Never to miss printing an eye catching headline ...
here is the Times' crystal ball
Quote:
From The Sunday Times
August 10, 2008
‘Bodies are lying everywhere. It’s hell’
Mark Franchetti, Moscow
.......
Why does South Ossetia want to break away?
Most of its people speak their own language and feel closer to the Russians than the Georgians. They say they were absorbed into Georgia after the fall of the old Soviet Union. The 70,000 South Ossetians want independence – just like Kosovo, the breakaway Serbian province.
Why are the Georgians so upset about South Ossetia?
Because they see it as a Russian outpost funded largely from Moscow, and where most people carry Russian passports.
Why has Georgia’s president chosen to raise the issue now?
Because he thought everyone was focused on the Olympics and the Russians would hesitate to respond with force.
Why has Russia been willing to go to war?
The Kremlin is angry about western, particularly American military support for Georgia, its desire to join Nato and US plans for a missile defence shield in Europe.
Will anyone else intervene?
Unlikely, western armies are busy and the prospect of taking on Russia is not enticing.
What happens next?
The Georgians will back down looking like the bad guys. Both sides will go back to hating each other. Result: Russia 1, Georgia 0.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4493620.ece
Based on the CNN interview of Georgia's president (about an hour ago), the Times' end result may have some validity. He mentioned Czech 1968; I was thinking Hungary 1956 (when VOA & RFE made very sad listening).
PS:
Quote:
from Wildcat
I knew I should have studied Russian in college...
I did (2 yrs), but 45 years ago. The month before 2nd year ended, our prof handed out a little Russian book (2nd grade reader), saying: "Now, for the rest of the course, you will learn how little Russian you know."
Helps to transliterate the Cyrillic and read Fuch's useful map - beyond that, I'm hopeless.
What I can't help but wonder...
... is how the Georgians thought that a military escalation would work to their favour. I don't doubt their sense of grievance... just their common sense.
Deja vu, all over again ...
Or, can one find truth in Pravda ?
Just the headlines, without leads - full articles linked at link
Quote:
Georgian troops burn South Ossetian refugees alive
[10.08.2008; today's lead]
....
Putin: Georgia’s actions are criminal, whereas Russia’s actions are absolutely legitimate
09.08.2008
....
War between Russia and Georgia orchestrated from USA
09.08.2008
...
Russian tanks enter South Ossetia to oust Georgian troops
08.08.2008
http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/
And whose news in Izvestia ?
Quote:
Russia's Gazprom sells stake in Izvestia newspaper
Wed May 21, 2008 12:02pm EDT
MOSCOW, May 21 (Reuters) - Russian gas monopoly Gazprom ... has sold its majority stake in the Izvestia newspaper to a firm linked to a businessman reported to be a close ally of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
http://www.reuters.com/article/compa...89780820080521
Finally, the third member of the deja vu triangle
Quote:
ITAR-TASS
[10.08.2008; today's lead]
Tskhinvali totally cleared of Georgia troops - peacekeepers HQ.
Tskhinvali has been totally cleared of Georgian troops that are being forced towards the administrative border of South Ossetia with Georgia, aide to the commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Force (JPKF) Vladimir Ivanov told Itar-Tass...
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?GroupID=146
-------------------------
Sorry to interrupt the White-Fuchs debate. Nothing to add to that (despite tongue biting on BoP).
South Ossetia is about the size of my Copper Country (4 county area, 50K+ pop.) - just to provide some perspective of the real estate involved. We do have people in Georgia - and that does mean something.
Hey Ken, based on Fuchs' map, it looks like the Georgians north of Tskhinvali didn't occupy the high ground - no Puller in command there.