Georgia and Russia were today on the brink of full-scale war after Russian tanks rolled across the border to back separatists in the breakaway South Ossetia region.

With hundreds of people feared to have been killed and the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, reported to have been severely damaged, Georgia said it was pulling 1,000 of its troops out of Iraq to redeploy them against Russia.

Georgia, a strong US ally, currently has 2,000 soldiers in Iraq, but half would now be withdrawn, a Georgian official, describing them as "some of our best soldiers", said.

The Russian incursion began after Georgia launched a major military offensive to retake control of South Ossetia, which has enjoyed de facto autonomy since the early 1990s but officially remains part of the country.

The Georgian president, Mikhail Saakashvili, said the two countries were already effectively at war.

"Russia is fighting a war with us in our own territory," he told CNN. "We are a freedom-loving nation that is right now under attack."

He called on the US to intervene, saying it was in Washington's interests to help his country.

SeanT21:

I hope America do not pick sides in this. Unless Russia will not be happy!!!

RichyBlacK:

Hisssssss!

4 Play:

Why won't you "hiss"? If it was the US launching "peacekeeping" operations in a neighboring country,you will be steaming with rage.

Ibime:

What do you mean you don't support Russia on this? Has RichyBlack the militant gone soft ? . . . . . lol. . .

It was Georgia who made the first move in this chess game. The day they invaded South Osettia, I told my friend that they have finished themselves because Russia will retaliate. What, did they think Russia was going to stand by and let that happen? Russia don't play that. The West have just proved that they do not back their allies. They were the ones who told Georgia to invade South Ossetia because Georgia cannot take such a decision independently. Yet when qwatar start, they turned their back on Georgia. 80% of Europe's gas comes from Russia, that is why they didn't back Georgia - because they don't want to freeze this winter. lol.

The people of South Ossetia all own Russian passports, therefore Russia did not break any law by moving in. They've wanted to leave Georgia for a long time but Georgia would not let them go. Now they are seeing that Russsian passport is more profitable than Shengen passport. All of them are celebrating in the streets today - and that is all that matters, not all this nonsense diplomatic arguments about who owns what.

This is a test case for other places like Azerbaijan and Ukraine who have adopted pro-Western and anti-Russian stances. Will the West really back them against Russia or will they chicken out at the last minute as they did with Georgia? This could even also be a test case for seperatist movements in Africa, such as Biafra. . . . .

The people of South Ossetia all own Russian passports, therefore Russia did not break any law by moving in.

darfur:



how can georgia seceed from russia but wont let ossettia do the same from them. it's like biafra secceeding from nigeria and then refusing south-south from secceeding from biafra. live and let live. if u could pull out from whom u don't like then you should be ready to let someone who doesnt like you pull out from you.

Ibime:

Come on man. . . . they been warning them for the last few years. . . . if Pakistan move into Kashmir, do they expect India not to retaliate. . . . how about if Nigeria move into Bakassi - do you think the Cameroonians will stand by?. . . .  Russia set them up for the fall a long time ago by issuing passports to the South Ossetians. . . . .they should have heeded the warning. . . . .instead, they dug their own grave by making such hasty decisions. . . .the West allowed them to do it. I guess they did not anticipate the speed of the Russian response.

I stand with South Ossetia and their right to self determination.

Tayo-D:

Russia is definitely an outside party here considering the fact that this is more or less a civil matter of a UN recognized independent nation - Georgia.

Tayo-D:

Talking about hypocrites, the deafening silence of the usual mob that condemn Isreal when it defends herself isn't going unnoticed. I thought the same people would be here now condemning the loss of innocent lives. It is obvious that their judgements are clouded by political leanings.

Ibime:

. UN legitimised the illegitimate Berlin conference of 1914 during the scramble for Africa, causing untold problems like we are witnessing today. . .

tpia:




some arguments preempt a maze, really.

darfur:

i feel u ibime but take am easy for UN, by I9I4 the UN was non existent the UN was established in the mid I940s

Tayo-D:

@Ibime,

That being said, the US has already angered Russia by flying all 2,000 Georgian troops in Iraq back to Georgia.

RichyBlacK:


I have no sympathy for the Georgian government, I think they've allowed themselves to be used by the West. I stand with South Ossetia and their right to self determination.

davidylan:

Georgia didnt even lob rockets within Russian borders.

I do not know what gave Georgia the guts to make that move, were they thinking US will come to their aid? I hope Czech Republic and Poland will learn from this.

Would you say France has any right to invade Nigeria assuming many of the Easterners were given French Passports?

And would you consider it right for France to be bombing Lagos all because it is protecting MASSOB against the Federal Govt of Nigeria?

I do not know what gave Georgia the guts to make that move, were they thinking US will come to their aid? I hope Czech Republic and Poland will learn from this.