South Ossetia

[Abbyy]

I do not understand why western media keeps complete silence about heating up region of South Ossetia which seems to become very hot in the nearest future.

Only explanation I see is a conspiracy theory about Western intents to blame Russia in everything that will happen. Silence at present time is required just because at this moment it is obvoius that Georgian authorities are completely responsible in sparked tensions.

[RuSoKaR]

Well it is far away from them, They just don't care but after all it will be fault of Russian peacekeeping forces while Georgia is the one who strated all that mess...

PS and guess where Georgian anti-terrorist forces which were trained by Americans will be fighting :cantbeli:


Georgian don't like the current situation, so they will DO EVERYTHING that is possible to change it :roll:

[SeanAshi]

Only explanation I see is a conspiracy theory about Western intents to blame Russia in everything that will happen.Why is it okay for Russia to assianate Chechen terrorist and its not okay when Israel assianate's Palestinian terrorist? Double standard perhaps....

[MEGR]

US media is too concerned about Iraq, and the War on Terror, and Bush, and gay marriage, and Laci Peterson, Israel/Palestine and well.. Maybe not John Kerry. I would definately like to know more though about what's going on here. Could you link me to a news story?

[Chuckie]

Well it is far away from them, They just don't care but after all it will be fault of Russian peacekeeping forces while Georgia is the one who strated all that mess...

PS and guess where Georgian anti-terrorist forces which were trained by Americans will be fighting :cantbeli:


Georgian don't like the current situation, so they will DO EVERYTHING that is possible to change it :roll:

I think until a few months ago, the US soldiers were still in Georgia training the troops to deal with the terrorists from Chechnya. They may still be there, haven't heard much about it.

[Kilgor]

Only explanation I see is a conspiracy theory about Western intents to blame Russia in everything that will happen.Why is it okay for Russia to assianate Chechen terrorist and its not okay when Israel assianate's Palestinian terrorist? Double standard perhaps....

because the left hates jews...

I walk through my city and see the typical "socalist alliance" stands handing out their usual garbage and papers. Its always about middle east situation and never about wars such as chechenya.

It doesnt matter if more lives have been lost in chechnya than iraq 1&2 and the israeli situation combined... It has nothing to further their political situation and therefore kept quiet about

[Beowulf]

"Welcome to Tblisi gentleman, hope you got plenty of shuteye on the flight fom Bragg"

[Flagg]

I do not understand why western media keeps complete silence about heating up region of South Ossetia which seems to become very hot in the nearest future.

Only explanation I see is a conspiracy theory about Western intents to blame Russia in everything that will happen. Silence at present time is required just because at this moment it is obvoius that Georgian authorities are completely responsible in sparked tensions.

The media don't care because:

A.) It's not a big enough story yet
B.) There's a limit to the # of issues that the media can cover in depth that must be prioritized for the news consumers.
C.) All of the above

I keep abreast of as much as I can globally, but there's a LIMIT to how much each person can handle...right now I'm up to my eyeballs in other stuff.

I assume(safely, I believe) that those that need to are keeing a close eye on the region, even if the media aren't.

Why do I believe this?

For two reasons:

1.) To try and prevent localized conflicts from spilling into a regional conflict and destabilizing the region.

2.) Oil.....the combined 'Stans have a heap of it, as yet mostly untapped, and existing/planned pipelines are, I assume, carefully watched as are the regions they pass through.

[Chuckie]

I do not understand why western media keeps complete silence about heating up region of South Ossetia which seems to become very hot in the nearest future.

Only explanation I see is a conspiracy theory about Western intents to blame Russia in everything that will happen. Silence at present time is required just because at this moment it is obvoius that Georgian authorities are completely responsible in sparked tensions.

The media don't care because:

A.) It's not a big enough story yet
B.) There's a limit to the # of issues that the media can cover in depth that must be prioritized for the news consumers.
C.) All of the above

I keep abreast of as much as I can globally, but there's a LIMIT to how much each person can handle...right now I'm up to my eyeballs in other stuff.

I assume(safely, I believe) that those that need to are keeing a close eye on the region, even if the media aren't.

Why do I believe this?

For two reasons:

1.) To try and prevent localized conflicts from spilling into a regional conflict and destabilizing the region.

2.) Oil.....the combined 'Stans have a heap of it, as yet mostly untapped, and existing/planned pipelines are, I assume, carefully watched as are the regions they pass through.

I think another factor is that most American's have no idea what's going on in that part of the world (or the whole world for that matter). I follow current affairs pretty closely and I can barely make out what's going on in Georgia.

I'd even go so far as to say that there's a certain percentage of people that don't even know Georgia is a country and not just a US state! (I know sad but true)

[Bombtrack]

Where's the rest of Ossetia during all of this?

[Nizark]

because the left hates jews...

wow, that was one of the most ignorant comments I have ever heard[/quote]

[Secret Squirrel]

I do not understand why western media keeps complete silence about heating up region of South Ossetia which seems to become very hot in the nearest future.

Only explanation I see is a conspiracy theory about Western intents to blame Russia in everything that will happen. Silence at present time is required just because at this moment it is obvoius that Georgian authorities are completely responsible in sparked tensions.

What western media are you refering to? You can find Russian news stories on CNN under WORLD, then EUROPE. Or just search for Ossetia on CNN's website. For example...

(CNN) -- The following are some of the major bomb attacks in, near or linked with Chechnya since fighting resumed between Russian forces and Chechen rebels in 1999:

June 7, 2000 - In the first attack of its kind in Chechnya, two Russian OMON special police are killed and five wounded in a suicide car-bombing in the village of Alkhan-Yurt, southwest of the regional capital Grozny.

July 2-3, 2000 - Chechen guerrillas launch five suicide bomb attacks on bases of Russian security forces within 24 hours. In the deadliest, at least 54 people are killed at a police commando dormitory in Argun, near Grozny. The Russian interior ministry for Chechnya based in Gudermes is also targeted. Six Russian troops are killed.

December 27, 2002 - Chechen suicide bombers ram vehicles into the local government headquarters in Grozny, bringing down the roof and floors of the four-storey building. Chechen officials say about 80 people killed.

May 12, 2003 - Two suicide bombers drive a truck full of explosives into a government administration and security complex in Znamenskoye, in northern Chechnya. Fifty-nine people are killed, and scores hurt.

May 14, 2003 - At least 16 people are killed in a suicide bomb attack during a religious festival in the town of Iliskhan-Yurt, east of Grozny. 145 are wounded.

June 5, 2003 - A woman bomber ambushes a bus carrying Russian air force pilots near Chechnya, blowing it up and killing herself and 18 other people.

July 5, 2003 - Two women suicide bombers kill 15 other people when they blow themselves apart at an open-air rock festival at Moscow's Tushino airfield. 60 are injured.

August 1, 2003 - A suicide bomber driving a truck packed with explosives blows up a military hospital in the town of Mozdok in North Ossetia bordering Chechnya. The blast kills at least 50.

September 3, 2003 - Six people are killed in an explosion on board a commuter train near the Northern Caucasus spa town of Pyatigorsk, but police say it is not the work of Chechen rebels.

December 5, 2003 - An explosion tears through a morning commuter train just outside Yessentuki station in the Stavropol region north of Chechnya. At least 36 people are killed and more than 150 injured.

February 6, 2004 - A powerful bomb rips through a packed Moscow subway train during the morning rush hour, killing 41 people.

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/05/09/chechnya.bombs.timeline/index.html

And for some more recent...

VLADIKAVKAZ, Russia (AP) -- An explosion hit the motorcade of Chechnya's acting president on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding three others, officials said.

Acting President Sergei Abramov, who took the reins of the violence-plagued region when its president was assassinated in May, was not injured in the blast in the Chechen capital Grozny, said Ruslan Atsayev, press secretary of the Chechnya's interior Ministry.

One person was killed and three wounded, he said. The Interfax and ITAR-Tass news agencies reported that the dead victim was one of Abramov's bodyguards. A Chechen government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the victims were not traveling in Abramov's car.

Citing an aide to Abramov, Igor Tarasov, Interfax reported that the explosion occurred as the motorcade was traveling through Grozny's Lenin district, an area where violence is common. Reports differed as to whether Abramov's car had already passed the spot of the explosion or not yet reached it.

Eighteen members of the republic's presidential security service and 24 insurgents were killed in heavy fighting over the past two days, officials said Tuesday. The toll was one of the highest reported in a single clash in many months in Chechnya, where rebels, Russian forces and their Chechen security force allies have been fighting for nearly five years.

Security force head Ramzan Kadyrov, the son of assassinated Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, Interfax that the fighting began late Monday and ended Tuesday morning around the village of Avtury, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) southeast of the Chechen capital Grozny.

Interfax quoted Chechen deputy interior minister Ruslan Alkhanov as saying that 24 rebels were killed and Kadyrov as saying 18 members of the security service had died.

The security force is widely feared in Chechnya, with Chechens and human rights organizations blaming it for abductions and other abuse of civilians.

Rights groups in Moscow said Tuesday that Ingushetia, which borders on Chechnya, was being destabilized by a rising number of abductions, and they accused Russian forces of complicity.

Some observers suggest Ingush authorities are complicit or give tacit approval to the seizures, though Ingush President Murat Zyazikov has blamed them on forces in Chechnya.

Oleg Orlov, of the Memorial rights group, said killings of captives are becoming increasingly common, and he alleged that paramilitaries associated with Russian forces have carried out such murders, sometimes at military posts.

"People are being killed not only in military clashes, but also by kidnappers -- unarmed and without resistance," Orlov said. "From any point of view, this can only be considered a crime."

He said that because Russian prosecutors are doing little to investigate, Moscow is losing the support of residents of Ingushetia. Ninety people were killed last month in an overnight militant assault on police installations in the republic.

"With their own hands, Russian special forces can create a wider base of support for militants in Ingushetia than already exists," Orlov said. "Which is what they've already done in Chechnya."

Russian forces have been bogged down in Chechnya since 1999, when they returned after rebel raids on a neighboring Russian region. The Russians fought an unsuccessful 1994-96 war against separatists that left Chechnya de facto independent.

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/07/13/chechnya.fighting.ap/index.html

[2RHPZ]

Security force head Ramzan Kadyrov, the son of assassinated Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, Interfax that the fighting began late Monday and ended Tuesday morning around the village of Avtury, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) southeast of the Chechen capital Grozny.

Interfax quoted Chechen deputy interior minister Ruslan Alkhanov as saying that 24 rebels were killed and Kadyrov as saying 18 members of the security service had died.

18 soldiers of Chechen special forces killed by rebels

07/13/2004 14:31

This has been the biggest loss of Chechen law-enforcers this year, said the first deputy of Chechen Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov.
There is information that that on July 12, 18 federals and 8 Chechen rebels were killed in the combat near Avtury village. Currently the federal forces are following the remains of the rebels" gang (there were 25 people in it).

Federal special forces laid an ambush near Avtury, on the route the rebels could use. After the gang showed up, the federals attacked it. The bandits were leaving the village, and after the federals" attack they retreated into the forest. Artillery strike was conducted on the forest later.

This evening the servicemen of the security force of Chechen President found the ran into the remains of the gang in the outskirts of Avtury. After the short combat, the bandits retreated into the forest as well. The federals found grenades, 4 grenade cup discharges, laser target-pointer, cartridges and many other weapons.

ITAR-TASS quoted Ramsan Kadyrov, in all the operations of Chechen law-enforces against the rebel gangs, 240 Chechen policemen were killed.

http://english.pravda.ru/accidents/21/93/374/13369_Chechen.html

[ArtofPain]

Only explanation I see is a conspiracy theory about Western intents to blame Russia in everything that will happen.Why is it okay for Russia to assianate Chechen terrorist and its not okay when Israel assianate's Palestinian terrorist? Double standard perhaps....
5 years ago it was vice versa! ;)

[ArtofPain]

to Secret Squirrel:
The fresh news aren't it? :lol:

[jedisponge]

"Welcome to Tblisi gentleman, hope you got plenty of shuteye on the flight fom Bragg"

another ghost recon fan ... yub yub

[Beowulf]

"Welcome to Tblisi gentleman, hope you got plenty of shuteye on the flight fom Bragg"

another ghost recon fan ... yub yub

was starting to wonder if anyone would get it... p-)

[Abbyy]

I was right. Media going to represent this as good guys vs bad guys with Georgians at role of good guys. Just read:


In a separate incident yesterday, South Ossetian forces entered Vanati, a small village populated by Georgians, and detained and disarmed a group of Georgian peacekeepers stationed there.

THEY WEREN'T PEACEKEEPERS!!!

[jedisponge]

"Welcome to Tblisi gentleman, hope you got plenty of shuteye on the flight fom Bragg"

another ghost recon fan ... yub yub

was starting to wonder if anyone would get it... p-)

p-)

[RomanS]

"Welcome to Tblisi gentleman, hope you got plenty of shuteye on the flight fom Bragg"

Hey I worked on that!

[mike0000]

I was right. Media going to represent this as good guys vs bad guys with Georgians at role of good guys. Just read:


In a separate incident yesterday, South Ossetian forces entered Vanati, a small village populated by Georgians, and detained and disarmed a group of Georgian peacekeepers stationed there.

THEY WEREN'T PEACEKEEPERS!!!

Actually - they are. From an INTERFAX article:
"The Mixed Peacekeeping Forces composed of a Russian, a Georgian, and a South Ossetian battalions, each having 500 servicemen, have been stationed in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone since 1992, and the servicemen are deployed at 12 outposts. "

http://www.interfax.com/com?id=5739465&item=Geor

Someone else asked earlier "Where's the rest of Ossetia during all of this?"

North Ossetia is part of Russia (hence real or percieved Russian support for South Ossetian independence from Georgia (and subsequent consolidation with North Ossetia.

[Whisper_44]

"Welcome to Tblisi gentleman, hope you got plenty of shuteye on the flight fom Bragg"

another ghost recon fan ... yub yub

was starting to wonder if anyone would get it... p-)

I just got here late..we are on the same page... rofl

[Bombtrack]

Why is only "south" ossetia breaking away, i dont get it

[mike0000]

Why is only "south" ossetia breaking away, i dont get it

North Ossetia is currently part of Russia; South Ossetia is part of Georgia. The Ossetians appear (from their activity) to prefer being part of Russia.

[RuSoKaR]

I was right. Media going to represent this as good guys vs bad guys with Georgians at role of good guys. Just read:


In a separate incident yesterday, South Ossetian forces entered Vanati, a small village populated by Georgians, and detained and disarmed a group of Georgian peacekeepers stationed there.

THEY WEREN'T PEACEKEEPERS!!!

Actually - they are. From an INTERFAX article:
"The Mixed Peacekeeping Forces composed of a Russian, a Georgian, and a South Ossetian battalions, each having 500 servicemen, have been stationed in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone since 1992, and the servicemen are deployed at 12 outposts. "

http://www.interfax.com/com?id=5739465&item=Geor




Well that is a peacekeeping force, while those were Georgians from internal army (or what ever you call it), but South Ossetians had no right to arrest then either. But most of those Georgians didn't have any documents with them :cantbeli:

So they violated that agreement by entering their troops over there, but even before that they confiscated 3 trucks georgian army men, they are not even allowed to be in South Ossetia

[2RHPZ]

D Slavovich Ratz: 18 soldiers of Chechen special forces killed by terrorists RESPONSE

07/14/2004 15:55

I don't understand, where do Chechen terrorists get "grenades, 4 grenade cup discharges, laser target-pointer, cartridges, and many other weapons". Are there laser target-pointer factories in Grozny? There was talk like two years ago about Russian army resorting to using WWII ammunition because of low supplies. Where do terrorists get so much diversified, ample, technologically advanced weaponry?

Middle Eastern people stand out like a sore thumb in Russia. Before entry is allowed they undergo inspections, documents surrounding them are checked, and once in Russia they draw attention. I haven't seen any report about 'weapons find' that was going through Kazakhstan to Russia. It seems to always be 'weapons find' by Republic of Georgia. I don't see how these murderers get these weapons within our country, because supplies are stretched as is. So clearly all evidence points to Georgian border. Why is it not successfully cut off?
We are at the fifth year in the war and we can't cut off a small border? I'm confused.

The only things that came to mind is during Russian absence forests in the area were supplied with weapons and camouflaged. Then the question stands, are we out in the forests with metal detectors? With the billions we are spending on military and defense what's a 100 million to layout cameras through the forest there? Come night the night-vision cameras would kick in. During fog info-red would show the enemy. Even if the murderers cover themselves from a fire extinguisher to cool of and not give off any info-red, and try to get their hands on the weapons during fog to avoid night vision, the sound wave camera would still give their movements away anyway. These cameras can be intermixed
and be throughout the forest. Also are the Russian troops wearing bullet proof vests? Americans mentioned that there would be 25% less casualties in Iraq if American soldiers wore vests. Something really cost effective is the yellow sun-glasses that enhance vision. Serbs are buying sun glasses for their dogs in Serbia, the least we could do is extend the benefit to human soldiers.

D Slavovich Ratz
Russian Investor
Sacramento, California, USA