Independent journalism ace Michael Totten is "in Baku, Azerbaijan, and heading to Georgia in two days." These are shameful times to be an American, having to sit by and watch the rape of Georgia. Totten’s work won’t change that, but at least it will give focus to it. I contribute to his work, and enjoy his eye for detail. You should consider contributing, as well, at the link above.
Via Instapundit.
UPDATE: Totten’s first report from Tbilisi is a good ‘un. And he’s promised another one.
Are the Russians still in Gori, or have they left Gori? Have they agreed to leave Gori, or have they refused to leave Gori? The MSM is all over the place on those questions, trying to be authoritative when they obviously have no idea what is going on. Probably because the Pentagon, despite repositioning spy satellites to see what’s going on, doesn’t know, either.
Via Small Wars Journal.
Military historian Victor Davis Hanson succinctly wraps up the Russian bear’s aims and abilities, and why, under the present circumstances, we really can’t do anything very impressive to stop it. Grrrr.
MORE: The bear, indeed, is on the march, and we will pay for our inattention, and Bush’s amazing naivete about the mass-murderer he likes to call Pooti. If nothing else, the Georgian invasion and rape should be another nail in the coffin of Baby Barry’s soft-power ambitions.
"But we will defend the freedom of our country, the independence of our country – with our teeth, to the last drop of blood. God bless each of us. God bless the freedom of Georgia. God bless our soldiers, our heroes. Long live Georgia." –Georgian president Saakashvili.
The first of many brave words we can expect to hear as the Russians, emboldened by oil and gas profits, reclaim their empire.
UPDATE: Russia will "stop" with conditions, including Saakashvili’s resignation. AP says Bush demanded withdrawal and, "hours later" Russian President Dmitri Medvedev ordered a halt. But that’s too simple, not to mention unbelievable. How long will it take for the truth to come out? Not to mention for gluing the Smiley Face back on the bear?
The best joke I’ve seen is that the Russians won’t make it past Macon, let alone enter Atlanta. But the Russian invasion of the other Georgia, our ally on the other side of the world which sent two thousand troops to Iraq, really isn’t funny. It’s quite a bit of food for thought. It seems obvious to me that we will do nothing, other than prattle about condemnation and seek meaningless resolutions from the Dictator’s Club.
Not because our military is weak, despite its being well committed already, but because our society is weak, and has no stomach for war with Russia, whatever they do with Georgia, Ukraine or any of their other former "colonies." As to all that, Richard Fernandez, author of the Belmont Club blog, and his stalwart commenters are among the best sources available on what’s happening and what it is all likely to mean in the future. See also this column by military writer Ralph Peters.
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