In a matter of vital world importance, Russia sent military reinforcements into the Republic of Georgia, thereby escalating a dangerous situation to the brink of war...
More below the fold...
Update: Marcion wrote a lengthy diary on this topic.
From yahoo news service:
Heavy fighting between Georgian government forces and Russian-backed separatists brought Georgia and Russia to the brink of war Friday.
The president of Georgia , Mikhail Saakashvili , accused Russia in a televised address of sending fighter jets to bomb Georgian towns in order to help the breakaway territory of South Ossetia , where a large number of Russian citizens live.
Evidently the tension lies in that there are many ethnic Russians living in this small territory within Georgia.
Note a couple of things:
- Georgia is a staunch US ally and has 2000 troops in Iraq.
- Georgia is bordered on the south by Turkey and has been making noises about joining NATO and
- The longest oil pipeline in the world runs through Georgia.
Needless to say, this event is of major importance
Q: How bad could hostilities get?
A: It depends on how large a response Russia wants to muster. Russia has an active and equipped armed force of 1.02 million, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies of London. The institute numbers Georgia's active servicemen and women at 21,150.
Q: How have the United States and the rest of the world reacted?
A: The United States, NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have called for a halt in hostilities and for Georgia, Russia and South Ossetia to sit down and talk. The U.S. State Department says it supports Georgia's territorial integrity, while calling for an immediate cease-fire. The White House says President Bush and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have talked about the situation while both are attending the Olympics.
Q: Is there a chance that the United States and the West could be drawn into a confrontation with Russia over this?
A: Georgia is not a member of NATO, so there are no obligations to come to its defense. Georgia so far has asked for diplomatic, not military, assistance from the West. The Pentagon says it has only 125 defense personnel and contractors in Georgia that provide military training for Georgian forces deployed in Iraq.
Q: Could hostilities here affect U.S. military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan?
A: Georgia's president said Friday he is bringing home the 2,000 troops it had stationed in Iraq. That is a significant blow to coalition forces because Georgia was the third-largest contributor of troops behind Britain and the U.S. Apart from that, direct U.S. military involvement seems unlikely. Although Georgia may look close to Iraq and Afghanistan, it has little in common. Like Russians, Georgians and Ossetians are largely Orthodox Christian.
Now I admit that I don't know my head from a hole in the ground about this issue but I haven't seen a diary on this topic.
I welcome input from those who know more and will delete this if someone else can post a better diary.