What should be done about Russias occupation of Georgia?

[FrodeMk3]

Why are the Russian's taking prisoners' at this stage?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080819/ap_on_re_eu/georgia_russia

I fear for those men; They likely face some kind of kangaroo-court 'war crimes' tribunal. I hope that they can be set free some how.

[Fury]

So, what is your personal oppinion on what should be done about the Russian occupation of Georgia? ...

My personal opinion is that the US should vacate Iraq within 30 days.  That way, we won't look like such gd hypocites when we go telling Russia 'you can't just invade other countries'.

In reality, we'll have to suffer through a lot of hot-air b.s. and empty threats about kicking Russia out of various treehouse clubs.

The US isn't going to do a damn thing of real consequence about it.

[FrodeMk3]

My personal opinion is that the US should vacate Iraq within 30 days.  That way, we won't look like such gd hypocites when we go telling Russia 'you can't just invade other countries'.

In reality, we'll have to suffer through a lot of hot-air b.s. and empty threats about kicking Russia out of various treehouse clubs.

The US isn't going to do a damn thing of real consequence about it.

You know, In a sense, I agree with you on that first part. The Iraqi's themselves say they are ready for us to leave. And, it's looking like we really need the troops' elsewhere now. However...as far as looking like hypocrites, as bad as the reasons' for invading Iraq were, I don't think it would be entirely hypocritical to tell Russia to get out. There's actually a lot more at stake in Georgia.

[Fury]

I try not to get into these discussions on this board -- I enjoy reading these heavy discussions, but I am not savvy enough nor as knowledgable as most and I am confident would end up with my prettythang handed to me 

I see some extremism on both sides and try to get myself to the middle ground.  I'm trying to remember what the Coalition did in Gulf War Part 1; did we simply kick Iraq out of Kuwait or did we cross troops into Iraq and kick them all the way back to Baghdad.  Simple folks like me try to understand this stuff and sometimes it makes my head hurt.  I don't like it when I'm hypocritcal because it makes me feel like I have no leg to stand on; as long as we can justify our position without the extremism of both sides, then I'm good with it all.

[Toad]

There's that one tiny little thing that hasn't been truly figured out yet.

There was a shootout between SO separatists and the Georgians on Aug 1 & 2. This fighting continued off and on everyday up through August 6. There was arty involved on Aug 7 as fighting continued and Georgian mech units moving to the SO border. On the 8th, Georgia went into SO to put down what it saw as a rebellion by separatists. Almost immediately Russian forces countered with, from news reports, nearly division strength.

So who actually started this? It's clear the SO separtists and Georgians were shooting at each other from Aug 1 right up until Aug 8. 

Who started it?

[Hornet33]

Well In GW 1 we went into Iraq and kicked them all the way back to Baghdad. I didn't see Kuwait until 2 days after the cease fire. I was in Iraq for the entire thing.

[avionix]

Check this out.  Not only not leaving Georgia, but they are now taking prisoners and confiscating US military hardware. 

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,405963,00.html

[AKIron]

Russia is begging to be spanked. We may have to oblige them.

[AKIron]

If we do have to go to war with Russia it should not be a half hearted attempt. They should be defeated so thoroughly that they think about war much like the Germans and Japanese have since WWII.

[mora]

If we do have to go to war with Russia it should not be a half hearted attempt. They should be defeated so thoroughly that they think about war much like the Germans and Japanese have since WWII.

It should've been done 5 years ago.  But it'll happen sooner or later so maybe you should give it a go.

[Suave]

Stop doing business with them. They'll be back to dreaming of owning Ladas and wiping their tulips with leaves just like the glorious soviet economy of the 80s in no time. They wield the threat of denying russian gas and oil, but once they shoot that arrow it's gone. Russia doesn't make anything, like most poor countries most of their merchandise is made by Daewoo. Would be a simple matter of asking South Korea to stop selling to an agressive ally of North Korea. Most likely Daewoo took a profit loss anyway to flood the market and purge competition.

[Yeager]

It should've been done 5 years ago.  But it'll happen sooner or later so maybe you should give it a go.

the last thing planet earth needs is a war beetween Russia and the US.  I can say with complete certainty that the results of such a war will be catastrophic for both the Russian people and the American people, most likely the Europeans and UK islanders will suffer terribly as well.  It is no good.

I rather imagine we will draw lines around former bloc countries that are now independant and declare that if they are in any way invaded or attacked by Russia
that a state of war would then exist between Russia and the US.  But I would suggest getting skippy with it. 

Also, need to re-energize our strategic posture and deploy against potential first launch of Russian nuclear rockets.  Re-establish territorial air land and sea defenses. 

Prepare for war.

[Elfie]

They want to unite Notrh Osetia and South Osetia under a certain independence level, from Georgia.

You are forgetting the fact that Georgia offered autonomy to South Ossetia and they refused.

[Elfie]

Tskhinvali is a devastated city in case you don’t know it.

Really? Have you personally seen the city? I've seen pictures. Some damaged buildings for sure, but the city is mostly intact. All the buildings in the pictures I saw were still standing as well. No evidence of a massive artillery barrage on the city either.

[Elfie]

There's that one tiny little thing that hasn't been truly figured out yet.

There was a shootout between SO separatists and the Georgians on Aug 1 & 2. This fighting continued off and on everyday up through August 6. There was arty involved on Aug 7 as fighting continued and Georgian mech units moving to the SO border. On the 8th, Georgia went into SO to put down what it saw as a rebellion by separatists. Almost immediately Russian forces countered with, from news reports, nearly division strength.

So who actually started this? It's clear the SO separtists and Georgians were shooting at each other from Aug 1 right up until Aug 8.

Who started it?

That is the million dollar question. Although some on this board, specifically the Russian apologists insist on thinking the Georgians started it simply because Georgian forces moved into South Ossetia. Those same apologists also refuse to recognize the fact that South Ossetia is still technically, Georgian territory and not a separate nation.