Слава Ісусу Христу!

The Byzantine Catholic homepage here links to a news story http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=60127 that on Aug. 10, 2008 Pope Benedict XVI appealed for an immediate halt to the military clash in South Ossetia, during a public audience of about 9,000 in Bressanone, Italy. The Holy Father spoke of his "profound anguish" over the conflict between Russia and Georgia remarking that the violence had already caused the deaths of innocent civilians, and forced many more to flee their homes. The fighting could escalate, the Pontiff added. Making an appeal to their "shared Christian heritage" both predominantly Orthodox, the Pope promised that Catholics would pray
and asked international leaders to "make every effort to support and promote initiatives aimed at reaching a peaceful and lasting solution."

Elsewhere reports that members of the US Congress informed the International Olympic Committee they intend to call for a new venue for the 2014 Winter Olympics slated for Sochi Russia. The complaint stated the current sight is a mere 20 miles from the current Georgian conflict zone invaded by the Russian Federation on the eve of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. The invasion of Georgian territory threatens a democratically elected government and is in violation of international standards. Russia likewise violated the “Olympic truce” tradition.

NATO suspended normal relations with Russia for as long as Moscow has troops in Georgia. Ukraine was named as an aggressor in “NATO uniforms” in Georgian South Ossetian by Abkhazia leader Sergei Bagapsh. The Russian Black See Fleet was warned ships sailing to engage on the Abkhazia coast will be prevented from returning to their Sevastopol base located on Ukrainian lands. Fearing Moscow’s next target Ukraine is securing alliances. Ukraine’s left-winged politicians such as Communist Party leader Symonenko called for support of Russia less Ukraine be left in a vacuum between its shared long borderlines with the EU and Russia. Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister acknowledged the “colored revolutions” bringing pro-democratic leaders into office targeted Georgia and Ukraine. Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s silence on the subject is being portrayed as high treason in betraying national interests in hopes of favorable Russian support for her 2010 presidential campaign.

JUST THE HEADLINES:

WILL RUSSIA GET AWAY WITH IT?
The New York Times 8/11/08
UKRAINE AND THE CONFLICT IN S OSSETIA
Eurasia Daily Monitor 8/11/08
RUSSIA’S WAR OF AMBITION
The New York Times 8/12/08
RUSSIA BLAMES THE VICTIM
The New York Times 8/12/08
BUSH AND GEORGIA
The Washington Post 8/13/08
BLAMING DEMOCRACY
The Washington Post 8/14/08
WE ARE ALL GEORGIANS
The Wall Street Journal 8/14/08
RUSSIA TAKES GORI
The New York Times 8/14/08
RUSSIA’S WAR IS THE WEST’S CHALLENGE
The Washington Post 8/14/08
THE NEW CHILL
The New York Times 8/16/08
WE MUST MAKE MOSCOW PAY FOR THIS
BLOW AGAINST DEMOCRACY
The Sunday Times (London) 8/17/08

The ball is in Russia's court.