word choice
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/world/…
GORI, Georgia – Russian air attacks over northern Georgia intensified on Saturday morning, striking two apartment buildings in the city of Gori and clogging roads out of the area with fleeing refugees.
Russian authorities said their forces had retaken the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, from Georgian control during the morning hours.
“Retaken” ?
Given that it’s a Georgian city, how could Russian forces “retake” it?
When we took Baghdad, we “took” it, we didn’t “retake” it.
They reported that 15 Russian peacekeepers and 1,500 civilians have been killed in the conflict…
“Peacekeepers” ?
What peace are they keeping?
Does the NYT usually use the word “peacekeepers” to describe invading troops? I don’t recall seeing US forces in Iraq described that way…
August 9th, 2008 at 11:49 am
They were keeping the peace of the Bear
August 9th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Given that it’s a Georgian city, how could Russian forces “retake” it?
It goes like this
Georgia broke away from the failing Soviet Union. South Ossetia broke away from Georgia. There was a nasty civil war that ended with South Ossetia de-facto separate from Georgia, supported by Russia. Russian, Georgian and (I think) troops from other places were installed as peacekeepers.
A few days ago Georgia sent in their troops, and over-ran SO. Russians sent in their troops and over-ran the Georgians.