Troops to leave 'sooner or later': Russian official
Despite Medvedev's pledge on Sunday, another Russian politician compared the presence of Russian troops in Georgia to the U.S. military presence in Iraq.
Konstantin Kosachev, chair of the Russian parliament's security committee, said the Russian forces would withdraw "sooner or later" but added the withdrawal would only occur when it was "assured that Georgians would not continue to use military force" in South Ossetia and another breakaway province, Abkhazia.
"If I would ask you in response to the same question how fast the American forces can leave Iraq, for example, the answer would be as soon as we have guarantees for peace and security there," Kosachev told reporters when asked about the withdrawal plans. "But how much time it will take, it depends definitely on how Georgians will continue to behave."....
Meanwhile on Monday, Eduard Kokoity, the separatist leader of South Ossetia, said he would ask Russia to set up a military base there while also declaring he would not allow international observers into the territory.
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THE NEW YORK TIMES
August 18, 2008 -WASHINGTON — Even as Russia pledged to begin withdrawing its forces from neighboring Georgia on Monday, American officials said the Russian military had been moving launchers for short-range ballistic missiles into South Ossetia, a step that appeared intended to tighten its hold on the breakaway territory.
The Russian military deployed several SS-21 missile launchers and supply vehicles to South Ossetia on Friday, according to American officials familiar with intelligence reports. From the new launching positions north of Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital, the missiles can reach much of Georgia, including Tbilisi, the capital.......