http://www.kommersant.com/p-13183/r_538/Russia_Georgia_conflict_U.S._hearings/

Sep. 10, 2008

U.S. Intelligence Sees It Russia’s Way
American intelligence confirms that the latest military actions in
South Ossetia were started by Georgia and Russia’s position in the
conflict was correct, says Republican California Congressman Dana
Rohrabacher. He said the situation reminded him of the Bay of Tonkin
incident, which the U.S. used as a pretext for beginning the war in
Vietnam.
"The Russians are right! We're wrong! Georgia started it, the Russians
ended it," Rohrabacher said at a hearing in the House of
Representatives.

Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried said U.S. intelligence was
still working on an exact chronology of the events of August 7 to
verify Georgian claims that Russian forces were in Roki Tunnel,
linking Russia to South Ossetia, before Georgia attacked. Fried said
that the Bush administration had forcefully and repeatedly warned the
Georgians against beginning military actions against Russia, and he
was unable to say why Georgia chose to ignore that advice.

Nonetheless, Fried acknowledged that supporting Georgia was in U.S.
interests, even if it considers the countries actions foolish.

Russia acknowledged the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on
August 26. Those republics requested that recognition after Georgian
forces almost completely ruined Tskhinvali, the capital of South
Ossetia, in the course of the event of August 8-12. More than 1500
civilians were killed in that time, according to South Ossetian
authorities.

In message 
, 
chatnoir  writes
>http://www.kommersant.com/p-13183/r_538/Russia_Georgia_conflict_U.S._hearings/
>
>Sep. 10, 2008
>
>U.S. Intelligence Sees It Russia’s Way
>American intelligence confirms that the latest military actions in
>South Ossetia were started by Georgia and Russia’s position in the
>conflict was correct, says Republican California Congressman Dana
>Rohrabacher. He said the situation reminded him of the Bay of Tonkin
>incident, which the U.S. used as a pretext for beginning the war in
>Vietnam.
>"The Russians are right! We're wrong! Georgia started it, the Russians
>ended it," Rohrabacher said at a hearing in the House of
>Representatives.

This is not "news" most of us knew this on day 1.

>Russia acknowledged the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on
>August 26. Those republics requested that recognition after Georgian
>forces almost completely ruined Tskhinvali, the capital of South
>Ossetia, in the course of the event of August 8-12. More than 1500
>civilians were killed in that time, according to South Ossetian
>authorities.

Who killed the Russian civilians to start it?

BTW I have heard all the shops have run out of ammunition in Alabama 
after they heard the Russians had invaded Georgia :-)

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