This was a last-minute change of direction, after the US embassy in Tbilisi said Tuesday, Aug. 26, that the two warships delivering aid to Georgia Wednesday would put in at the Black Sea port of Poti, irrespective of the Russian decision to search all incoming cargoes.
The two ships, the US Coast Guard cutter Dallas and the command and control USS Mount Whitney , docked at Batumi, which is controlled by Georgia. The latter is equipped with facilities for commanding sea, land and air combat operations.
DEBKAfile’s military sources: This abrupt U-turn represents a striking American falling-back in the face of Russia’s determined hard line. To avoid an inevitable clash, the US has clearly gone back on its resolve to break Russia’s illegal naval, ground and armored grip on the Georgian port of Poti and to establish a Black Sea naval presence.
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Russian military chiefs have charged that US aid consignments for Georgia by sea, which could just as easily been delivered by air as warships, were a cover for new arms deliveries to Georgia. Russian checkpoints have been posted in and around Poti for searches.
The first of the three US aid warships, the USS McFaul , docked at Batumi Saturday to avoid friction with the Russians at Poti. Our sources report the vessel carried 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of striking land and sea targets.
In Moscow, DEBKAfile’s military sources report, Capt. Igor Dygalo, deputy commander of the Russian Navy, announced Tuesday that the Moskva missile cruiser would carry out a naval exercise on the Black Sea.
The Russians are clearly marking out their control of this inland sea against US and NATO challenges. Capt. Dygalo said the Moskva would practice its wire-guided weapons, communications and missile guidance systems. The exercise will no doubt interfere with the movements of NATO vessels, as clearly intended.
Russian Dep. chief of staff Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn spoke Monday, Aug. 25, of nine Western vessels in the Black Sea – 2 American, 4 Turkish and the rest Polish and Spanish. He said their presence was not a cause for concern.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:43 am
Our mature White House & the mature game of chicken.
Chess with Putin…
How sad.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Bush, does not have the brains of a chess player(1st graders confuse him). He fumbles around waiting for a bone like a good chicken-hawk. Putin, is about to serve him some McNuggets(boneless)so he will be completely lost as what to do. He is going to come out of this smelling like shit no matter what, as he is a tool for the Zionists and even they fear Russia. If they(israhell) like their shitty little empire they better not fuck with the Bear. Russia, needs to be applauded for actually defending their people against this crap, and should keep troops in Georgia as to continue the protection, and prevent the U.S. and IsraHELL from re-arming Georgia.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Bypassing Poti (and Russian cargo inspections) for Batumi (where there are no cargo inspections).
Weapons
August 27th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Let’s never forget the insignificant pimple on the ass of humanity by the name of Mikheil Saakashvili and his prominent role in bringing about the end of the world to please and serve his tin-pot god and master, the devil’s spawn George W. Bush. Those unfortunate enough to survive the nuclear holocaust should make it their main task to drag this piece of shit from his bunker and hang him by his balls.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
The USS ‘McFAIL”
HAAAAAHAHAHAH!!!!
LOOOOL!!!!!!!
pissing little pussies
take the Ruskie T-Bag in u FACE!!!!!
beeeeyotch
August 27th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
awwwww!
da big bad Bear messin wid your little boats???
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!! tsk! tsk now!!!!
tooo bad, sooo sad…
awwwwww…..
go to your weewee no-name ports and play twiddle fingers with one another…
LOOOL!!!
August 27th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
The Empire has to be confronted and stopped if the world is to survive.