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Fog of War |
What do we know about Georgia? NATO exercises - "Immediate Response 2008" - were completed in Georgia on July 31 (Russia's 58th Army had completed exercises had mirrored the NATO operations). The Georgian President, Saakashvili, claimed that Russian tanks had commenced passing through the Rokia Tunnel at 10 PM on Aug. 7, and that he launched a long rocket and artillery and rocket pre-emption at 11:30 PM that evening. Georgian state TV almost immediately broadcast video of the barrage, with triumphal patriotic music in the background. Satellite damage data reveals that only civilians areas were targeted. A tank blitz followed, and half of Tskhinvali's population was removed to Russia.
During the NATO exercise, over 1000 US troops participated. Only 137 remained at the time of the war. Russians claim that Georgian POWs admitted that they began moving north, at the same time that Saakasvhili was on TV promising "autonomy" to South Ossetia. Further, US regiment websites report training of Georgian troops in artillery and rocket fire; Russians claim - without support evidence - that US advisors controlled the barrage on Tskhinvali. Although the barrage commenced from outside the internal frontier with SO, the immediate US position was: Russians should return home, leaving barrage positions intact. Russians claim that Georgian POWs were told that they were conducting "Operation Clean Fields."
OSCE observers - there were only 9 - have been ordered to maintain silence, but there have been leaks that they confirm Russian claims of Georgian ethnic cleansing. Georgian POWs report that they were told that they were part of "Operation Clean Fields."
Then there is the Georgian tank attacks on Tskhinvali. These were indiscriminate, indicating a purpose other than securing the city. Then there is the fact that there are no recorded attacks on either the Rokia Tunnel or the Russian advance columns. US satellite data could either confirm or deny Russian claims that the first of their tanks entered at 8AM. Media reports record the first presence of same in Tskhinvali at 4PM. A Youtube video of an interview with Georgia's Foreign Minister, reveals a claim of a Georgian attack on a bridge near the tunnel. Independent media reports prove that statement is false. Was the tunnel not attacked because it was needed to advance ethnic cleansing? US Defense Intelligence could effect the US presidential race, by releasing satellite data - or evidence. |
2008-08-29 17:49 |
76.76.18.105 |