Controversy And Confusion On The 4-Year Anniversary Of The Russian - Georgia War

President Putin meeting with Armenian President Sargsyan in the Kremlin on Wednesday. He told reporters after the meeting that he had called then-President Medvedev twice on the Aug. 7 and 8, 2008, to discuss the situation with Georgia. The Moscow Times/Kremlin.ru

Controversy, Confusion On 4-Year Anniversary Of Ossetia War -- RIA Novosti

Exactly four years on, a new documentary has revived the debate over the five-day war in 2008 between Russia and Georgia, sowing confusion about who was in charge and who knew what – and when.

Former top-ranking generals in the Russian Army have alleged in a 47-minute documentary entitled “The Lost Day” that then-President Dmitry Medvedev’s indecision during the 2008 war with Georgia resulted in the unnecessary loss of life.

Read more ....

More News On The 4-Year Anniversary Of The Russian - Georgia War

Georgia and Russia mark anniversary of South Ossetia War -- Euronews

Medvedev Defends Role in Georgia War -- Moscow Times
Medvedev defends actions in Georgia war -- UPI
Medvedev: Retaliation against Georgia timely decision -- Kyiv Post

Russian Generals Accuse Medvedev Of Hesitation In Russia-Georgia War -- Radio Free Europe
Russian generals attack Medvedev over Georgia war -- Reuters
Medvedev accused of flinching during Georgia war -- The Hindu

Russia prepared for Georgia war, trained 'militiamen': Putin -- AFP
Putin Contradicts Medvedev on Georgia War -- Moscow Times
Russia prepared for Georgia war: Putin -- Channel News Asia
Russia was prepared for Georgian aggression – Putin -- RT

EU Report: Georgia Attack 'Sparked South Ossetia War'

Russian soldiers on a tank in Igoeti, Georgia on August 18, 2008.
Justyna Mielnikiewicz for The New York Times

Both Sides To Blame For The Georgia-Russia War -- Time Magazine

After last year's war between Russia and Georgia, which left at least 250 people dead and parts of Georgia in ruin, both countries were eager to point the finger of blame at one another for starting the conflict. On Wednesday, an independent investigating team issued a highly anticipated report saying that neither country can escape fault.

Read more ....

More News On The EU Report On The Russian - Georgian War Of Last Year

EU finds Georgia started war, but Russia allowed atrocities -- McClatchy News
European Report on War in Georgia Finds Fault on All Sides -- New York Times
Report: Georgia Triggered War; Russia Ain’t Clean, Either -- The Danger Room
EU Report Faults Georgia, Russia in 5-day War -- Voice of America
EU report: Georgian attack started war with Russia -- AP
Gerogia started war, Russia shared blame: report -- China View
Uncomfortable conclusions for Georgia -- BBC
War in South Ossetia: Georgia started it -- The Guardian editorial
Georgia started it and Russia continued it – to excess -- The Independent opinion

The Georgian-Russian War -- A One Year Anniversary

Aug. 8: Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili holds a candle during a religious service in memory of the victims of last August's war, in a cathedral in Tbilisi, Georgia. AP

Vladimir Putin Determined to Kill Me, Says Georgian President -- FOX News

TBLISI, Georgia — Georgia’s pro-Western president said yesterday that Vladimir Putin remained determined to kill him as part of his ambition to restore Russia’s former Soviet empire.

In an interview with The London Times, a year after the war between the two countries, Mikhail Saakashvili said that Georgia’s survival as an independent state threatened Putin’s reputation as a strong ruler. Only continued support from the United States and Europe prevented a Russian invasion to install a puppet regime, he warned.

Read more ....

More News On The Georgian - Russian One Year Anniversary

Medvedev gives medals, praises Sarkozy on Georgia -- AP
Sarkozy played 'big role' ending Georgia war: Medvedev -- AFP
Ossetians warm to Moscow's embrace -- Reuters
Roundtable: Causes And Effects Of The Russia-Georgia War -- Radio Free Europe
Year After Georgian War, Rage Has Only Hardened -- New York Times
Wounds from Ossetia conflict yet to heal -- ABC News Online
Leading article: Uneasy peace in the Caucasus -- Independent
Ossetians warm to Moscow's embrace -- Independent

Russia-Georgia War: One Year Later

Russian soldiers guard a checkpoint near the Georgian village of Khurvaleti. Photo AFP

Georgia Marks Anniversary Of War With Russia -- Yahoo News/AP

TBILISI, Georgia – Georgia marked one year since its war with Russia on Friday with quiet moments and somber ceremonies — a nationwide minute of silence, a human chain in a war-battered town, a soldier's small son gazing at his father's tombstone.

The brief war killed at least 390 people and left a legacy of animosity between leaders and fears among civilians that more fighting may erupt. About 26,000 people displaced by the conflict still live in temporary housing in Georgia, many on less than $3 a day, according to aid group World Vision.

Read more ....

More News On The One Year Anniversary Of The Russia-Georgia War

Georgia-Russia war one year on -- BBC
Russia-Georgia tensions still high one year on from conflict -- CNN
On war's anniversary, Georgia, Russia vie in media -- AP
Tributes, accusation mark Georgia war anniversary -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Year later, Russia's victory over Georgia cuts both ways -- L.A. Times
One year on: Georgia rebounds from war with Russia -- The Telegraph
Did Russia pay high price for winning Georgia war? -- Christian Science Monitor
A year later and there is still no clear winner from the Georgia-Russia war -- Reuters
Russia-Georgia war still felt one year on: Amnesty -- AFP
In pictures: First anniversary of Georgian war -- BBC News
Georgia's unfinished war -- Toronto Star editorial

Russia Warns Georgia Against Boosting Military

From Yahoo News/Reuters:

ANKARA (Reuters) – Russia's Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Tuesday he was concerned by what he called Georgia's efforts to boost its military potential, adding this could have bigger consequences than August's conflict.

"The Georgian side's efforts to increase the military potential is causing concern and I think those initiatives could have bigger consequences than what we saw in August," he told a news conference in Ankara. He did not elaborate.

Read more ....

The Georgia/Russia War -- Commentaries, Opinions, And Analysis

Russia-Georgia Conflict: Why Both Sides Have
Valid Points -- Christian Science Monitor

As Russian troops prepare to withdraw from Georgian bases and cities they invaded last week, a look at the two contradictory stories of what happened and why.

As Russia's flash war with Georgia winds down, two distinct – and contradictory – stories about what happened and why are taking shape. The Moscow press paints a one-sided picture of a beleaguered Russia forced to respond to naked aggression by a pro-Western adventurer, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, in order to save Russian citizens from "genocide." In the West, some depict the war as a replay of the USSR's invasions of Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Afghanistan, and warning that a resurgent, oil-rich Russia is returning to Soviet-style domination of its neighbors with brute force.

But close examination reveals a more complex picture – one that suggests each side also has some valid points in its defense. Correspondent Fred Weir gives an overview from his longtime perch in Moscow.

Read more ....

More Commentary, Opinion, And Analysis

Georgia: How close did Europe come to a wider war? -- Reuters
Russia Positions Itself As Global Economic Player -- Post Global
NATO's Hour -- Wall Street Journal


South Ossetia Isn't Kosovo - Christopher Hitchens, Slate
Who Made Russia Attack? - Fred Hiatt, Washington Post
Cameron and McCain Suited to Defy Russia - Janet Daley, Daily Telegraph
Next Secretary of State Will Be Critical - John Hughes, CS Monitor
The Russian Bear is Back from Hibernation - Paul Dibb, The Australian
Putting Out Fire in the Caucasus - Nicolas Sarkozy, Washington Post
Georgia at Putin's Mercy - Jeffrey Tayler, The Atlantic
'New Europe' Urges to Rethink Russia - Robert Marquand, CS Monitor
Estonia or Macedonia for Georgia? - Samantha Brletich, Diplomatic Courier
For Separatists, Might Makes Right - Tim Judah, LA Times
Ambitious Autocracies on the Offensive - Robert Kagan, Weekly Standard
Debacle in Georgia - Washington Times
The Future of NATO - Times of London
Let's Not Start World War III - Mike Jackson, The Telegraph
Two-Sided Descent into War - Peter Finn, Washington Post
Russian Strategy Paralyzes US - Gregor Peter Schmitz, Der Spiegel
Strongman Putin on the Blitz - Greg Sheridan, The Australian
Petro-Politics at Heart of Georgia Conflict - David Francis, CS Monitor
When War Ends, Start to Worry - Michael Bronner, NY Times
What Georgia Tells Us About the World - Paul Kennedy, The Guardian
Hollow Promise of the Next Hegemon - Chen Hsin-Chih, Taipei Times
The Strategic Lessons of Georgia -- Time Magazine
Russia cannot afford to be a bad neighbour -- Times Online
The EU's Russian role -- The Guardian
The Russians yearn for respect in the same way as a street kid with a knife -- The Guardian
End of empire is always a muddy, bloody, business -- The Independent
From Russia With Love: Could Georgia Fight Boost Global Energy Supply? -- Wall Street Journal
In Georgia, Russia sends clear message US, Israeli influence will not be tolerated -- Daily Star
Stop that bear -- International Herald Tribune
Vladimir Putin Takes on a Powerless West -- Der Spiegel
Mystery of Moscow's genocide claim -- Sydney Morning Herald
Russia will not benefit from its aggression -- Times Online
A bully’s deserts -- Financial Times
Russia, Georgia, & Disinformation -- IMINT And Analysis

Georgian / Russian War -- Full Coverage For August 18, 2008

Russian military vehicles drive in the direction of Tskhinvali after crossing from Russia into the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia near the village of Vekhny Ruk August 17, 2008. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

Russia Says Georgian Troop Withdrawal Under Way
-- Yahoo News/AP

GORI, Georgia - Russia said its troops began withdrawing from the conflict zone in Georgia on Monday, including the strategic central city of Gori, "according to the peace plan" that sought to end fighting has reignited Cold War tensions.

The statement by Col.-Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn came amid uncertainty about whether Russia was fulfilling its promise to begin the pullout Monday. He said troops were pulling back to South Ossetia — the breakaway region at the heart of the fighting — and to an unspecified security zone.

Earlier in the day, Russian forces around Gori appeared to be solidifying their positions.

But Nogovitsyn told a briefing that "today, according to the peace plan, the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers and reinforcements has begun." He added that forces were leaving Gori, a stratgically key city that sits on Georgia's only significant east-west road.

Read more ....

More News On The Withdraw Of Russian Soldiers From Georgia

Russia says troops pulling back from Georgia -- MSNBC
No Confirmed Sign of Russian Withdrawal From Georgia -- FOX News
Russia begins Georgia troop 'pull back' -- CNN
Russia Says Pullout From Georgia Underway -- CBS News
Russia claims troops are withdrawing from Georgia -- The Telegraph
Troops begin withdrawal from Georgia, says Russian military -- The Guardian
Russia: Georgian Pullout Under Way -- Time Magazine
Cross us and we will crush you, warns Medvedev -- Times Online
Medvedev talks tough as Russia 'withdraws' -- The Independent
Georgia sees little sign of Russian withdrawal -- Newsweek
'Putin has given us an order that everyone must leave or be shot' -- Times Online
Nato torn between threats and caution over Russia and Georgia -- Times Online
Rice, Allies to Discuss Russian Response -- Time Magazine
South Ossetia holds civilian Georgians hostage -- The Guardian
Report from the Georgian Front -- Canada Free Press
Schröder lambasted for blaming Russian conflict on Georgia -- The Local
Georgia conflict: Condoleezza Rice toughens stance towards Russia -- The Telegraph

My Comment: The next excitement will be in the political arena. Nato and European diplomats and politicians are meeting for the entire week. Expect fireworks and threats from Russia.

U.S. And Allies Condemn Russia

Russian troops stand at the main road to Tbilisi near the Georgian town of Gori, August 14, 2008. (David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

U.S. And Germany Condemn Defiant Russia
-- Yahoo News/Reuters

WASHINGTON/TBILISI/SOCHI (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush accused Russia on Friday of "bullying" Georgia and key European ally Germany criticized Moscow for going too far with its invasion of its small Caucasus neighbor.

A defiant Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow would respond the same way if its peacekeepers were attacked again and questioned whether the rebel regions at the centre of the conflict could ever live again under Georgian rule.

In moves which underlined Moscow's diplomatic isolation over its week-old military push, Poland signed a deal with Washington to install an anti-missile system and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Georgia in a show of support.

Medvedev said the Polish-U.S. deal was a threat to Russia.

Read more ....

More News On Russia And Western Reactions

U.S. demands Russian troops leave Georgia -- International Herald Tribune
Bush condemns 'bullying' Russia -- BBC News
West presses for end to Georgia conflict -- Yahoo News/AP
Bush Aides Say Russia Actions in Georgia Jeopardize Ties -- New York Times
Russia Must Withdraw From Georgia Immediately - US' Rice -- Nasdaq
Georgia president signs cease-fire with Russia -- Yahoo News/AP
Russian convoy moves deeper inside Georgia: witness -- Reuters
Russians losing propaganda war -- BBC News

My Comment: When the Russian Government says something ... they have always backed it up. Threatening Russia by demanding them to leave .... and not backing this up .... will backfire on us.

This diplomatic war of words will .... unfortunately .... result with Russian soldiers staying longer in Georgia. I will not be surprised if Russian soldiers will now stay in Georgia longer .... and in some cases moving deeper into Georgia.

Russian President Halts Military Action In Georgia

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev

From Yahoo News/AP:

MOSCOW - 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.

"The security of our peacekeepers and civilians has been restored," Medvedev said in a nationally televised statement. "The aggressor has been punished and suffered very significant losses. Its military has been disorganized."

At the same time, Medvedev ordered the military to quell any signs of Georgian resistance.

"If there are any emerging hotbeds of resistance or any aggressive actions, you should take steps to destroy them," he told his defense minister at a Kremlin meeting.

Russia's foreign minister, meanwhile, said that Georgia's president must leave office and Georgian troops should stay out of the pro-Russian South Ossetia region for good.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow won't talk to President Mikhail Saakashvili and Saakashvili "better go."

Read more ....

More News On The Russian Ceasefire

Russia orders end to operation against Georgia -- Yahoo News/AFP
Russia orders halt to war in Georgia -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Russia Halts Attack on Georgia -- Wall Street Journal
Russia Says It Has Halted Military Action in Georgia -- New York Times
Russia 'ends Georgia operation' -- BBC News
Russian president calls halt to Georgian war -- CNN
French President Sarkozy off to Moscow, Tbilisi to discuss Georgia crisis -- Yahoo News/AFP

My Comment: The guns of August are quiet now. This puts Russian President Dmitri Medvedev into the international spotlight as the ruler of Russia. The Russian Army was ready to storm the Georgian capital city .... but the tanks stopped. For the next few weeks the discussion will not be that they stopped .... but why did they stopped. Also .... the discussion will be on Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and not Prime minister Vladimir Putin.

Personally, I am glad/relieved that a ceasefire has been called. Russia has made its point, and the Georgian Government and people were spared from destruction. There would have been no winners if this conflict went to its logical conclusion .... the complete destruction of Georgia.

Georgia / Russia War News Updates -- Russian Soldiers Occupy South Ossetia, War Spreads To The Province Abkhazia (Update #5)

A Georgian man cries as he holds the body of his relative after a bombardment in Gori, 80 km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, August 9, 2008. A Russian warplane dropped a bomb on an apartment block in Gori on Saturday, killing at least 5 people, a Reuters reporter said. The bomb hit the five-story building close to Georgia's embattled breakaway province of South Ossetia when Russian warplanes carried out a raid against military targets around the town. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich (GEORGIA)

Georgia: In 'State Of War' Over South Ossetia -- Yahoo News

OUTSIDE TSKHINVALI, Georgia - Russia and small, U.S.-allied Georgia headed toward a wider war Saturday as Russian tanks rumbled into the contested province of South Ossetia and Russian aircraft bombed a Georgian town, escalating a conflict that already has left hundreds dead.

Georgia's Foreign Ministry said the country was "in a state of war" and accused Russia of beginning a "massive military aggression." The Georgian parliament approved a state of martial law, mobilizing reservists and ordering government authorities to work round-the-clock.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that Moscow sent troops into South Ossetia to force Georgia into a cease-fire and prevent Georgia from retaking control of its breakaway region after it launched a major offensive there overnight Friday.

Read more ....

Previous Post: The War In The Caucasuses Is Now Spreading

More News On The Russian/Georgian War

Putin accuses Georgia of genocide -- BBC News
Western words fall on deaf Russian ears -- BBC News
Russia escalates Georgia attack -- MSNBC
Fighting escalates in Caucasus -- International Herald Tribune
Georgia and Russia Nearing All-Out War -- New York Times
Georgia: In 'state of war' over South Ossetia -- Washington Post
Georgia to US: Airlift Our Troops From Iraq -- ABC News
The Pipeline War: Russian bear goes for West's jugular -- Daily Mail
Armor streams into South Ossetia as refugees flee -- CNN
U.S. official: Russia's attack on Georgia is 'disproportionate' -- CNN
Russia Rejects Cease-Fire With Georgia -- CBS
Russia Is Waging `Full-Scale War' Over S. Ossetia (Update1) -- Bloomberg
U.S. says Russia uses 'disproportionate' force -- Reuters
1,500 dead as Georgia conflict escalates -- The Independent
Georgia declares 'state of war' over South Ossetia -- The Guardian
Mass exodus: More than 50,000 flee as Russia ignores Georgia's calls for ceasefire -- The Daily Mail
The Pipeline War: Heartbreaking phone call from woman trapped as missiles fall -- The Daily Mail
Western diplomats fly to Georgia to negotiate ceasefire -- Daily Mail
Georgia conflict: Screams of the injured rise from residential streets -- The Telegraph
Georgia: Crisis deepens as Russia snubs George W Bush's call to pull troops out -- The Telegraph
Georgia: Tbilisi residents defiant in face of Russian military might -- The Telegraph
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Georgia must pull out of South Ossetia -- Times Online
‘Bodies are lying everywhere. It’s hell’ -- Times Online
Georgia pulls 1,000 troops from Iraq -- Times Online
Hundreds die as Georgia war escalates -- Times Online
Russia condemns Georgian military operation -- Radio Netherlands
Georgia: In 'State of War' Over South Ossetia -- New York Sun
Britain urges Russia to accept Georgia ceasefire offer -- AFP
Caught off guard, Britain and US try to broker peace -- Times Online
Georgia may pull out of Beijing Games -- MSNBC

NEWS ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

Georgia makes a power play — and a big gamble -- MSNBC
Georgia: Roots of the South Ossetia conflict -- Telegraph
Georgia: US training gives Georgia military advantage -- Telegraph
Georgia: Key players in the conflict -- Telegraph
Has Georgia Overreached in Ossetia? -- Time Magazine
How Georgia Fell Into Its Enemies' Trap -- Times of London
The War That Russia Wants -- The Guardian
Kremlin Determined to Break Georgia's Will -- New York Post
Georgia Should Have Stepped Back -- Washington Post
Russia strikes a blow at its fears of Nato encirclement -- Times Online
Small wars have a nasty habit of getting bigger -- Times Online
How the frozen conflict turned into a flash fire -- The Guardian
Russia Turns War Machine Loose -- Times of London
Georgia's Action Could Prove Reckless -- The Guardian
Is this the First War between Russia and a Former Soviet State? -- Der Spiegel
Caucasus Violence Surprises Europe -- Der Spiegel
A Threat Explodes In Georgia -- Washington Post

BLOGS

‘Invasion of Georgia’ a ‘3 a.m. moment’ -- Politico
Russia's 'Full Scale Invasion' of Georgia (Updated, with Video) -- Danger Room
Georgia update -- Foreign Policy
Morning Russia-Georgia Roundup -- Lawyers, Guns and money
Georgia: played? -- Fistful Of Euros
Georgia: The Blame Game -- Global Voices

VIDEOS

MSNBC


FOX News


CBS News


Al Jazeera

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Georgia: Roots of the South Ossetia conflict -- Telegraph
South Ossetia: factbox -- The Telegraph
The tussle for South Ossetia -- The Guardian
Timeline: South Ossetia -- The Guardian
Q & A: Behind the battle for South Ossetia -- MSNBC
Q&A: Violence in South Ossetia -- BBC News
Timeline: Key Events in Russian-Georgian Relations - Associated Press
How Russian and Georgian Forces Stack Up - Reuters
Factbox: International Reaction to South Ossetia Conflict - Reuters
Georgia - CIA World Factbook
Russia - CIA World Factbook
Georgia - BBC Country Page
Russia - BBC Country Page
South Ossetia - New York Times background and related news
South Ossetia - BBC background

NEXT UPDATE: 10:00 EST, Sunday, August 10, 2008

Georgia / Russia War News Updates -- Georgia Declares State Of War With Russia (Update #4)

NEWS

Full Coverage Of The Russian/Georgian War -- Yahoo News
Georgia parliament approves a "state of war" -- Reuters
Georgia calls for ceasefire in S. Ossetia -- Reuters
Georgia's Saakashvili calls for immediate ceasefire -- Reuters
EU, U.S. diplomats seek Georgia ceasefire -- UPI
Russia says has control of S.Ossetian capital -- Reuters
Russian jets attack Georgian town -- BBC News
Eyewitness: Scenes of panic in Gori -- BBC News
S Ossetia bitterness turns to conflict -- BBC News
Warnings against non-essential travel to Georgia -- Reuters
Georgia's president seeks martial law as violence continues -- RIA Novosti
Georgia declares state of war with Russia -- CNN
Russia Is Waging `Full-Scale War' Over S. Ossetia, Georgia Says -- Bloomberg
Georgia proposes cease fire in S Ossetia -- AP
Georgia: Russia enters into 'war' in South Ossetia -- The Telegraph
Russia turns might of its war machine on rebel neighbour Georgia -- Times Online
Georgia disputes control of South Ossetian capital -- Independent
We are at war with Russia, declares Georgian leader -- The Independent
Russia claims control of South Ossetian capital -- The Guardian
Armed Cossacks pour in to fight Georgians -- The Guardian
Georgia declares 15-day 'state of war', as 1,500 civilians left dead by Russia conflict -- Daily Mail
Russia Sends Tanks Into Georgia -- Washington Times
U.S. troops, contractors in Georgia not believed to be at risk -- Stars And Stripes
Georgia reports new air attack near capital: Georgia says new air attacks hit near capital and key oil pipeline -- Newsweek
Russian jets attack Georgian city as battles rage -- MSNBC
Russians raid Georgian town; heavy casualties reported -- LA Times
Fighting escalates in Caucasus -- International Herald Tribune
Georgia to let civilians flee South Ossetia -- International Herald Tribune
US urges end to Georgia fighting -- International Herald Tribune
Bush meets Putin over Georgia fighting -- CNN
Medvedev: South Ossetia Situation a 'Humanitarian Catastrophe' -- FOX News
Commander: Georgia to Remove All Troops in Iraq to Join South Ossetia Conflict -- FOX News
Bush: "Dangerous Escalation" In Georgia -- CBS News
U.S. Calls For Prompt Ceasefire In Georgia -- CBS News
US President Warns Attacks on Georgia 'Dangerous Escalation' -- Voice Of America
Fighting Between Russian, Georgian Forces Intensifies -- Voice Of America
Red Cross Calls for Humanitarian Corridor in South Ossetia -- Voice Of America
UN Security Council Fails to Agree on Georgia -- Voice Of America
Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili calls for cease fire in South Ossetia -- China View
Georgia's parliament approves martial law -- China View
Abkhazia fears attack from Georgia-media -- Reuters
British-Georgian military exercises in doubt -- AFP

NEWS ANALYSTS / COMMENTARY

Georgia pays price for its Nato ambitions -- The Telegraph
War in the Caucasus -- Wall Street Journal
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili banked on Russia not having will to fight -- Times Online

Georgia's Fait Accompli Failed -- Times Online

Analysis: why the Russia-Georgia conflict matters to the West -- Times Online
How Georgia fell into its enemies' trap -- Times Online
Georgia on the brink -- Times Online
Mary Dejevsky: Kremlin has its work cut out to avoid a new defeat -- The Independent
Stopping Russia -- Washington Post
Georgia Power Play, and Big Gamble -- Washington Post
S Ossetia bitterness turns to conflict -- The BBC
Analysis: Georgia's decision to shell Tskhinvali could prove 'reckless' -- The Guardian
How the frozen conflict turned into a flash fire -- The Guardian
Prisoner of the Caucasus -- The Guardian
'The war in South Ossetia could be the most dangerous flashpoint since the Cuban crisis', says top historian -- Daily Mail
The Western-looking leaders of Russia and Georgia have locked horns in a fight that puts the smaller nation squarely at a disadvantage. -- Newsweek
Georgia makes a power play — and a big gamble -- MSNBC
South Ossetia Fighting Risks Wider War -- ABC News
No quick fix to S Ossetia conflict -- BBC News
Prospect remains dim to solve South Ossetia conflict -- China View

BLOGS

Russia / Georgia Conflict Sounds Alarm Bells At Threat To Vital Link In The Energy Chain -- Pat Dollard
Trouble in the Caucasus - The Belmont Club
The 1930s echo in Georgia -- Westhawk
War With Georgia -- Strategy Page
South Ossetia: Alea Jacta Est -- A Fistful of Euros

VIDEO NEWS / COMMENTARY

Daily Telegraph


CNN - iReport


CBS News


Reuters


Al Jazeera

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

South Ossetia: factbox -- The Telegraph
The tussle for South Ossetia -- The Guardian
Timeline: South Ossetia -- The Guardian
Q & A: Behind the battle for South Ossetia -- MSNBC
Q&A: Violence in South Ossetia -- BBC News
Timeline: Key Events in Russian-Georgian Relations - Associated Press
How Russian and Georgian Forces Stack Up - Reuters
Factbox: International Reaction to South Ossetia Conflict - Reuters
Georgia - CIA World Factbook
Russia - CIA World Factbook
Georgia - BBC Country Page
Russia - BBC Country Page
South Ossetia - New York Times background and related news
South Ossetia - BBC background

NEXT UPDATE: 21:00 EST, Saturday, August 9, 2008

Russia And Georgia 'At War', Over 1000 Dead -- Update #2

Russia, Georgia Seek Control Of South Ossetia Capital -- From Reuters

MEGVREKISI, Georgia (Reuters) - Georgia said on Friday its forces were in control of the capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia, but rebels said Russian armored vehicles had entered the northern edges of the city.

"Tskhinvali and the heights around Tskhinvali and the majority of the villages in South Ossetia are under the control of Georgian forces," Georgia's pro-Western President Mikheil Saakashvili said in a televised address.

However, the separatists' press service said on its website cominf.org on Friday: "Russian armored vehicles have entered the northern suburbs of Tskhinvali". It added that Georgian troops had started to retreat.

Moscow said its troops were responding to a Georgian assault to re-take the breakaway region, and Saakashvili said the two countries were at war.

Read more ....

More News On Georgia And Russia

Full Coverage On Georgia/Russia War -- Yahoo News
Russia, Georgia troops battle along border -- MSNBC
Russian forces battle Georgians -- BBC News
Fierce fighting in breakaway Georgia republic -- CNN
Russia, Georgia Clash Over Tiny Province -- CBS
Georgia says Russian aircraft bombed its air bases -- Breitbart/AP
Georgia says Russia at ‘war’ -- Financial Times
Putin Vows to Protect Ossetians -- Washington Post
South Ossetia fighting risks wider war -- Newsweek

In this image, made from a television screen, soldiers of South Ossetia, a breakaway Georgian enclave, armed with shoulder-launched missiles, are seen ready for action against Georgian planes, in South Ossetia,on Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. Georgian troops launched a major military offensive Friday to regain control over the breakaway province of South Ossetia, prompting a furious response from Russia , which vowed retaliation and sent tanks into the region. Dozens were reported dead. (AP Photo/NTV Russian Channel)

Georgia / Russia News -- Blog Roundup

Did the U.S. Prep Georgia for War with Russia? -- The Danger Room
Ground Zero in the New Caucasus Conflict -- The Danger Room
Georgia: South Ossetia Update -- Global Voices Online
War With Georgia -- Strategy Page
Trouble in the Caucasus -- Belmont Club
Russia Invades Georgia: When 2 Natural Allies go to War -- Jawa Report
The 1930s echo in Georgia -- Westhawk
Video: Richard Holbrooke Points to Russian Aggression, Expansion in South Ossetian Conflict -- Blogs Of War

Next Update: 23:30 EST

We Are Close To War, Says Georgian Leader

From The Times Online:

MOSCOW Georgia and Russia have come close to war in recent days and the threat of armed conflict remains, Mikhail Saakashvili, the Georgian President, told Russian journalists.

“I think that several days ago we were close [to war with Russia] and this threat remains,” the RIA Novosti and ITAR-Tass news agencies quoted Mr Saakashvili as saying. He also gave warning of the consequences for neighbouring southern Russia, which includes Chechnya and North Ossetia, if war broke out. Georgia has accused Moscow of attempting to annex its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to make its attempt to join Nato more difficult. Tensions soared when Russia announced an increase in its peacekeeping troops in Abkhazia. The Abkhazian leadership said yesterday that it had shot down another Georgian unmanned spy plane, the latest in a series of such claims. Georgia denied the claim.

A Kremlin official said it was “difficult to believe” that Mr Saakashvili had said the countries were close to war. (AFP)

My Comment: Russia is in no position diplomatically, politically, or militarily to mix it up with Georgia. But it makes great news for the home front.