Dateline: BUCHAREST

In his most harsh and strongly worded statements since the outbreak of hostilities between Russia and Georgia US President Bush has warned Russia not to overthrow Georgia’s “duly elected government” and that their continued actions against the sovereign nation of Georgia has “wounded its world standing and endangered ties with the West.” Bush said “”Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century.”

Media pundits seem to be praising this statement and saying it is very harsh criticism of Russia but this writer, as an American citizen, believes that more must be done to come to the aid and support of a staunch ally who, before this conflict with Russia, had the third highest contingent of troops serving in the Iraqi coalition.

Earlier this evening a friend on the outskirts of Tbilisi saw Georgian convoys of trucks full of troops and large pieces of artillery returning from Gori in a hasty retreat in order to set up defensive positions around the capital of Tbilisi.

From another friend and Georgian journalist via Facebook as phones are unreliable:

“8:25pm local time. Russian tanks advancing in the West gobbling towns on their way. Zugdidi and Senaki have fallen. Gori under siege”

“8:56pm local time. Fierce battle in Gori. Population evacuated. The city still holds. Khobi fell.”

“10:11pm local time. Gori has fallen”

“10:20pm local time. Georgian toops retreat and put reinforcements around Tbilisi. Two journalits killed in Gori”

“10:40pm. Tbilisi anticipates air strike. People closing up stores, moving to basements. U.S. Dep Secretary of State has arrived. Hope this will deter Russians.”

Alexander Lomaia, the secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council, has said at midnight that there are no armed clashes currently underway. He also stated that Russian troops were in the strategic port city of Poti near the Abkhaz border but this has yet to be confirmed by another source. He confirmed the Russian Defense Ministry’s announcement that the Russian forces pulled back from Senaki.

A source on the ground in the Georgian town of Khashuri on the main East-West road reports they have been bombed. This shows the attacks across the territory of Georgia are ongoing and not winding down as some international media sources seem to be indicating. Phone lines are very spotty to Georgia from abroad but we have received an sms from Khashuri saying simply “we have just been bombed”. Khashuri also contains the main east-west railway hub in Georgia and may have some strategic value. These reports are unconfirmed by any media source as of now. We will provide more updates as we receive them.

Independent Georgian TV station Rustavi 2 is reporting that foreign ministers and representatives are coming to Georgia tomorrow and won’t leave until Russia pulls out of Georgian territory completely. Not clear if that means South Ossetia and Abkhazia as well but that is doubtful at this point in the conflict with Russia in clear control and able to dictate terms and back them up with force. Countries reportedly sending representatives include France, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine among others potentially. This could turn out to be a very interesting development indeed if it is confirmed. Of course the Baltic states have issued statements of strong support for Georgia already and thus have taken risky steps that could severely jeopardize their future relations with Russia.

In other news from the US President Bush is due to address the nation at 5:15 PM EST regarding the situation in Georgia so we will report about that and have analysis forthcoming. Stay tuned…

Unconfirmed reports from contacts on the ground are reporting that Russian forces have advanced from Gori on the main highway and are now in Mtskheta, only 20km and less than half an hour from Tbilisi. Interesting to note that nearly no fighting is being reported. More to come as we receive and can confirm these reports…

UPDATE: Mikheil Saakashvili has asked Tbilisi residents to stay put, in an effort to assuage the population. Once again, the reports regarding the presence of Russian troops in Mtskheta are unconfirmed as of now!

In the continuing and escalating war of words between the United States and Russia at the highest levels of Government the Russian Prime Minister Putin has accused the United States of actively trying to impede their ongoing military operations in Georgia. This came after President Bush harshly condemned Russia for their military operations in Georgia.

“I regret that some of our partners are not helping us but in fact are trying to impede us. I am referring to the US transfer, aboard its military transport planes and directly into the conflict zone, of the Georgian military contingent from Iraq,” Putin was quoted by AFP as saying on Monday.

Estonia has now entered into the Russian-Georgian conflict in a unique way by sending cyber defense experts to help protect against Russian hackers. Estonia is highly experienced in this regard as they themselves faced a barrage of attacks by Russian hackers earlier this year.

“Estonia will send to Georgia two specialists in information security from the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Estonia, Foreign Ministry representatives told the Baltic News Service.”

The interesting aspect of this development that for Russia to respond to this development would directly imply that they are directly behind and responsible for the ongoing cyber attacks against official and unnoficial Georgian websites. Depending on if or how Russia responds to this news could mean that Estonia has also entered into the fray.

Reports are quickly coming in that Russian troops have advanced more than 40km inside Georgia to the town of Senaki. The town is southeast of the border town of Zugdidi, which Russian troops also occupy now, and is important militarily as it is host to the second NATO standard base for the Georgian military. The second infantry of the Georgian army is stationed in Senaki. The first NATO standard base is in the town of Gori near the conflict in South Ossetia. It seems Russia wants to completely cripple the Georgian military before talking about ceasing the fighting. More details soon…

According to preliminary sources Russia has already rejected the draft ceasefire  proposal that was signed by President Saakashvili. Russia has accused Georgia of continuing to use military force against its forces and has therefore rejected the pretext for any ceasefire at this point in time. Click here for more details on the ongoing efforts by the the EU delegation headed by French FM Kouchner to secure a ceasefire and end the hostilities.