How interesting that the U.S can invade Iraq- a nation which did not attack it but according to the U.S, Russia cannot invade Georgia when Georgian forces killed Russian peacekeepers and Russian citizens.

Yaroslav, Los Angeles,

Why every time when billions peopels come to read CNN, NYTimes and so on, they see fotos of destroyed houses in Georgia (on all sites the same fotos) but not fully destored cities and villagies of S.Ossetia, and hunderd of victims?

KAFLAN, Moscow, Russia

Ok, now i see what you all want from Russia, to do in this conflict... Typicaly wait while armed by USA and Ukrain, Georgia 17000-42000 army totally destory S.Ossetia with 2500 army? Its very easy to do nothing. Just to wait... And no unhappy from West, and no money spending... just waiting...

KAFLAN, Moscow, Russia

Just the beginning! Enter the oil vampires! One calls the other evil, but both will strike any country to gain a remote control of its oil reserve in natural deposits or in pipelines across international boarders. It will continue this way till the colapse of the petro-enabled industrialization.

Richie, Liverpool,

There is nothing like a good war to bring the world out of recession and divert public opinion away from their countries real woes. Re arming the World against a percieved threat will "kick start" the economies of the US, UK. and France. Cynical prehaps but, look through you history books!

Ian Blaber, Brisbane, Australia

Bill of London, thanks for your valuable contribution of "the free world". What is exactly your point though?

Alex, London,

I've been watching Western and Russian news channels in Lithuania. Propaganda on Russian TV is absolutely incredible, Russians are calling themselves peacekeepers, showing how much money and etc. they are sending for the refugees in Georgia.

Awful and it's worse to allow it to continue.

L , Vilnius, Lithuania,

Russia is so powerful compared to Georgia. The problem is the South Ossetia gorilla's fired first onto Georgian civilians and military- Lets not confuse bullying with peace-keeping here. Russia is letting the world know, they are still the Cold Country with leadership that wants control of all.

Matt, Seattle, United States

I agree with John. It was predictable that the 'no blood for oil' types would support Russia, a country which is spilling blood to seize oil. Hypocrties.

Craig, Liverpool, UK

Georgia started this war! They attacked S.Ossetia with heavy artillery and multiple rocket launching systems at night from 07 august to 08 august. After first night of bombarding it's capital was destroyed. 1600 are dead. UN didn't stop that. We were forced to enter Ossetia to protect people.

Igor Grigoryev, St.Petersburg, Russia

ey guys, better see latvian documentary "soviet story" may be you undestand a little how their propaganda mashinery works.

jana, paris, france

Interesting to see the Russian contribution's on these blogs ref Georgia. They may be Russian Govt inspired- if not - good to see the Free World having its say, if they are, then watch out - the US/UK experience of asymmetric warfare has been unpleasant - you will experience the same!

bill, london,

I struggle to understand the posters here from the US and UK doing the work of the Russian government for them. Iraq was a dictatorship, had invaded two of its neighbours, had used chemical weapons on its own citizens, had been in constant breach of UN resolutions. None of that applies to Georgia.

John, London, UK

So, is this what it takes for Russia's voice to be heard?
Finally the US might sit up and listen.
How many warnings does it need?

Alice, Hove,

Surely, Bush is having a laugh. How rich is it that he, of all people, spoke "firmly" to Putin over invading another sovereign nation. I lament both Georgia's and Russia's actions, but surely someone besides a person with GW's track record should be scolding either of the two sides.

Brett, Milford, DE, USA

"it's logical end..."

would that be a euphemism for the occupation of Georgia? Perhaps with a dose of regime change, and accompanying control of last non-russian pipeline running into Europe?
It's an absolute travesty that Europe's leaders have sleepwalked into this Russian stranglehold...

johan, london,

"Saddam Hussein, of course, needed to be hanged for destroying several Shiite villages. But (not) the current Georgian leadership, which in less than an hour drove tanks through children and old people, burned people alive in their homes. These leaders need to be protected!" - PUTIN.

Nikolay, Astrakhan, Russia

"Both claims (of commiting war crimes) were impossible to independently verify. "

At the moment they are.

Hey, but how about someone from the Western media travelling to the Ossetian side to balance out the coverage....

in the public's interest maybe?

No?

Ok then, nevermind.

Jez W, Leeds,