rule out the use of force. There are many documents confirming the readiness of the US to use military force in a war, or several wars, for oil. The invasion of Iraq, for example, has turned the Middle East, which has international economic importance, into a US military protectorate. The goal of US policy is to prevent the southern region (the Middle East, India, Iran, Pakistan and countries South of Russia) from submitting to only one player. It also aims to prevent these countries from working together under any form (alliances) to remove the US from its bases located on the southern coasts. The region is described as combining political chaos and rich energy sources and looks forward to regional hegemony. To achieve full US sovereignty over the region, the US is striving by all means to prevent Russia, China, India and Japan from taking control over the South. This is hegemonic behavior: the more the State becomes stronger militarily, economically and politically, the more it expands its geopolitical influence and involvement beyond its immediate neighbors. Napoleon said: "To know a country's geography means to know its foreign policy".
# posted by Deval : 6:22 AM 0 comments
http://bakudot.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html"

Starting to get the picture yet? Anyone?
Or is John Edwards still the important news on DU?


:sarcasm: :grr: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

BHN

[seemslikeadream]

18. Thanks BHN

[BeHereNow]

20. Sure nuff, I'd contribute more, but I have to get back to the Edwards story now.

Adultery is SO much more fun to discuss than WWW III.
My beautiful mind and all.

BHN

[bushmeister0]

22. And there's much, much more on Baker.

How about Baker/Hughes, a gigantic comglorate involved in pretty much every nefarious scheme you can possibly imagine?

Here's a great resource, I found back in 2004: newsmakingnew.com

http://www.newsmakingnews.com/enronhowdeepdig1,17,02.htm

A snipet to whet your appititte:

"A RESOURCE FOR INVESTIGATORS AND THE MEDIA

Although the Enron mess is the lead story everywhere the real connections between Enron, the Bush family and the biggest corporate crimes in American history are much deeper than is being reported. This morning I got a very long email titled
Iraq , Enron Compete With Pretzel Mania Enron Hughes Baker, Powell, Starr, Menem "The Matter of Howard Hughes."

Enron was previously called Hughes Tool - as in Howard Hughes. From it's own website it would appear that Baker Hughes, a gigantic corporate combination of the Baker and Huges texas oil and gas interests, owns or is a major partner with every player in Iran Conta, the Gulf War, the international oil industry, the Saudis, arming China with advanced U.S. technology, the Rockefeller oil interests and our new "war on terrorism". Visit their website and you will be amazed at the companies they own and what they are into.
http://www.bakerhughes.com/bakerhughes/resources/energy.htm

I also did a search for connections between James A Baker III who was former President Bush's top advisor and who played such a key role in Bush Jr. becoming President - and Baker Hughes.
Goggle search for "James A. Baker III" AND "Baker Hughes"
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22James+A.+Baker+III%22+AND+%22Baker+Hughes%22&hl=en&start=10&sa=N

Here's the result of a Google seach on "Enron" AND "Baker Hughes"
http://www.google.com/search?q=Enron+AND+%22Baker+Hughes%22&btnG=Google+Search

This page also documents the Baker-Hughes issue
http://www.willgriffin.com/hughes.htm

And there's much more, including Baker selling US secret satilite technology to the Chinese.

My original post on Baker/Hughes from July of '04
http://bushmeister0.tripod.com/bushmeister0/index.blog?end=1088623850

[bushmeister0]

24. One more interesting quote, this from the Economist

"Though Georgia has become a vital corridor for oil and gas exports to Europe, this has not brought the support that its leaders had expected. A lame-duck American administration has been able to do little, though Georgians hope a presidential-election victory by John McCain, an ardent supporter, may change their fortunes."

"Ardent supporter?" Can you say Randy Scheuneman? McShamful's chief foreign policy guru and raging Neocan?

Previous post today on him, revealng quotes included from his bio at Right Web:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3763598&mesg_id=3764773

(Sorry for the typos, in a rush to get to work sometime today.)

[BeHereNow]

26. You know that saying? The more things change...

the more they stay the McSame?

Doesn't matter WHO is elected at this point.

What matters is the inevitable outcome, pre determined by
people who could give a crap about us. Prepare.
It's going to get worse and never better in our lifetimes.

It is not about us. It's about them amassing and maintaining
more power.

BHN

[doublethink]

25. K&R .....

:kick:

[ladjf]

27. Bye, bye Georgia. Welcome back to the Soviet Union II.

[magellan]

28. I'm sorry that people aren't paying more attention to this

It's very serious. Thanks to everyone on this thread who is contributing background material and valiantly fighting the uphill battle against for-profit sideshow attractions.

[Nikki Stone1]

30. Me, too

World wars start this way,

[magellan]

31. BBC Reporting at 4:25 GMT (12:30 am EST) Sunday: Georgia 'pulls out of S Ossetia'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7552012.stm

Georgia says its forces have withdrawn from the separatist region of South Ossetia to positions at or south of those held when hostilities began.

An interior ministry spokesman told the BBC that Russian troops had not entered Georgia from South Ossetia, but added that fighting was continuing.

Georgia says Russia has brought an additional 10,000 soldiers across its frontiers, readying for a dawn raid.

Earlier, Russian jets bombed a military airfield close to the Georgian capital.

There was no independent confirmation of the attack, although the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, who is in Tbilisi, said he had heard a loud explosion about the same time.

Our correspondent says that the reported withdrawal to positions held on 6 August appears to indicate that hostilities are taking place across the border between Georgia and South Ossetia.

more --

+++
Sorry for posting beyond 4 paragraphs, but I have a real problem with one-sentence paragraphs....

[bertman]

32. I always thought this was an international--American, British, French, German--cabal,

but from what I'm reading this is largely American players. Am I missing something?

It's late and I'm tired. But thanks for enlightening us. This is like a bad dream.

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

33. Trying to go to afp.google page makes my safari browser crash????

What is up with that? Someone trying to censor what I can read???

[Beam Me Up]

34. kick