Georgia: Crisis in the Caucasus
I know that the Russians have little regard for the independence of Georgia, but this is seriously dangerous: From the BBC Russian tanks enter South Ossetia Russian tanks are moving towards the capital of Georgia's separatist region of South Ossetia which has been under heavy bombardment from Georgian forces. Georgian troops are currently observing a three-hour ceasefire to let civilians leave the besieged capital, Tskhinvali. Georgia is reported to have said any involvement of Russian forces in the conflict will result in a state of war between the two countries. Reports from Georgia claim Russian jets have attacked an airport near Tblisi. Nato, the US and the EU have all called for an immediate end to hostilities. At least 15 civilians are reported dead, as well as several Russian peacekeepers based in Tskhinvali. Georgian President Mikhail Saakasvili, who has called on reservists to sign up for duty, 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." Russia rejected claims its fighters had attacked Georgian targets and that any had been shot down. But Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has promised to defend Russian citizens in South Ossetia. "I must protect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are," Interfax quoted him as saying. "We will not allow their deaths to go unpunished. Those responsible will receive a deserved punishment." Residents of Tskhinvali were reported to have been sheltering in basements as massive explosions rocked the city. Georgian jets also targeted separatist positions. Both sides blamed each other for breaking an earlier ceasefire agreed on Thursday. Georgian Foreign Minister Ekaterine Tkeshelashvili told the BBC the present situation was calm as Georgian troops were observing a unilateral ceasefire which started at 1100GMT. She said they wanted to ensure that any civilians who wanted to leave the conflict zone could do so safely. Russian troops An amnesty has also been extended to any separatist fighters willing to lay down their arms, she said. On reports of Russian forces moving into South Ossetia, she said the Russian Federation's efforts to get involved militarily had to be stopped. International Red Cross spokeswoman Anna Nelson said they had received reports that hospitals in Tskhinvali were having trouble coping with the influx of casualties and ambulances were having trouble reaching the injured. Irina Gagloyeva, a South Ossetian official in Tskhinvali, described the scene in the beseiged city overnight after the Georgian military action started. "Virtually all the people of the city are in shelters, myself included. It started at midnight, and has barely stopped for a minute," she told the BBC. "Can you hear? That's rockets. All my windows have blown out. Thirty-five thousand residents of our capital have become the hostages of Georgian fascism." A spokesman for the Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia told Interfax news agency that Georgian shells directly hit barracks in Tskhinvali, killing several peacekeepers. Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said Georgia had simply run out of patience with attacks by separatist militias in recent days and had had to move in to restore peace in South Ossetia. "As soon as a durable peace takes hold we need to move forward with dialogue and peaceful negotiations," he told reporters. Russian passports Georgia accuses Russia of arming the separatists who have been trying to break away since the civil war in the 1990s. Moscow denies the claim. Russia called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to respond to the crisis, but members failed to agree on a Russian statement calling on both sides to renounce the use of force. The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says Russia has always said it supports the territorial integrity of Georgia but also that it would defend its citizens. Many South Ossetians hold Russian passports. Hundreds of fighters from Russia and Georgia's other breakaway region of Abkhazia are reportedly heading to aid the separatist troops. China, where the Olympic Games opens on Friday, called for worldwide truce during the sporting event.

But Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has promised to defend Russian citizens in South Ossetia. "I must protect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are," Interfax quoted him as saying. "We will not allow their deaths to go unpunished. Those responsible will receive a deserved punishment." As long as you don't expect us to stop murdering Russians we don't like in other countries...

South Ossetia is an autonomous part of Georgia. It seems, however, that they want to be reunited with their ethnic cousins in North Ossetia, which is still part of Russia. The Russians have rushed to their defence, though it might be the case that once reunited, they could strive for total independence from both Georgia and Russia. The US has backed Georgia in this spat (and I spotted Bush and Putin having a short chat at the Olympics prior to the commencement of the opening ceremony) since Georgia wants to join NATO, which, understandably, the Russians aren't too keen on. The US recently backed Kosovo in its declaration of independnece from Serbia. How could they possibly object to the South Ossetians doing the same thing to Georgia? It would be a case of double standards surely?

Since when have the Americans been too concerned about double standards when it comes to questions of their own national interest? Georgia has stated that it wants to join NATO and, eventually, the EU. Also there is the current favourite reason for most action in the world these days, the oil pipeline which this time goes to Turkey. Georgia represents the soft underbelly of the Russian Federation and Russia is determined not to let it pass into the influence of the USA, as other former Eastern Block countries have done. From watching the news reports I get a sense of 'enough is enough' from Russian commentators. Georgia is a small country and it will be interesting to see whether the USA is actually prepared to do nothing as Russia tries to regain control - using South Ossetia as its pretext.

Yes, I agree. Double standards has never stopped the Americans before.

More background on the conflict. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/09/russia.georgia1

This sort of bollocks is nothing more than misplaced machismo: Vitaly Khubayev, 35, from the capital, Vladikavkaz, told the Guardian: "There are already two busloads of fighters leaving for Tskhinvali every day. They give you a uniform on the way and you get issued with weapons once you arrive. If I didn't have three children I'd have gone." The two Ossetias are historically inseparable and residents of the northern republic were furious yesterday at what they described as the "Georgian fascist attack" on their neighbours. Many said they were willing to take up arms and travel to defend their relatives across the border in South Ossetia. Valentin Tekhti, 67, a teacher, said: "Our Ossetian brothers are dying. If we get the call, every man who can stand on two legs will go to fight." So one who talks tough and makes an excuse... the other talks tough knowing that he's not going anywhere! Why bother talking to them and publishing their tripe? "They give you a uniform on the way and you get issued with weapons once you arrive. " All they will be is cannon fodder. If they aren't trained at all they will die. Pointless stupidity.

It all depends on how well-trained the Georgian fighters are. Moreover, the Russians have superior air power, which will prove critical in any land battle between two sets of irregulars.

The Russians will be very hard pressed to use much more of their superiority without declaring war on Georgia. However well trained the Georgian troops are is going to be better than some muppet off the street with an ill-fitting uniform and a gun he's never seen before.

I have a feeling they are all reasonably proficient with guns in that part of the world, Tony.

Any professional soldier will tell you that the difference between life and death is the quality of training they receive. No training = death.

1500 claimed dead so far.

And the more amateurs 'on a mission' the higher the death toll will be. Amateurs also have a tendency to be driven by hate and malice and will frequently see rape, pillage and plunder as part of their mission.

This piece of analysis blames Georgia for the conflict. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/08/russia.georgia1

It doesn't blame Georgia for the conflict, it suggests that the attack was premeditated by Georgia - not the same thing. The conflict started when the USSR broke up and has been fermented by Russia in recent years. If anyone is to blame for this it is the Russians.