Man, I hope this resolves this conflict or starts the resolving of it.

Via BBC NEWS – Europe:

Georgia says its troops have withdrawn from the breakaway region of South Ossetia and that Russian forces are in control of its capital, Tskhinvali.

A government spokesman told the BBC it was not a military defeat but a necessary step to protect civilians.

But a Russian military spokesman said Georgia had not withdrawn its forces and the situation remained tense.

The US described Russia’s actions as “dangerous and disproportionate” and said they might affect long-term ties.

“We’re alarmed by this situation,” US Deputy National Security Adviser James Jeffrey told reporters in Beijing.

Russian PM Vladimir Putin earlier suggested it was unlikely that South Ossetia would re-integrate with the rest of Georgia, saying the country’s territorial integrity had “suffered a fatal blow”.

Hopefully, this is the beginning of the end of this conflict in that region. Although, there does seem to be a larger group of issues at hand. This might just be the step in the right direction.

Technorati Tags: News, Russia, World News, Georgia, South Ossetia

This is a sad way to begin the Olympics. 🙁

Video:

The Story via The Associated Press:

A knife-wielding Chinese man attacked two relatives of a coach for the U.S. Olympic men’s volleyball team at a tourist site in Beijing, killing one and injuring the other on the first day of the Olympics on Saturday, team officials and state media said.

The man then committed suicide by throwing himself from the second story of the site, the 13th century Drum Tower just five miles from the main Olympics site.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of the one slain and are with the Olympic team affected by this horrible tragedy.

This is a sad and possibly dangerous situation:

Video:

The Story Via The Associated Press:

The United States urged Russia on Friday to halt aircraft and missile attacks in Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia and withdraw its combat forces from Georgian territory as the situation in the former Soviet state verged on full-scale war.

The White House said President Bush discussed the situation with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin while both leaders were in Beijing for the start of the Olympics. And Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the parties involved in hopes of ending the fighting, and made plans to send a U.S. envoy to the region.

“The United States calls for an immediate cease-fire to the armed conflict in Georgia’s region of South Ossetia,” Rice said in a statement. “We call on Russia to cease attacks on Georgia by aircraft and missiles, respect Georgia’s territorial integrity and withdraw its ground combat forces from Georgian soil.

Thoughts and Prayers are with the people in that region. It is my hope and Prayer that peace will once again come to that region.

Technorati Tags: News, Russia, World News