Marching through Georgia......

[MKSheppard]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay. ... tion=world

War between Russia and Georgia 'very close'

25.08.2004

War between Russia and Georgia is close, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili warned in a newspaper interview published in Paris.

"We are very close to a war [with Russia], the population must be prepared," he told the Liberation daily.

Georgia pulled troops back from the separatist pro-Moscow region of South Ossetia last week after an unprecedented show of force that infuriated Russia and worried Washington.

South Ossetia falls within Georgian borders but is inhabited mainly by ethnic Ossetians. The province has demanded independence or rule from Moscow.

[Pablo Sanchez]

What about Abkhazia?

[darthdavid]

For some reason I thought this thread was about Sherman's march to the sea when I saw it.

[DPDarkPrimus]

Er, is this the same Georgia that hasn't purchased a single tank or military aircraft since 1991?

[Gandalf]

How long could Georgia last if Russia invaded?

Let's call the Dzugashivilis, they'd know what to do.

[BlkbrryTheGreat]

How long could Georgia last if Russia invaded?

Probably as long as it takes to refill a tank on the move.

[Vympel]

War between Russia and Georgia is close, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili warned in a newspaper interview published in Paris.

"We are very close to a war [with Russia], the population must be prepared," he told the Liberation daily.

This guy is a fucking nut.

Georgia pulled troops back from the separatist pro-Moscow region of South Ossetia last week after an unprecedented show of force that infuriated Russia and worried Washington.

Funny that the article doesn't mention the SO's kicked their arse.

What about Abkhazia?

Well, last I heard Georgia was threatening to sink boats carrying Russian tourists to Abkhazia, which is a clear act of piracy. I don't know if this continues. I've posted before about the "Russification" of Abkhazia.

[Sea Skimmer]

Er, is this the same Georgia that hasn't purchased a single tank or military aircraft since 1991?

Russia hasn't exactly done much of that either, and Georgia did inherit the equipment of a complete Soviet Army when the Union broke up. Any invasion would be extremely blood and protracted, look at how long it took to suppress the Chechens, and they had less rugged terrain and far less heavy equipment. The fact that a large segment of the Georgian Army was recently trained by US Special Forces would also ensure that resistance would be quite effective. However war is very unlikely, and the worst the Russians are remotly likely to do is occupy a few northern mountain valleys to search for Chechen base areas, then withdraw.

[Raptor 597]

Hmm, well the Georgians have been killing Cossacks and other "freedom fighters"; I'm not surprised this happened.

[Vympel]

Russia hasn't exactly done much of that either, and Georgia did inherit the equipment of a complete Soviet Army when the Union broke up.

That's true, but unfortunately they also inherited a virtually non-existent air force of no potency whatsoever (their only significant combatants are their tiny Su-25 force) and sweet f-all air defences besides MANPADS. A lot of that Army equipment was/is also

a- destroyed due to some treaty stipulations
b- under the control of the Russians

Any invasion would be extremely blood and protracted, look at how long it took to suppress the Chechens, and they had less rugged terrain and far less heavy equipment.

That's only because the Chechens fought like insurgents- I can picture the Georgians being arrogant enough that they could win an actual stand up fight.

The fact that a large segment of the Georgian Army was recently trained by US Special Forces would also ensure that resistance would be quite effective. However war is very unlikely, and the worst the Russians are remotly likely to do is occupy a few northern mountain valleys to search for Chechen base areas, then withdraw.

Well, the most likely scenario is Georgia trying to use its US-trained forces to take back Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Of course, the US has insisted that they not be used for this, and even if they were, they'd still be annihilated in detail.

[Sarevok]

How long could Georgia last if Russia invaded?

Let's call the Dzugashivilis, they'd know what to do.

The Geogian conventional military would be crushed by the Russians. But the insurgency in the aftermath of the invasion could become bloody and costly for Russians. Just look at Iraq and Chechneya.

[Kazuaki Shimazaki]

http://blacksea.free.fr/index.php?itemI ... =ShowItems

In charge of the battalion of 558 Georgian troops now being schooled at Krtsanisi is Lieutenant Lasha Beridze. The lanky 24-year-old is fluent in English, has trained at Fort Benning, Ga., and is about to get his own Green Berets patch. "We"re the future of the Georgian army," he says. Participants in the U.S. training program are paid well, too--$200 a month for a volunteer private, compared with just $20 for a conscript in the regular army.

The Georgian Army is in such poor and corrupt state it has to push a lieutenant to battalion commander. Now, the Russian Army ain't a paragon of readiness, but I just don't see how the Georgian Army, even with US help, can even put up a decent fight.

About how much Force can Russia front against this these days anyway?