Russian Missiles in South Ossetia

It has been reported that Russia has placed Tochka ballistic missiles South Ossetia, which broke
away from Georgia in 2008.

These missiles are also called SS-21 Scarab, and have a range of about 75 miles. They are capable
of stopping any aggression from Georgia according to reports from Russia.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry stated "The deployment poses a direct and overt threat to the
peaceful population and territory of Georgia. By taking such actions Russia follows through
with its aggressive policy directed towards the destruction of the Georgian statehood and
elimination of the peaceful population of Georgia, as well as towards causing large-scale
instability in the Caucasus and through out the Black Sea Region"

The statement went on to say "It needs to be emphasized that it was with the use of
(Tochka) systems that the Russia Federation completely destroyed the city of Balmut
(Republic of Chechnya) and eliminated its peaceful population. The ballistic missiles
of this system can be equipped with cluster (consisting of 50 bomb-lets) and nuclear
warheads."

So it seems that Russia is determined to maintain its pressure on Georgia, and to further
build its forces in the region. The quiet may not last much longer. We can only hope
that both sides can reach a peaceful conclusion.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996