Putin was at a meeting with U.S. President Bush in Beijing, where they attended a luncheon for world leaders hosted by the Chinese president ahead of the Olympics, which begin Friday.
"There are lots of volunteers being gathered in the region, and it's very hard to withhold them from taking part. A real war is going on," Putin said, according to his spokesman, Dmitry Peskov.
Russian peacekeepers are in South Ossetia under a 1992 agreement by Russian, Georgian, and South Ossetian authorities to maintain what has been a fragile peace. The mixed peacekeeping force also includes Georgian and South Ossetian troops.
"The Georgian leadership has launched a dirty adventure," said a statement from Russia's Defense Ministry on Friday. "We will not leave our peacekeepers and Russian citizens unprotected."
Saakashvili said the Russian invasion of South Ossetia was pre-planned.
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"These troops that are in Georgia now -- they didn't come unexpectedly," the president told CNN. "They had been amassing at the border for the last few months. They claimed they were staging exercises there and as soon as a suitable pretext was found, they moved in."
It seems like our controlled media is blacking this out as well. I'm watching stories about Bill Clinton's role at the convention, Dick Cheney to speak at the RNC, Detroit Mayor Jailed, Israel pressuring Iran.
Nothing about Georgia. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
...or deny our greedy asses one...
SOUTH OSSETIA TIMELINE
1991-92 S Ossetia fights war to break away from newly independent Georgia; Russia enforces truce
2004 Mikhail Saakashvili elected Georgian president, promising to recover lost territories
2006 S Ossetians vote for independence in unofficial referendum
April 2008 Russia steps up ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia
July 2008 Russia admits flying jets over S Ossetia; Russia and Georgia accuse each other of military build-up
7 August 2008 After escalating Georgian-Ossetian clashes, sides agree to ceasefire
8 August 2008 Heavy fighting erupts overnight, Georgian forces close on Tskhinvali
cnn just now... full "values" propaganda from Georgia president saying that Russia is attacking USA values. Now talking heads are saying Georgia is part of Americas interest. Basically saying we should go and help.
cnn just now... full "values" propaganda from Georgia president saying that Russia is attacking USA values. Now talking heads are saying Georgia is part of Americas interest. Basically saying we should go and help.
Richard Holbrook just said on CNN that the U.S. needs to take the lead in defending Georgia.
Wow, the US actually has a chance to aid Georgia in a legitimate "Just war" of self-defense.
Richard Holbrook just said on CNN that the U.S. needs to take the lead in defending Georgia.
Richard Holbrook just said on CNN that the U.S. needs to take the lead in defending Georgia.