The eleventh day of the eleventh month has always seemed to me to be special. Even if the reason for it fell apart as the years went on, it was a symbol of something close to the high part of the heart. Perhaps a life that stretches through two or three wars takes its first war rather seriously, but I still think we should have kept the name “Armistice Day.” Its implications were a little more profound, a little more hopeful.

- Walt Kelly

In earlier years, I’ve featured Kelly’s words and one of his 11/11 Pogo strips. I’ve also previously highlighted some of Wilfred Owen’s poetry. World War I remains one of the most horrific of any wars, and is the reason 11/11 (Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, Veterans’ Day) is observed. I continue to wish it was studied more. Owen, who fought in WWI, is still probably my favorite war poet, but his friend, fellow soldier and war poet Siegfried Sassoon possessed a dark, biting wit. Their friendship has been depicted in several fictionalized accounts, including the award-winning novel Regeneration. Here’s a selection of Sassoon’s work.
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The Scotsman has a good article with questions and answers in regard to the conflict and international law.

“Georgia accuses Russia of executing a long-planned war with the aim of taking control of the pipeline that carries Asian oil to Black Sea ports.”

QuestionGirl was right. It was about the oil!

Georgian breakaway city in ruins

TSKHINVALI, South Ossetia (CNN) — Tskhinvali, the capital of the separatist Georgian province South Ossetia, lay in smoldering ruins Sunday after three days of fighting between Georgian troops and Russian forces.

Russia’s deputy foreign minister said at least 2,000 people, mostly South Ossetians who claim Russian citizenship, have been killed in Tskhinvali.

The fighting had spread well beyond South Ossetia, with Russian airstrikes on Georgian cities and with thousands of Russian troops in the breakaway province of Abkhazia.

The United States warned Sunday that “disproportionate” actions against Georgia could have a “significant long term impact on U.S.-Russian relations.”

Due the Russia/Georgia conflict, Georgia’s 2,000 troops will be withdrawn from Iraq to return home and help with that conflict. They have been stationed in an area southeast of the capital to help interdict supplies being smuggled to Shiite extremists from Iran. Athough the U.S. military is playing down the removal of these troops, it’s likely U.S. troops will have to replace them, which is significant because it’s a dangerous area and it’s on the Iranian border. Five Georgian troops have been killed in Iraq. Georgia has had the third largest number of troops in Iraq. They sent more troops in last year at a time when most countries were withdrawing.

Sources: Juan Cole, and the AP

Fair question. We illegally invaded Iraq and killed hundreds of thousands for oil. Well, that deserves some clarification. It wasn’t for the oil, in general. It was for the big oil companies, so they can get to the oil… it’s a “my-bestest-buddies / for-profit / greed” thing.

Georgia declares state of war with Russia

TBLISI, Georgia (CNN) — Georgia declared a state of war Saturday as fierce battles with Russia military over the breakaway region of South Ossetia entered their second day.

Russia has launched a full-scale military invasion of Georgia, President Mikhail Saakashvili said during a brief news conference Saturday afternoon.

President George W. Bush is “deeply concerned.”

“We are dealing with absolutely criminal and crazy acts of irresponsible and reckless decision makers, which is on the ground producing dramatic and tragic consequences,” Saakashvili said.

Saakashvili compared the Russian invasion, which he called unprovoked, to the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

In a new editorial published by AntiWar.com, former CIA officer Ray McGovern states that he believes “a perfect storm seems to be gathering in late summer or early fall,” when the Bush administration and allies in Israel will launch attacks against Iran.

“This time it will be largely the Air Force’s show, punctuated by missile and air strikes by the Navy,” writes McGovern. “Israeli-American agreement has now been reached at the highest level; the armed forces planners, plotters and pilots are working out the details.”

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