Archive for August 10th, 2008


Abkhazia starts war with Georgia

From the Russia Today channel on YouTube (some interesting stuff here, news you might not find elsewhere)

The situation is escalating in Georgia’s second breakaway republic - Abkhazia. Its troops are on the move towards the security zone in the Gali region close to the border with Georgia. Meanwhile they are continuing a military operation to dislodge Georgian forces in the upper Kodori Gorge in northern Abkhazia.

Tip: P in the comments here.

1 Comment »

Truer than ever

The Temptations: Ball of Confusion

No Comments »

Some speculation

First, from the comments on Lawyers, Guns, and Money

I have this nagging feeling that Rice and Cheney - and by extension, McCain - knew full well that the Georgians were going to get crushed but wished them luck regardless. That’s exactly what they wanted: A credible boogeyman to scare the Beltway crowd and the other usual suspects since Iran’s refusing to rise to their bait.

In the prelude do the Gulf War, didn’t the US pass a signal to Saddam they would do nothing if he invaded Kuwait?

Georgia seems to have badly miscalculated. Did they think US reinforcements would be forthcoming?

Just wondering.

No Comments »

There are no good guys, but we must be most wary of Russia

Says Craig Murray

An immediate ceasefire is required now and a de facto Russian annexation of South Ossetia must not be permitted, unless we eventually want a war for East Ukraine. Sadly, the West will learn the wrong long-term lesson. The answer is not to strengthen NATO. NATO is part of the cause of the problem, not the solution. By encircling and humiliating Russia, not least with new missile systems, NATO has created the climate in Russia so favourable to Putin.

A American in Russian custody?

No Comments »

Oregon Tech to be completely powered by geothermal

The plant will become the sole power source for the school in a few years, making Oregon Tech the only university to be powered completely by geothermal energy.

This is for both heat and energy.

1 Comment »

South Ossetia update

Georgia calls for Ossetia ceasefire but Moscow appears to be ignoring them.

At the same time, a Georgia minister says their troops are ‘merely regrouping’ and not retreating from South Ossetia. Russian media confirms that, saying Georgia troops have broken through their defenses in Tskhinvali in South Ossetia. So, it certainly sounds like Georgia is ignoring their own cease fire too.

Russia prepares naval blockade of Georgia in the Black Sea.

BP says pipeline still flowing to Georgia ports. However the primary pipeline through Turkey was damaged by a PKK bomb. There are conflicting reports as to whether pipeline and port facilities in Georgia are still intact. Also, as reported here yesterday, Azerbaijan said they would not pump oil until hostilities are over.

Lawyers, Guns, and Money has been posting regular updates on the war and is highly recommended. Check this tidbit from a comment to their post yesterday about the war.

And this is an interesting discussion about how an Ossetian war would go from March, 2008:

http://www.milkavkaz.net/forum/v…c.php?p=190#190

The consensus is blitzkrieg by Georgia would be the best bet.

So obviously, this scenario that we see here has already been thought out by both sides of this conflict if an analysis of the tactics that Georgia might have used on the attack, and actually did use, was already being discussed on russian language forums four months ago.

I guess this is only a surprise to the 99.9 percent of the world that wasn’t paying attention.

No Comments »

The good news: Commidity prices, including oil, are falling

The bad news: It’s because worldwide recession is lessening demand.

No Comments »