Russia sees U.S. involvement in Georgia

As Andrew Kramer and Ellen Barry’s heartbreaking report from Gori makes clear, Georgians feel betrayed and abandoned by their American allies. The Russian media isn’t really reporting it that way though: Kommersant reports that 2,500 to 3,000 mercenaries from Ukraine, the Baltic states and the South Caucuses are fighting in Georgia under the direct command ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

As Andrew Kramer and Ellen Barry's heartbreaking report from Gori makes clear, Georgians feel betrayed and abandoned by their American allies. The Russian media isn't really reporting it that way though:

As Andrew Kramer and Ellen Barry’s heartbreaking report from Gori makes clear, Georgians feel betrayed and abandoned by their American allies. The Russian media isn’t really reporting it that way though:

  • Kommersant reports that 2,500 to 3,000 mercenaries from Ukraine, the Baltic states and the South Caucuses are fighting in Georgia under the direct command of U.S. military instructors.
  • According to wire service RIA Novosti, U.S military transport planes were being used to fly in Georgian troops from Iraq to join the fighting. Vladimir Putin has also commented on this.
  • Izvestia claims (in Russian) that an African-American military instructor was arrested with a group Georgian explosive experts in South Ossetia. (Hat tip: Lawyers, Guns, and Money) There are also some odd reports of "dark-skinned bodies" being found.

Whatever the truth of these reports, when this war comes to its (hopefully imminent) conclusion, the United States may find that both sides feel stabbed in the back.

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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