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LOU DOBBS:
The Russian military tonight appears to be carrying
out a strategy to divide Georgia. Russian troops
control now key intersections on the main East/West
highway. Russian military units are also in Poti, a
key Georgian port on the Caspian Sea. Michael Ware
who went to Western Georgia now has our report from
the capital of Tbilisi.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even as
cease-fire negotiations continued in Georgia's
capital, Moscow's tanks were still prowling the
western front. At first their target was this, the
vital Georgian sea port of Poti outside the
pro-Russian breakaway region of Abkhazia. Though
thought to be under Russian occupation, Poti's docks
have remained open and the Russian soldiers seem to
have left the city largely untouched.
(on camera): However, they have sunk five Georgian
Navy and Coast Guard vessels, and as we speak, just
behind this wall, a small element of Russian troops
and armored vehicles is in control of this part of
this part of the harbor loading inflatable boats onto
trucks.
(voice-over): Locals say the troops arrived early in
the conflict. Their presence quickly followed by
bombing, which led to a number of civilian and
Georgian military deaths and casualties. Life appears
to be returning to normal here in Poti. However,
residents say the Russians are conducting occasional
patrols in their armored vehicles. But as quickly as
they began those patrols have ended. Georgian
officials claiming the Russians have just pulled out
of the city. But the Russians haven't gone far. The
troops at the port were in fact just one small
element of a much larger force, which is now digging
in 30 kilometers from the Black Sea coast, outside of
the town of Senaki deep within undisputed Georgian
territory.
Vehicles line the area's roadways. And in this field
what appears to be bushes is actually Russian
artillery, masked by fresh-cut foliage. From those
positions, these oil tanks in nearby Poti and the
railways that carry the oil remain at the Russians'
mercy and they will stay that way until Moscow brings
these troops home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WARE: So what you can see, Lou, is that the Russians
are very much pressing their advantage. In fact,
there's absolutely no reason or sanction to prevent
them from doing so. This has been a stunning coup for
the Russian military and they know that.
And they are simply ignoring, in fact, defying the
U.S. calls for them to withdraw, and there's nothing
to force them to do so. They are going to milk this
for every, every inch of advantage that they can get
-- Lou.
DOBBS: Concerning their interests, Michael, the
Russians, is it in their apparent interest to dig in
there? You said that they are digging in, so there's
no indication whatsoever of any plan to withdraw
these troops. Rather, they are consolidating
positions?
WARE: Absolutely, and I mean on both fronts in this
war. Remember, when Russia invaded Georgia just over
a week ago, they did so on two axis, one to the east
just north of the capital where I am now and the one
to the west that you have seen in our story.
Now here in the east, as you pointed out, the
Russians, rather than pulling back during Secretary
Rice's visit and the signing by the Georgian
president of a peace deal, they have advanced to
within 29 kilometers of the capital, where we are
right now. That's the furthest line of advance that
they have had during the entire conflict.
And meantime, as you have seen the pictures, in the
west, they are digging in, in significant numbers.
Now, this does a number of things. It can be a grand
negotiating tactic. It's very simple for them to
maintain their positions, in fact pressing this
advantage as part of a negotiating technique that
will allow them to offer a so-called compromise as
they withdraw, but only to the disputed territories
within Georgia.
Because remember, where they are now is in undisputed
Georgian territory. This is Georgia proper. So it
could just be a negotiating maneuver. But it's also a
continuing act of defiance. Let's not forget, this
war at the end of the day is really about U.S. versus
Russian interests.
This is Russia sending a message that's meant to
reverberate throughout the region and the longer they
delay, the longer they defy, the more stunning that
message is. And as I said, there's no one that can
force them to withdraw and there's no reason right
now for them to do so -- Lou.
DOBBS: Well, aside from the fact that this, the
threats against Poland by the Russian second general
in command suggesting even nuclear response to Poland
for signing that missile defense situation, this is
now adventurism on an extreme scale, is it not?
WARE: Well, it is and it isn't. I mean that's pretty
bold rhetoric, but in another sense, it's blatantly
obvious. I mean it's stating the obvious, to be
honest. I mean it's...
(CROSSTALK)
DOBBS: Michael, I know we've got a delay the deal
with here...
(CROSSTALK)
DOBBS: But let's talk about what is obvious. What is
obvious, that Russia has invaded the nation of
Georgia. That the European nations, the United
Kingdom, France, Germany, NATO, the European Union,
G-8 have been absolutely unwilling to respond in any
way to this Russian adventurism. And that puts the
entire region, that is Eastern Europe and Central
Asia, in great jeopardy.
WARE: Absolutely. But what we're talking about here
is not right and wrong. We're not talking about legal
issues here. We're talking realpolitik, Lou.
DOBBS: Yeah, I didn't mention...
(CROSSTALK)
DOBBS: By the way, Michael...
(CROSSTALK)
DOBBS: Michael, I didn't mention right or wrong.
(CROSSTALK)
DOBBS: I didn't mention right or wrong.
WARE: Yeah.
DOBBS: I mentioned very specifically a threat to two
regions. Eastern Europe and Central Asia from
Azerbaijan to the Balkans. Those countries right now
are squarely in jeopardy as a result of Russia's
apparent now new intentions.
WARE: And that's the entire point. Now, Russia
itself, from its self-interests, feels that it's been
under threat for several years. It's seen American's
sphere of influence continually expand through former
Soviet Union states or allied countries. One by one,
they have been integrated into NATO or they formed
alliances with NATO or the U.S. and Georgia is a
prime case.
It is a key U.S. ally in this region. And that's the
whole point of this invasion. It's Russia responding
or counter-punching to what it sees as expanding U.S.
influence. And the key thing is that Moscow's decided
to do this at a moment when it thinks it can strike
and get away with it. And I'm afraid to say that
their judgment is proving correct. Look at the limp
response, Lou.
DOBBS: Absolutely. Michael, thank you very much.
Michael Ware there in Tbilisi. Thank you.