Russian troops move toward Gori
Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 1:22 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:
Security
From NBC's Jim Miklaszewski
U.S. officials tell NBC News that between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET today, there was a movement of Russian Forces from Ossetia toward the vicinity of Gori, but no indication of any engagement with Georgian military or civilians.
"We were trying to figure out what they [Russians] were up to, and still havent," one official said.
The officials could not immediately confirm reports the Russians had turned back north to Ossetia. At this hour, the officials see no evidence of any Russian offensive operations anywhere inside Georgia.
As of early this morning, U.S. military and intelligence officials reported that Russian forces had withdrawn back into Ossetia, there were no Russians in the vicinity of Gori and no Russian warplanes engaged in any bombing strikes.
"That was right early this morning," an official said, "but later that all changed."
Humanitarian aid
A U.S. Air Force C-17 loaded with humanitarian aid is on its way, and, in fact, may already have landed at Tsblisi today. A second flight is already scheduled for tomorrow. The huge cargo plane from Landstuhl, Germany is carrying water, medical supplies, bedding, tents, etc.
The U.S. will also send a military assessment team, comprised of about a dozen
military and possibly civilians aid workers to consult with Georgian and U.S. embassy officials in Tsblisi and assess for themselves the level of kind of
humanitarian that may be needed.
Pentagon officials say no apparent decisions have been made regarding any Naval forces that may be deployed to assist in the humanitarian effort. While the Navy hospital ship COMFORT comes immediately to mind, Navy officials say it is at least a month away from reaching Georgia.
The U.S. military did inform the Russians of the humanitarian flight in advance to avoid any misunderstandings and possible inflight confrontation.
U.S. Navy officials later said the only ship under consideration to send to Georgia to provide humanitarian relief is, in fact, the Navy's hospital ship USS COMFORT. Problem is, the COMFORT is currently in port at Baltimore, and it would take at least a month to get her underway and to Georgia.
The officials say no deployment orders have been issued yet, but that administration officials appear determined to send the COMFORT, regardless of the time lapse, "as a show of solidarity with Georgia."
There is no consideration of sending any other Navy ships to Georgia. A treaty
prohibits "heavy warships" from entering the Black Sea, which would rule out
an aircraft carrier or amphibious helicopter carrier that would be the most useful in delivering and distributing humanitarian aid.
NBC's Libby Leist adds the details of U.S. Humanitarian Aid to Georgia -- provided by the State Department:
- USAID provided initial $250,000 for emergency relief supplies in the days immediate following start of conflict
- $1.2 million in disaster packages -- including basic medical supplies, tents, blankets, bedding, hygiene items, clothing, beds, and cots.
- A EUCOM C-17 plane carrying medical supplies will be arriving in Tbilisi this evening. Another C-17 will arrive in Tbilisi tomorrow with additional supplies, including 104,000 doses of antibiotics specifically requested by the Georgian Ministry of Health. The value of these two shipments is approximately $1.28 million.
- The State Department is also sending 104,000 doses of antibiotics via commercial air in response to request from the Georgian Minister of Health. This medicine (valued at $420,000) will arrive in Tbilisi by Saturday, August 16.
- The State Department is supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which is preparing to send a team of surgeons to Georgia to help treat victims of the conflict in South Ossetia. ICRC plans to fly in 15 tons of water treatment equipment and medical aid. The supplies will provide clean water for 20,000 people and medicine for about 400 wounded.
- State is also supporting the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which is moving stocks from one of its emergency warehouses in Dubai; 21,000 blankets, 1,850 tents, and 8,000 jerry cans should arrive in Tbilisi today. UNHCR also purchased locally emergency supplies ($250,000).
