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Russia agrees to Truce, Blows up key Georgian Bridge

by René | August 17, 2008 at 04:16 pm

265 views | 14 Recommendations | 9 comments

This doesn't sound like a truce to me.

A key railway bridge was blown up by Russia and its allied forces, effectively severing all east-west transportation routes within Georgia, officials said.

Russia denies destroying the railroad bridge that connects Georgia's east with its Black Sea ports. Russian troops appear to be digging in for a long stay.

By Megan K. Stack, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 17, 2008

» Discuss Article (1103 Comments)

IGOETI, GEORGIA -- Even as Russia signed a cease-fire agreement with Georgia on Saturday, its troops destroyed a key railroad bridge that links the Caucasus region to the Black Sea coast, cutting off east-west transportation routes through the country, the Georgian Foreign Ministry announced.

Russia denied blowing up the bridge, calling the charge "another unverified allegation" in the wake of large-scale fighting over a pro-Moscow separatist republic. A Los Angeles Times photographer traveling in the area Saturday saw explosives attached to the underbelly of a nearby railroad bridge, but it was still intact.

That photographer submitted the photo of the destroyed bridge to the LA Times.

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BigT

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:51 on August 20th, 2008

René, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Yeah, that's one hell of a truce they signed. I wonder how this would work: I promise not to punch you in the face but I'll punch you in the nose. Probably wouldn't work all that well.

René

at 19:10 on August 20th, 2008

Just compare the two forces, too:

Overmatched Comparative size of Russian, Georgian armed forces.

Military spending Russia's military budget is equivalent to about $40 billion this year, compared with Georgia's $997 million.

Strength Russia has 1.1 million soldiers, Georgia has 37,000.

Arsenals The Russian armed forces have about 6,000 tanks and 1,700 combat aircraft. Georgia has 230 tanks and 12 combat aircraft.

René

at 19:31 on August 20th, 2008

Not only that the Russians seized four US Humvees planned to be shipped back to the Us after taking over the port of Poti. Bet they were gleeful about that! And then they blew up one of Georgia's top ships and are planning to open all the containers in the port. (for more looting?)