Russian president halts military action in Georgia

NF Reporter · 08-12-2008, 06:30 AM

AP - Russian President Dmitri Medvedev ordered a halt to military action in Georgia Tuesday, saying it had punished Georgia and brought security for civilians and Russian peacekeepers in the breakaway South Ossetia region.

Full Story...

waltky · 08-15-2008, 01:17 AM

Russia wants the old Soviet Empire back...

West should 'wake up' over Georgia
August 14, 2008 - SEEN from a swathe of former Soviet bloc nations, the conflict between Georgia and Moscow looks chillingly like the eve of World War II, and their leaders are warning that the West needs to wake up.

Quote:

In the war of words by ex-Soviet Georgia's allies against Moscow, they have returned to a favoured theme: the past. Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said the West must not abandon Georgia in its conflict with Russia, warning it would be like replaying the 1930s.

"Returning from Munich 70 years ago in 1938 (British Prime Minister) Neville Chamberlain said about Czechoslovakia, which had just been dismembered: 'It's a small, far-away place about which we know nothing'," Mr Ilves said during a visit to Poland. "We all know where that led," he said. "Those countries who value freedom and democracy must stand up for it whenever it is threatened," he added.

Mr Chamberlain was at the forefront of efforts to appease Adolf Hitler before World War II, in a desperate attempt to ward off conflict. The British premier was among the signatories of a deal at the 1938 Munich conference allowing Nazi Germany to occupy the Sudetenland, a strategic region of the then Czechoslovakia, on the grounds that it was mainly populated by ethnic Germans. That failed to slake Hitler's thirst. He invaded Poland in 1939, sparking World War II.

'Smacks of 1938'

See also:

Georgia standoff 'may last weeks'
August 15, 2008 - US President George W. Bush said after a visit to CIA headquarters today that the standoff with Russia over Georgia could stretch "throughout the coming weeks".

Quote:

"My call, of course, is for the territorial integrity of Georgia to be respected and for the ceasefire agreement to be honoured," he said with CIA Director Michael Hayden and Deputy Director Steve Kappas at his side. "And we will be working this issue throughout the coming weeks. And people out here at the agency have been incredibly helpful," he said in brief remarks at the CIA.

Mr Bush's visit, which ran nearly two hours over schedule, came as US officials tried to work through frequently contradictory and confusing reports from the ground on Russia's military offensive in the former Soviet republic. "Got a lot of folks, smart folks, analysing the situation on the ground, and, of course, briefing us on different possibilities that could develop in the area and the region," the president said.

Mr Bush said he had sent US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to France for an assessment of a Paris-led ceasefire offer and to Georgia to showcase US support for the pro-Western government of President Mikheil Saakashvili. "She'll be coming back to brief me Saturday (local time). I'm looking forward to hearing firsthand what she has seen, what she has heard," said Mr Bush, who was to hear from the top US diplomat at his Texas ranch.

Georgia standoff 'may last weeks' | NEWS.com.au

waltky · 08-31-2008, 09:57 AM

Europe in a tizzy...

Some European countries sliding toward Russia
Sunday 31st August, 2008 - There are some signs that divisions are occurring in Europe over the crisis in Georgia.

Quote:

While Britain has blamed Moscow solely for the crisis, Germany has blamed both Russia and Georgia for taking unilateral actions that have made the situation worse. Before the Georgian crisis, the 27-nation European bloc had wanted to step up contact with Russia through a new strategic partnership.

Germany's Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has said he would like to see strong action from the European Union to stop matters spiralling out of control.

UK British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also asked the European Union to act, but against Russia. He said normal relations with Moscow were impossible as long as it occupied Georgia. A special European Union summit on the Georgia crisis is due to begin Monday.

Some European countries sliding toward Russia