TODAY: Russian soldiers get a raise and permission to fire; Georgian conflict shows its identity crisis; Russian officials balk over economic crisis; Venezuela buys more Russian tanks; Kremlin discusses missile defense for Syria; Russian and US leaders may extend nuclear arsenal treaty; and Russia's biggest mosque opens in Grozny. Amid a report about a plan to raise the salaries of Russian army officers, there are varying accounts of the number of Russian troops killed in an ambush in the North Caucasus region over the weekend. Meanwhile, there is no confusion concerning the directive given to police in South Ossetia, who have been ordered to meet any potential assault by Georgian forces with force. "We will not allow our people and our officers to be killed," said Acting South Ossetian Interior Minister Mikhail Mindzayev. Abkhazia, for its part, remains ensconced ...

TODAY: Ingush opposition figure shot dead; EU summit to be held today; Medvedev reveals foreign policy plan to preserve nearby territories; South Ossetia to join Russia; Turkey and Russia heading for “trade war”; Putin “saves” television crew from tiger; textbooks whitewashing Stalin. The EU will hold its emergency summit today to decide on its next steps in relation to Russia. President Dmitry Medvedev has already warned that Russia will retaliate against any hostile moves, but what is the likelihood of economic sanctions? A German MP has called for Russia to be temporarily excluded from the G8. Magomed Yevloyev, the prominent owner of an Ingush opposition news website and Kremlin critic, has been shot dead after being detained by police. Medvedev has revealed a new five point foreign policy plan, ...

French political philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy has a very passionate article of conclusions about the war in today's Wall Street Journal: - Western public opinion fell with disconcerting facility for the thesis advanced -- from the very first day -- by the Kremlin's propaganda machine. We know now that the Russian army had been hard at work on its war preparations since before Aug. 8. We know that it massed at the "border" between Georgia and Ossetia a considerable military and paramilitary logistical presence. We know the Russians had methodically repaired the railroad tracks that the troop-transport trains were to take, and we know that at least 150 tanks went through the Roky tunnel separating the two Ossetias the morning of Aug. 8. In other words, no one can ignore the fact that President Saakhashvili only decided to act when he no longer had a choice, and war had already come. ...

Veronica Khokhlova at Global Voices Online, who's always been very kind to link over to us, has a great post up linking to a LiveJournal user blogging about a satirical protest staged in Tbilisi in front of the Russian Embassy to bring attention to the widespread looting and robberies being carried out under the Russian occupation. […] To the Russian embassy in Tbilisi they brought old refrigerators, toilets, rolls of toilet paper, irons, bottles of vodka, forks and spoons, clothes and other objects that [looters from the Russian army] took interest in during their visits to private houses of Georgians, state institutions, military bases and army barracks. People are coming up to have a closer look, shake their heads, laugh. Cars that are passing by are honking… The photos are worth a look.

TODAY: Kremlin slow to withdraw troops, increasing numbers in South Ossetia; Nato ministers torn over Russia; minister threatens Poland with nuclear strike over US missile defense; Germany presses for artwork to be returned. Nato ministers are having trouble agreeing on Russia, with a tough approach from the US and Britain on one side, and Germany and France, which are urging a more cautious stance on the other. “I don’t know how they are going to isolate us,” commented Sergei Lavrov last week. “My understanding is that each country is supporting Georgia for its own ends and really doesn't care about Georgia's population.” “Everyone is to blame.” French President Nicolas Sarkozy writes in the Washington Post today, underlining the importance of a Russian troop withdrawal and promising “grave consequences” if Russia ignored the terms ...

TODAY: War uproots 100,000; irregular add-ons to Russian army are “terrorizing”; aid workers having trouble accessing areas; Vitaly Churkin says Russia’s role in Gori was humanitarian; Rice to visit Tbilisi; US and Poland agree on missile shield; “the Obama angle”. The war between Georgia and Russia has reportedly uprooted more than 100,000 people. Georgia said Russian troops still control one-third of the country, and that the Russian army has brought in “thousands and thousands of irregulars” who are terrorizing the country. Humanitarian aid groups and UN monitors are reportedly unable to reach large parts of Georgia due to insecure conditions, and Human Rights Watch says it has evidence that Russia used cluster bombs in civilian areas of Georgia. Russia’s claims of “genocide” in South Ossetia are coming under question. In the eyes of ...

For some – war, for some – mother is dear (Russian saying) Grigory Pasko, journalist This sure was a strange war. It was clear right from the start that nobody – besides several politicians – needed it. Several politicians – that would be Saakashvili, Putin, and Medvedev. By the way, the last of these no doubt also did not take part in all the decisions: senior comrade Putin simply ordered him to say this, to behave himself like that and no other way. Saakashvili was pursuing a goal: to attract the attention of the world public to a region of republics not recognized by anyone – South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Formally, they are counted in the composition of Georgia, in practice – they are protectorates of Russia. In South Ossetia even the leadership of the republic – is all Russian. The ...