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Ear to the Ground

Russia to Georgia: OK, We’ll Leave. But …

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Posted on Sep 3, 2008
Russian Tanks in South Ossetia
AP photo / Musa Sadulayev

Russian tanks, shown here in South Ossetia, may disappear from Georgia if that nation accepts Russian demands.

Russia announced Wednesday its willingness to withdraw its remaining troops from Georgia if, and only if, some conditions were met: one, bring international peacekeepers in to replace Russian soldiers and, two, Georgia must sign nonaggression pacts with South Ossetia and Abkhazia.


The Guardian:

Russia will withdraw its troops from the “buffer zone” it has created in Georgia when they are replaced by international peacekeepers and once the Georgian government has signed non-aggression pacts with the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Moscow’s ambassador to London, Yuri Fedotov said today.

Speaking just before the arrival of the US vice-president, Dick Cheney, in Georgia, Fedotov said he “deplored” the severe criticism of Russia voiced by Gordon Brown and David Miliband in recent days. He also claimed to have repeatedly warned Britain’s Foreign Office about the worsening crisis in Georgia in the months leading up to the conflict that broke out on August 7. He said he had been assured that the Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili was “under control” and would not instigate a conflict. The Foreign Office rejected his account.

“I think the European Union is knocking at an open door,” Fedotov said. “I’m not in a position to anticipate the outcome of Monday’s discussion, but if the EU proposes a very clear plan on how to prevent a potential confrontation and further shelling in the territory of South Ossetia ... then its not difficult to deploy 200 or 400 people in the zones and to allow Russia to withdraw its personnel. It depends on political will.”

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By Tony Wicher, September 4 at 8:22 am #

By yours truly, September 3 at 1:31 pm #

We Owe Russia

Now that Russia has stopped the U.S. at its border, it’s up to us to dismantle Empire-USA.  How?  By electing a president who’ll work with Congress and us to do just that plus turning things around here at home.  Yes we can.
---------------------------------------------------
Now you’re talking!!!!!

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By kath cantarella, September 4 at 12:29 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Russian leaders are showing a great deal of common sense here. It’s a pity the US is currently run by idiots.

If there were international peacekeepers in Georgia from day one, this would never have happened.

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By Irene, September 3 at 11:41 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

When my granddaughter returned to Tampa,Fl after visiting me in Russia, she was met by her friends with the exclamations of awe! Oh, she was in Russia when the Russian bear attacked small Georgia! Was it dangerous and scary? Were there tanks on the streets? Yah… In St.Petersburg, Russia she hasn’t noticed any war preparations! grin
It is sad how media nowadays is ruling the opinion of the masses! Has my granddaughter stayed in the USA last August, she would never become aware of the media manipulations of the world.
Thanks for the sites like this, readers can still find the alternatives to the official versions of truth.

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By yours truly, September 3 at 1:31 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

We Owe Russia

Now that Russia has stopped the U.S. at its border, it’s up to us to dismantle Empire-USA.  How?  By electing a president who’ll work with Congress and us to do just that plus turning things around here at home.  Yes we can.

Report this

By Oceana, September 3 at 11:43 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

What Russia has done and is doing seems to me to be eminently reasonable.  Imagine if the former Soviet Union had fomented discord on America’s borders, and had wanted a Canadian province, say Saskatchewan, to join the Warsaw Pact?

Saakashvili is nuts, as are his cronies Bush/Cheney who created this mess.

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By thebeerdoctor, September 3 at 11:13 am #

Found this article on this subject, from an Iranian perspective. I hope this long link works:
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=68383&section id=351020101

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By Folktruther, September 3 at 11:08 am #

This appears to be a ploy to delink Europe from the militaristic policy of the US.  The Geogia attack on Ossetia, and Russian peacekeepers, was so demented that 90% of the world and most of Europe, are continuing to edge away from US foreign policy. 

According to Wallenstein, a sophisticated analyst of foreign policy, European leaders are tending to directly negotiate with Russia without the US.  Russia wants to take advantaage of and continue this trend.

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By Aegrus, September 3 at 10:56 am #

Wow, I almost forgot what compromise looks like.

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