Georgia to Impose Martial Law, Port Bombed-Official

TBILISI, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will declare martial law in a few hours time, the secretary of Georgia's Security Council said early on Saturday.

"The president is going to declare a state of martial law within a few hours," Kakha Lomaia told Reuters. "Russia has bombed the (Black Sea) port of Poti and the military base at Senaki. We think Russia has started to bomb civil and economic infrastructure." (Reporting by James Kilner; writing by Conor Sweeney)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L8218534.htm

It's war, alright.

I went to work late and came home early.

Things have gotten very bad there, very quickly.

I rushed dinner to get back to coverage and we had a dinner date tonight. lol

Hi! Eat! See ya!!

While Russian tanks and troops move into South Ossetia to push out Georgian troops from South Ossetia, the Russian air force will continue to bomb Georgian troop positions.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0809/p25s28-woeu.html

The rebels were being encouraged and supported by Russia, however. It was aggressive and reckless for Georgia AND Russia, IMO. It went off like a match to kindling.

Georgia likely felt they could take down South Ossetia in one day before Russia could respond fast enough, but they obviously underestimated Russian force strength just across the border. The only reason NATO would be involved is because Europe is looking for new sources of oil around Russia rather than through Russia or through territory that is pro-Russia. I'm guessing the Russians calculated long ago that the Georgians would invade, thus their quick response.

I don't expect Georgia to come out the victor as far as holding onto South Ossetia by force, though. Russia is weaker than it was from the old Soviet days, but its military machine is still likely the second strongest in the world behind the US. Hopefully, Russian troops will stop when they reach the Georgian border, unless they want Chechnya 2, basically.

you must be referring to the Georgian border with South Ossetia? Technically Russia is well into Georgia, as the line is recognized now. Russian is violating much of Georgia's airspace in the meantime.

Technically, the red line was between North Ossetia and South Ossetia, since Europe feels South Ossetia belongs to Georgia. Russian troops on South Ossetia soil would be seen by Europe and the US as no different than if Russian troops were in Georgia's own capital city. Regardless, it would be wise for Russian forces not to advance beyond South Ossetia deeper into Georgian territory. Not even Russia claims land beyond South Ossetia is theirs.