Saakashvilli seems to be determined to bite off more than he can chew and mishandle the situation as far as possible. It seems incredible that he seems to expect material support from the US to fight this ugly conflict. Hitting Russian peacekeepers, whether or not they were supporting Ossetian rebels, is a really foolish mistake diplomatically. Is the most likely scenario for Russia to become formally involved in the governing of S Ossetia and for it to become de facto a part of the Russian Federation?
Jane’s reported this morning it was the Georgians who struck first, apparently “to fully restore its control over the entire separatist territory, rather than a continuation of the sporadic tit-for-tat violence seen in the region over recent years. Georgian forces have mobilised its reserves and launched the attack using tanks, heavy artillery, Grad multiple-barrel rocket launchers and Su-25 attack aircraft in support of its infantry.” From the point of view of Georgia and almost all other countries, the "disputed" territories are part of Georgia, so it can argue it is within its rights to do this. But progress was apparently being made to end the hostilities. If Georgia chose to start this, now, Georgia has been remarkably stupid.
Any bets on how much the price of oil is going to jump?
The BTC pipeline is already shut down due to a PKK attack in Turkey. So, no immediate impact on supplies. Also the BTC in terms of total volume is pretty small: less than 1mil barrels per day, whereas US consumption alone is over 20mil barrels per day.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/ne...ag&
refer=energy
Russia DID NOT ATTACK Georgia! 07.08.2008 at 22:00 Georgia has attacked South Ossetia. At 3:30 08.08.2008 tanks of the Georgian armies have entered into city Tskhinvali. Artillery bombardment all the day long proceeded, fights with use of tanks and heavy combat material, both against ossetic armies, and against peace inhabitants were conducted. 1400 civil people already were lost. The Russian peacemakers have arrived to South Ossetia in the evening 08.08.2008 for settlement of the conflict and prompting of the world in republic and protection of the Russian citizens living on territory of South Ossetia. Georgia has attacked South Ossetia on eve of Olympiad, it is top of cruelty and cynicism. Proofs and video-materials look on : www.1tvrus.com/ , www.1tv.ru/owa/win/ort6_main.main , www.rian.ru/ , www.vesti.ru/news , news.ntv.ru/ , www.ren-tv.com/ , www.newsru.com/ .We shall tell is not present to WAR!!!
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