Brusik

Hmm I have had no problem sending money to my wifes brother in Russia.. I have done Western Union and Paypal

Since Sochi is in my wife's backdoor we are planning our trip. We will visit her family in Bakuriani, Georgia then we will go to Batumi and travel to Sochi this route.

Hopefully by then Georgia and Russia will be on better terms.

Her brother works for Chevron and lives in Rustov. He is planning on taking us to the alpine and ice skating events..

RUB countries need more of this .........................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My babies

Not sure about the best but.......... The ruger looks intimidating lol.. I have stopped a few people in their tracks with this pistol!!!!!!!

Browing 20 guage side by side and Ruger Old Army 44 caliber black powder

I believe that Georgia expected help from the US.

I have a great article about the whole conflict, bookmarked on my other computer. I'll post the link to it here, when I have a chance (be prepared, it's VERY long, but it's a good reading).

I have read several articles and talked to people when I was in Georgia.. I would love to read the article you have

I think if someone else was invading Georgia we'd probably assist them.

... or maybe if they were right next to Iran!

Iran I could see.. But Georgia has a decent relationship with Iran.. I don't believe they have any restrictions with them.. Iranians are free to travel to Georgia..

My Wife's cousins wife is Ossetian that lives in Bakuriani.... She said that Georgian's were being forced to leave Ossetia before the war started and many were killed in the process.

It always takes two to tangle.. I do know that Ossetians living in Georgia want the country united... For generations they lived and married with one another

Russians, Ossessian's and Georgian's have no animosity with each other.. Unfortunately that can't be said about the Governments.!!!!!!!!!!

Do you think if Georgia was not located where they are that America would be so willing to assist them??

Giving support to Georgia.

They support georgia but Rice and Bush also filled Saakashvilli's head full of BS.. I know peeps think Saakasvilli is a madman but he's no fool to engage in an all war with Russia.

My wife was saying in the papers when all this happened people were wondering where the Great American Ally was!!!!!!!!

What I take from all those movies and what I try to explain to everyone is we have a culture of being free from international invasion. We should keep it that way.

Learn to shoot. Take someone shooting. That way when a nation decides to invade your homeland you can repel them. I'll be darned if someone comes into my city and rounds up the local population for executions. WOLVERINES!!!

lol I tried to get my wife to watch Red Dawn.. soon as she saw the Russians shoot up the school she abandoned the movie haha

Do you think the US wasn't?

Wasn't what??

I watched 5 Days of War this weekend. Good movie. I bet most Americans would be shocked to find out there was even a war there.

"Huh? What war?"

I bought DVD a while back. I would like to see the Russian point of view. I saw some of the refugee cities in Georgia.. for Ossetians.. They were not that bad actually..

I just hate seeing innoccent people getting killed.. The wedding ceremony was an actual event where the atrocities occurred..

But America does what it does best.. turn their back and have a blind eye.. Just ask the Kurds in Iraq after we incited them to turn on Saddam..

I can't believe Saakashvilli would attempt a war with Russia unless he thought we were backing him up...

This song is a sign of Democratic Georgia lol

When they start doing Whole Lotta Love then I know they have totally broken away from the motherland lol

This is a very different rendition

It grew on me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBNKM17LdGA&feature=related

Bad...Her luggage was still in Germany after she arrived in Seattle

Good... She got new undies from Victorias Sercret !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good... Airline paid her $200.00 for necessities

Boris Berezovsky – Putin’s Inauguration Will not Take Place; He’ll be Carried out Feet First from the Kremlin till 9 may Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky plans to overthrow Putin, what will happen till 9 May, the businessman told Ukrainian edition "Unian" about it . "The government raped the society. The operation they carried out on 4 March, is violence against people. The society has not a choice but to respond violence with the same. There is no other alternative. Furthermore, according to UN Human Rights Declaration, the society has right of mutiny if the government violates law. The society has right to protect its interest by violent methods", Berezovsky said. As Vladimir Putin decided to run for presidency on the third term, Berezovsky calls him a "criminal" and says that he didn't have this right according to the constitution. He says that this was not called presidential election, but the special operation by the Kremlin. The oligarch is convinced that Putin received 31% of voted in fact and not 64%. He thinks that opposition's protests will increase into large-scale event though this is just the issue of time. When asked whether he intends to finance Russian revolution, if it's possible to stage peaceful revolution in Russia, Berezovsky says that he is going to support the opposition. "Peaceful revolution will not happen, though there will not be civil war. He considers that nobody but 10-15 people will come out to support Putin, but hundreds of thousands people will go into the streets against him, if not millions. "I repeat that Putin's inauguration will not take place with high probability, as he'll be carried out feet first from the Kremlin till 9 May", Berezovsky said. IPN

Putin: 'Much will Depend' on Elections in Georgia Russia's Prime Minister and president-elect, Vladimir Putin, speaks with journalists, March 7. Photo from Russian PM's website. Russia's President-elect Vladimir Putin told journalists on March 7, Russia "has special relations with the Georgian people" and expressed hope that "a solution will be found" to improve ties between the two countries and also indicated that "much will depend" on elections in Georgia. Putin also recalled developments in Georgia's Autonomous Republic of Adjara eight years ago to argue that unlike President Saakashvili he was always keeping his word in talks with the Georgian leadership.

He made the remarks after he was asked by a journalist from Tbilisi-based Imedi TV how he viewed Russia-Georgia relations during his presidency taking in view Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia - decision "which no one likes."

"How could anyone like a decision to attack peacekeepers?" Putin responded. "No one liked it too, at least in Russia no one liked especially when people died... That's the result of actions of Georgia's current leadership not ours."

"We have said it for many times and I want to stress it once again: we have special relations with the Georgian people and we hope, that a solution will be found. But it is now premature to speak about it and probably it has no sense. Today Dmitry Anatolevich Medvedev is the President of the Russian Federation and he is in charge of the foreign policy so please direct questions to him," Putin said.

Later during the same conversation with reporters, Putin was again asked by the same journalist whether there would be any change in Russia's policy with Georgia in particular over the visa rules. Putin responded that Russia had visa-free rules with members of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) from which Georgia withdrew after the August, 2008 war. But when the journalist argued back by saying that Russia kept visa rules with Georgia even when it was part of CIS, Putin responded: "Yes, but it was because of events everyone is aware of. And now in addition Georgia also quit CIS."

When he was asked whether his response meant that nothing would change during his presidential term, for at least next six years, Putin said: "I do not know." He then asked the Georgian journalist: "When are the elections in Georgia?"

Asked whether future relations would depend on election outcome in Georgia, Putin responded: "Much depends on that too."

After the journalist told Putin that there "is no politician in Georgia" who would recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia and that Tbilisi wanted Russian troops out from those two regions, Putin said that there was a threat that Georgia would again attack those regions in case of withdrawal of Russian forces.

"We've talked for many times about this issue with Mikheil Nikolayevich [saakashvili]. I told him for many times and there is nothing to hide about it: ‘Mikheil Nikolayevich do not lead the process to bloodshed... You should build relations with these people'. He told me: ‘Yes, of course, definitely. We'll do that'," Putin said adding that Saakashvili did not follow his pledge.

Then Putin recalled developments in Georgia's Adjara Autonomous Republic in 2004, when President Saakashvili was in confrontation with then leader of Adjara Aslan Abashidze, who was ousted in May 2004.

Putin said that at the time he told President Saakashvili, that although Russia had its military base in Adjara, Moscow would not interfere into developments in Adjara.

"And we have not interfered. He [saakashvili] told me: ‘Yes, true, you kept your word'. And how the Georgian side acted? We have agreed with them to set up a joint anti-terrorist center instead of our base there [in Adjara]. And where is it? When I offered Mikheil Nikolayevich: ‘let's sign an agreement about having an anti-terrorist center there', he responded: ‘there is nothing to sign... We don't want to fulfill that so we threw that agreement away'... So how could one negotiate with such people? About what?.. I know Mikheil Nikolayevich will hear my words and of course he will be denying them," Putin said.

"It's not us, but the Georgian people which will decide who will be their President. We have formulated our position. It was not us who have initiated those tragic events [in 2008], but the Georgian leadership probably has to do something to change the situation," Putin said.

He also said that "no one from Georgia has yet phoned me" to congratulate on election victory.

8 Geopolitically Endangered Species Meet the weaker countries that will suffer from American decline With the decline of America's global preeminence, weaker countries will be more susceptible to the assertive influence of major regional powers. India and China are rising, Russia is increasingly imperially minded, and the Middle East is growing ever more unstable. The potential for regional conflict in the absence of an internationally active America is real. Get ready for a global reality characterized by the survival of the strongest. 1. GEORGIA

American decline would leave this tiny Caucasian state vulnerable to Russian political intimidation and military aggression. The United States has provided Georgia with $3 billion in aid since 1991 -- $1 billion of that since its 2008 war with Russia. America's decline would put new limitations on U.S. capabilities, and could by itself stir Russian desires to reclaim its old sphere of influence. What's more, once-and-future Russian President Vladimir Putin harbors an intense personal hatred toward Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

At stake: Russian domination of the southern energy corridor to Europe, possibly leading to more pressure on Europe to accommodate Moscow's political agenda; a domino effect on Azerbaijan.

2. TAIWAN

VANO SHLAMOV/AFP/Getty Images

Since 1972, the United States has formally accepted the mainland's "one China" formula while maintaining that neither side shall alter the status quo by force. Beijing, however, reserves the right to use force, which allows Washington to justify its continued arms sales to Taiwan. In recent years, Taiwan and China have been improving their relationship. America's decline, however, would increase Taiwan's vulnerability, leaving decision-makers in Taipei more susceptible to direct Chinese pressure and the sheer attraction of an economically successful China. That, at the least, could speed up the timetable for cross-strait reunification, but on unequal terms favoring the mainland.

At stake: Risk of a serious collision with China.

3. SOUTH KOREA

PATRICK LIN/AFP/Getty Images

The United States has been the guarantor of South Korea's security since it was attacked in 1950 by North Korea, with Soviet and Chinese collusion. Seoul's remarkable economic takeoff and democratic political system testify to the success of U.S. engagement. Over the years, however, North Korea has staged a number of provocations against South Korea, ranging from assassinations of its cabinet members to the 2010 sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan. So America's decline would confront South Korea with painful choices: either accept Chinese regional dominance and further reliance on China to rein in the nuclear-armed North, or seek a much stronger, though historically unpopular, relationship with Japan out of shared democratic values and fear of aggression from Pyongyang and Beijing.

At stake: Military and economic security on the Korean Peninsula; a general crisis of confidence in Japan and South Korea regarding the reliability of existing American commitments

4. BELARUS

.

Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Twenty years after the fall of the Soviet Union, Europe's last dictatorship remains politically and economically dependent on Russia. One-third of its exports go to Russia, on which it is almost entirely reliant for its energy needs. At the same time, President Aleksandr Lukashenko's 17-year dictatorship has stood in the way of any meaningful relations with the West. Consequently, a marked American decline would give Russia a virtually risk-free opportunity to reabsorb Belarus.

At stake: The security of neighboring Baltic states, especially Latvia.

5. UKRAINE

DMITRY ASTAKHOV/AFP/Getty Images

Kiev's relationship with Moscow has been as prone to tension as its relationship with the West has been prone to indecision. In 2005, 2007, and 2009, Russia either threatened to or did stop oil and natural gas from flowing to Ukraine. More recently, President Viktor Yanukovych was pressured to extend Russia's lease of a naval base at the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Sevastopol for another 25 years in exchange for preferential pricing of Russian energy deliveries to Ukraine. The Kremlin continues to press Ukraine to join a "common economic space" with Russia, while gradually stripping Ukraine of direct control over its major industrial assets through mergers and takeovers by Russian firms. With America in decline, Europe would be less willing and able to reach out and incorporate Ukraine into an expanding Western community, leaving Ukraine more vulnerable to Russian designs.

At stake: The renewal of Russian imperial ambitions.

6. AFGHANISTAN

DMITRY ASTAKHOV/AFP/Getty Images

Devastated by nine years of brutal warfare waged by the Soviet Union, ignored by the West for a decade after the Soviet withdrawal, mismanaged by the medieval Taliban, and let down by 10 years of halfhearted U.S. military operations and sporadic economic assistance, Afghanistan is in shambles. With 40 percent unemployment and ranking 215th globally in per capita GDP, it has little economic output beyond its illegal narcotics trade. A rapid U.S. troop disengagement brought on by war fatigue or the early effects of American decline would most likely result in internal disintegration and an external power play among nearby states for influence in Afghanistan. In the absence of an effective, stable government in Kabul, the country would be dominated by rival warlords. Pakistan and India would more assertively compete for influence in Afghanistan -- with Iran also probably involved.

At stake: The re-emergence of the Taliban; a proxy war between India and Pakistan; a haven for international

terrorism

7. PAKISTAN

Adek Berry/Afp/Getty Images

7. PAKISTAN

Although Islamabad is armed with 21st-century nuclear weapons and held together by a professional late 20th-century army, the majority of Pakistan is still pre-modern, rural, and largely defined by regional and tribal identities. Conflict with India defines Pakistan's sense of national identity, while the forcible division of Kashmir sustains a shared and profound antipathy. Pakistan's political instability is its greatest vulnerability, and a decline in U.S. power would reduce America's ability to aid Pakistan's consolidation and development. Pakistan could then transform into a state run by the military, a radical Islamic state, a state that combined both military and Islamic rule, or a "state" with no centralized government at all.

At stake: Nuclear warlordism; a militant Islamic, anti-Western, nuclear-armed government similar to Iran's; regional instability in Central Asia, with violence potentially spreading to China, India, and Russia.

8. ISRAEL and the GREATER MIDDLE EAST

Arif Ali/Afp/Getty Images

America's decline would set in motion tectonic shifts undermining the political stability of the entire Middle East. All states in the region remain vulnerable to varying degrees of internal populist pressures, social unrest, and religious fundamentalism, as seen by the events of early 2011. If America's decline were to occur with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict still unresolved, the failure to implement a mutually acceptable two-state solution would further inflame the region's political atmosphere. Regional hostility to Israel would then intensify. Perceived American weakness would at some point tempt the more powerful states in the region, notably Iran or Israel, to preempt anticipated dangers. And jockeying for tactical advantage could precipitate eruptions by Hamas or Hezbollah, which could then escalate into wider and bloodier military encounters. Weak entities such as Lebanon and Palestine would pay an especially high price in civilian deaths. Even worse, such conflicts could rise to truly horrific levels through strikes and counterstrikes between Iran and Israel.

At stake: Direct Israeli or U.S. confrontation with Iran; a rising tide of Islamic radicalism and extremism; a worldwide energy crisis; vulnerability of America's Persian Gulf allies

My wife leaves food out all the time.. uncovered then she puts in fridge 3 hours later and doesnt use wrap or anything.. I bought tupperware and saran wrap lol I was having stomach troubles the first few weeks and she said it was because I don't eat proper diet lol.. I keep telling her to seal food always lol... She washed dishes all the time but they dry on the counter.. I usually end up drying them because I can't stand cluttered counter tops.. I think 2 months since she has been here the dishwasher has been used twice..

One appliance I know she loves besides the curling iron and hot rollers.. is the dryer for clothes... :dance:

Ukraine switched forums lol.................

Could there be dissention in the ranks.. :hehe:

In Moldova GUAM sitting to be held In Kishinev, Moldova the two-day sitting of national coordinators from GUAM (Georgian, Ukraine, Armenia and Moldova) is taking part, GHN reports. Nino Kalandadze, Deputy Foreign Minister said today at the traditional briefing in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that this is an ordinary sitting which is aimed for the cooperation questions of GUAM member states.

"As an additional question the questions concerning the organization of OSCE summit will be discussed. The summit will be conducted in Vilnius, on December 6. Such questions must be negotiated beforehand and the schedule is to be drafted in advance, "- Kalandadze

I waited 5 months and 2 weeks.. I called my congressman and played the race card... I was tired of seeing other countries approved in a short amount of time.. The Caucasus countries for some reason were not being approved in a timely fashion.. I collected stats on countries that were approved NOA2.. And comapre them with Russia, Ukraine, Georgia ETC... and our countries had 1 approval within a 5 month time period..

When my congressmen's assistant was shown these facts she said she would call USCIS.. I was approved later that afternoon.. I am not saying this will work for you but it doesn't hurt to have someone with a little power to aide you in your ordeals......... :wacko:

The Kremlin is so well-loved :dance:

Conflicts Tbilisi Says S.Ossetia Polls 'Kremlin-Planned Event' Sunday's presidential runoff in breakaway South Ossetia is not an election, but "an event planned by the Kremlin," Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister, Nino Kalandadze, said on November 28. "What is happening there is not considered as elections; that's an event, which is planned by the Kremlin and which is led by the official Moscow and Moscow is responsible for its results," she said.

"Events not agreed with Tbilisi are taking place in Georgia's occupied territories. Unfortunately, human rights violations are also taking place and [Moscow], which is in charge of situation there, is responsible for that. We hope that the international community will react adequately. There was a very prompt and adequate reaction from the international community when the so called first round of [election on November 13] was condemned by the U.S., the European Union," she added.

You would have to wonder how useful??? was this trip.....

Georgian Church Leader Says His Moscow Visit was 'Useful' Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II, said that his week-long visit to Moscow was "very important and useful for our country, our church." He was in Moscow from November 18 to November 24 to participate in celebration of Russian Orthodox Church leader Kirill's 65th birthday. He held talks with the Russian Patriarch and also met with Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, together with other heads of delegations of the Orthodox Churches from several other countries, who were visiting Moscow for the Russian Patriarch's 65th birthday celebration.

"We focused on the fate of refugees and talked about the issue of refugees; there is a hope that they will be able to return back to their homes," Ilia II said after arrival from Moscow.

While the Georgian Patriarch was visiting Moscow, President Saakashvili has twice slammed the Russian Orthodox Church on two separate occasions, calling it "the Kremlin's branch", which had "declared a crusade for restoration of the Soviet Union."

"You know that the Russian [Orthodox] Church has declared a crusade for restoration of the Soviet Union, that means, for putting an end to Georgia's independence," Saakashvili said on November 22, referring to remarks by head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill, who said last week that the collapse of the Soviet Union was negative event.

Next day, on November 23, while unveiling a statue to former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Saakashvili said: ""Russian Orthodox Church, which is directly the Kremlin's branch, declared a crusade for restoration of the Soviet Union and called the former Soviet Union territory, including Georgia, 'historic parts of Russia' which should be returned back to Russia."

"No matter how many crusades they will declare for restoration of the Soviet Union and no matter how many prayers or curses KGB-uniform elements in the north from us will say, freedom will definitely prevail and any attempt of restoration of the Soviet Union will lead to further destabilization of Russia and will lead this state - which deserves much better fate - to the verge of collapse," he added.

LOL if only his days were numbered...............

Politics Saakashvili: Jeers for Putin Mean 'Beginning of End for Authoritarian Rule in Russia' 'I am sure their days are numbered'; Russia 'wants Georgia to be its slave'; 'Some Georgian politicians miss licking Russian soldiers' dirty underwear'; 'Russian Church declared a crusade for restoration of Soviet Union'; The boos and whistles that greeted Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, when he stepped into the ring at Olympiysky Stadium in Moscow after a martial arts fight on Sunday, signaled "the beginning of the end for the authoritarian rule in Russia," President Saakashvili said. "You've seen how Putin was whistled. This is the beginning of the end for the authoritarian rule in Russia. I am sure that their days are numbered," Saakashvili said while speaking in a televised meeting with cabinet ministers in Kutaisi on November 22.

"For Georgia today it is very important to keep the pace of development, because in Russia there also are a lot of well-disposed people - not in the Kremlin or its satellite organizations - who are delighted with our reforms," he said.

Saakashvili said that top goal for the Russian leadership "is to topple the government" of Georgia. "Russia will even make a deal with devil - in or outside of Georgia - to achieve this," he said.

Saakashvili made the remarks while commenting on an announcement by rating agency Standard & Poor's, which has raised Georgia's sovereign-credit rating one notch to BB-, pointing to the country's strong growth prospects.

"Raising Georgia's credit rating in these conditions... means that Georgia has overcome what others would not have overcome; Georgia has accomplished actually something impossible," Saakashvili said.

He said that in four-five years the process of Georgia becoming "a new Hong Kong, a new economic tiger of the world and the economic, cultural, tourism and political center of this region" would become irreversible.

During the same televised cabinet sitting, Saakashvili also said that in the past Russian military barracks were located on the place where now new development projects were underway in Kutaisi, where Russian soldiers "were hanging their dirty underwear."

"Some Georgian politicians miss licking that underwear; but that's not what the Georgian people want. We want to go where our future will be protected," he said without naming any of the Georgian politician.

"You know that the Russian [Orthodox] Church has declared a crusade for restoration of the Soviet Union, that means, for putting an end to Georgia's independence," he said, apparently referring to remarks by head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill, who said last week that the collapse of the Soviet Union was negative.

He said that Russia "wants Georgia to be its slave." "So if someone wants to follow this path, let them take a one-way ticket for Kutaisi-Moscow flight," Saakashvili said. "We will have such flights from Kutaisi - we will send there forever those politicians who want to be with them [Russia] and we will receive from there Russian tourists, who will gradually replace Russian tanks and Russian soldiers here

My GRUB wife does most of the cooking and cleaning... I will help with the dishes and laundry.. I will also cook about once a week..

I was very meticulous about where I live.. But when Neli came to America she said I clean like a man lol.. If there was a nook or cranny with dust she was disgusted lol..

Happy for you now the journey truly begins

:dance:

I just read this and I am curious to see what Nato's response will be...

The articles I have read make it seem like Russia has the upper hand..........

Condoleeza Rice and others were saying Russia was Provoking Saakashvilli into a war and they warned him not to buy into Putin's games..

Grigol Vashadze – I want to Calm the Kremlin by saying that Everything is All Right Regarding NATO 16:14 22-11-2011 Dmitry Medvedev’s statement was responded to by Georgia Minister of Foreign affairs Grigol Vashadze. He told Ekho Moskvi that one of the reasons for the Russian aggression was to block Georgia’s course to enter NATO.

“Medvedev is not the first to say this. Mr. Rogozin said something like that before. This is nothing but remembering what was planned in the Kremlin in the beginning of 2008 and what was implemented in august 2008, when the Russian army invaded Georgian territory, killing 500 civilians, bombing cities and destroying infrastructure. One of the reasons for this aggression was to stop Georgia on its way to NATO, though they don’t speak about other goals. Namely, that they wanted to stop economic and democratic reforms in Georgia, restrict freedom of choice of Georgian people and change democratically elected government of Georgia. Now they for some reason decided to speak about what they did in 2008 with pride”, Vashadze said.

Vashadze doesn’t think there is a single politically naïve person in the West who would believe all the statements made by Moscow in the horrible days of august, about Russia protecting its peacekeepers, forcing Georgia peace, like Russia and bands trained by it didn’t bomb towns and villages. Vashadze says that everyone in the west perceive that Russia started war in 2008.

“The result of this knowledge is the resolutions, adopted by legislative bodies of all democratic, free countries, from the U.S. Senate to latest resolution from the European Parliament. If not for this knowledge, our advance to the Eruoepan Union would not be so vehement. From autumn of 2008 till today, we almost implemented the maximum of the talk in creating the legal base of our cooperation with European Union. I want to calm the Kremlin: Everything is all right regarding the advance to NATO and this will be over with a desirable result soon”, Grigol Vashadze said.

Vashadze said that there is a proverb that everything may happen in Russia but the tragedy is that all this may repeat.

“What about the Russian aggression, nothing can be excluded. Unfortunately we happen to be a neighbor of the unpredictable state, having no notion of its interior or foreign affairs. I think that repeating the military aggression against today’s Georgia would equal suicide. Russia will finally turn into a country that is impossible to have civilized dialogue with. I think that Russia missed the chance in 2008. They had goals, but they failed to realize them. I consider that history will no longer give this chance to the Russian military”, Vashadze said.

"If you...had faltered back in 2008, the geopolitical situation would be different now," Medvedev said in a speech to soldiers at a base in Vladikavkaz, just north of the Georgian border. "And a number of countries which (NATO) tried to deliberately drag into the alliance, would have most likely already been part of it now."