I don’t believe that a US naval vessel other than submarines have ever been in the Black Sea. That would be akin to the Russian doing operations off Norfolk or Florida. I checked Operation Endeavor and that was through the Straits of Gibraltar not the Strait of Bosphorus.

We have very little ability to transit troops and armor into Georgia. No access from land or sea. Even air would need permission from Turkey. Russian navy controls the Black Sea. If we tried to ship troops across from Romania they would get interdicted and be a public embarrassment.

The alleged black American also had slanted eyes and the photo did not look American. I doubt that this is an American, just propaganda.

I saw the offloading of Georgian troops at the airport and did not see vehicles with them. Does not mean that it did not happen just not shown.

I have been checking the topography of Georgia and Tskhinvali is in the valley and the surrounding hills and ridges give great cover for Georgian forces. Considering they retreated under fire and managed to inflict damage and then falling back to Gori, I think that they did a good job. However about 30 tanks according to news and it may be less or more were destroyed out of a force of 82 tanks that Georgia has according to Janes.

There is a ridge and river crossing from Gori to Tbilisi at Mtskheta that would make a good defensive position . The mountains to the south would prevent Russian tanks and a bridge over a river makes a narrow defile to defend. Supposedly Russia is trying to split the western and eastern sections of Georgia apart and grab the eastern section which flows toward the Black Sea. The port town of Poti was damaged and it was building new port facilities for international shipping. The bombing of Zugdidi and Senaki are pretty far inland from the Black Sea. According to Georgia Times Russian did try to bomb the main road from Armenia to Poti and destroy the bridge but was unsucessful. I have yet to hear about the Georgian Su 25 fate and how many they had. Supposeedly the Russsina said that only a C 200 anti aircraft system would have taken down their bomber and only Ukrian had that system.

The Russian did bomb the radar installation on Mt. Makhata near Tbilisi on Monday. The Russian are obviously concerned about anti aircraft fire. I think they have air superiority and the Georgia have had their navy and air force reduced to ineffective status. Georgia is still holding the upper Kodori Gorge and they repulsed Russian advance on Gori.

Russian supposedly transported another 90 tanks and more support vehicles with paratroopers above the tunnel. Right now it is a standoff, international opinion and logistics have stopped advances on Tbilisi. I believe the Russian will concentrate on the Black Sea coast to grab more sea coast and build up forces to threaten Tbilisi to surrender.

Georgia needs to realize that even if we wished to intervene it will take time to get support there and they have to fight it to the bitter end, if Russian does not agree to a cease fire and operation.