Georgia Update: Who'll Stop The Rain
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Because a rainy night in Georgia could well mean it rains all over the world.
This one will be short as I am out of time this morning, and I am going to be spending a bit of time when I can today trying to track down confirmation on report of SS-21's (hat tip The Jawa Report) being deployed by Russia into Georgia.
You can find some decent info on the SS-21 here and here. Short version: short ranged (20-120km roughly) missile that can carry conventional warhead, mines/mine dispersal unit, chemical, and the AA60 tactical nuclear warhead. They are not terribly accurate, with a Circular Error Probability (CEP) of approximately 160 meters (i.e., they are not pinpoint weapons) The chemical and nuclear components are most troubling, and are why I am trying to get more information and confirmation on this report.
That said, the rest of the news is not good. Russia is not honoring the cease fire (no surprise) and has moved into P'oti and other cities to destroy military installations and may be conducting other operations as well.
Humanitarian aid is arriving, and one can hope for more. Right now, Old Europe has not significantly engaged, leaving Poland, Ukraine, and some of the Baltics to lead. Note that you don't see much, if anything, about what these and other former Soviet states are saying and doing in support of Georgia in the major media. Again, you need to hit the following or news and blogs in those countries to get even a taste:
Baltic Times
Civil.Ge
The Messenger Blog
The Messenger Newspaper
Scraps of Moscow
All About Latvia
Lex Libertas
foreign notes
Registan.net
Novayagazeta
Yezhednevny zhurnal
Global Voices
The 8th Circle
A Fistful of Euros
Nosemonkey's EUtopia
Wu Wei
Here is a list of Blackfive posts dealing with the Russian invasion of Georgia:
This Can't Be Good!
US Troops in Georgia not in Harm''s Way...Yet
No, It'sNot Good At All
While the EU and NATO Fiddle...
The Devil Went To Georgia
For Georgia
Georgia On My Mind
The Lights Stay On In Georgia?
Georgian Soldiers In Iraq
Here are some other milblogs that are covering this:
Argghhh!
Milblogs (some excellent Kosovo analysis)
Op-For
LW
UPDATE: I've been meaning to say Thank You! to all those who have left such cogent analysis, interesting links, and other solid information here. Some of that I hope to expand in the next few days, so stay tuned.