The latest from Georgia

Posted By Blake Hounshell Monday, August 11, 2008 - 5:26 PM Share

The BBC is reporting that Russian forces have captured Gori (point A above) and opened a second front in the Western town of Senaki, near Abkhazia. Russians denying taking Gori, which, incidentally, is Josef Stalin's hometown
Georgia claims the attacks have cut their country in two
According to Russia, Georgia is still shelling Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital
Russian President Vladimir Putin was harsh in his criticism of the United States: "Of course, Saddam Hussein ought to have been hanged for destroying several Shiite villages... And the incumbent Georgian leaders who razed ten Ossetian villages at once, who ran elderly people and children with tanks, who burned civilian alive in their sheds—these leaders must be taken under protection."
The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi is still open, but at least 170 Americans have been evacuated from Georgia
Germany evacuated at least 200 of its citizens and expected to evacuate the remaining 100 today
U.S. President George W. Bush is due to speak at 5:15 p.m. ET today on the conflict
John McCain said earlier today that "Russian President (Dmitry) Medvedev and Prime Minister (Vladimir) Putin must understand the severe, long-term negative consequences that their government's actions will have for Russia's relationship with the U.S. and Europe."
Poland and the three Baltic countries have issued a joint statement condemning Russia

EXPLORE:CAUCASUS, GEORGIA, RUSSIA, U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

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JGARZIK

12:29 AM ET

August 12, 2008

Poland fires missile negotiator

Polish PM Tusk dismissed Deputy FM Waszczykowski, who had been chief negotiator in missile defense talks with the US. FM Sikorski assumes the role, starting this week during talks in Warsaw.

By my attempt to read between the lines, the negotiator was too pro-US. And although I doubt this is the case, I cannot help wondering if events in Georgia helped "guide" the decision-making in Poland.

Jeff @ Armchair FP

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