Bob McCarty Writes

Fox News just reported that government officials in the former Soviet state of Georgia said, “Russia has declared war on us.” Nighttime video footage of a Georgian air base being bombed by Russian aircraft followed. Developing…

UPDATE #1:

Below is a CNN video report on the breaking news conflict. It features video from Russia’s Channel One television and includes mention of Russian tanks, artillery and mortar attacks in addition to the previously-mentioned aerial assaults.

UPDATE #2:

Bloomberg reports: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said “war has started” in the breakaway region of South Ossetia while Georgia accused Russia of “a well-planned invasion” and appealed to world leaders for help.

More to come…

UPDATE #3:

Russia Today offers some background on the conflict in this story as well as a video report (below) of the conflict between Russian and Georgian troops. Be advised that the objectivity of Russia Today is extremely suspect (i.e., more pro-Putin than pro-capitalism) as evidenced by the slant of some of the articles on the Russia Today home page:

More to come…

UPDATE #4:

Here’s a link to some Fox News “fast facts” about South Ossetia.

UPDATE #5:

Below is the text of a U.S. Department of State press statement issued July 14, 2008:

Georgia: Escalation of Violence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia

The United States is concerned by the recent escalation in violence in the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and calls upon all sides to return to direct negotiations and resolve their differences peacefully. We are deeply troubled by Russia’s statement that its military aircraft deliberately violated Georgia’s internationally recognized borders by flying over Georgia’s region of South Ossetia. Such actions raise questions about Russia’s role as peacekeeper and facilitator of the negotiations and threaten stability throughout the entire region.

We urge all members of the international community, including Russia, to support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as called for by numerous UN Security Council resolutions, including, most recently, USNCR 1808 in April 2008. The United States fully supports and is actively engaged in the Friends of the Secretary General process and believes that the efforts of the Friends group will lead to a settlement of the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

UPDATE #6:

See also these two new posts:

John McCain Understands Vladimir Putin

Propaganda Accompanies Russian Attack

UPDATE #7:

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer issued this statement on the latest events in South Ossetia:

The NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, is seriously concerned about the events that are taking place in the Georgian region of South Ossetia and said that the Alliance is closely following the situation.

The Secretary General calls on all sides for an immediate end of the armed clashes and direct talks between the parties

UPDATE #8:

In a just-added YouTube video, Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili pleads for intervention of western governments and views Russia as a threat to democracy. [Note: Video features static photo of the Georgian president, therefore, I didn't include an image in this update.]

UPDATE #9:

See also Editorial: ‘Day of Reckoning in Georgia

UPDATE #10:

See also Video: Georgia in State of War with Russia

UPDATE #11:

See also Russia ‘Ready for Peace’ with Georgia

UPDATE #12:

Vladimir Putin’s Anti-West Actions Chronicled

UPDATE #13:

Bush ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Fighting in Georgia

UPDATE #14:

Images Show ‘State of War’ in Georgia