Gavin's Blog

Kirsty Wark is still using the line that Saakashvili himself started the war. At the very least, we do not know who started the conflict on August 7/8, and for the BBC to assume that they do is unprofessional. There are various accounts of who started the conflict, most recently from Michael Totten in Georgia, who asserted in no unncertain terms that it was Russia who started the most recent conflict. Saakashvili himself denies starting it.

At this juncture it might be better to stop asking Saakashvili how or why he miscalculated. It might be better to ask who did start it.

This video from Fox is all rather strange. It’s very emotive, and it looks scripted and rehearsed. What do you think?

I’ve been stewing on my Lara Marlowe post for some days. While I lack any of her experience in the field, and don’t intend filing copy in any way similar to her own, I do find myself asking how I would do things differently. And if I am to do things differently, I have to put up or shut up. My date for departure looks to be around September 20.

Provisionally, the equipment I will bring with me to Georgia will be the following:

My Canon 20D. Still learning the intricacies, and with a standard lens for now. Battery grip and two batteries. 2 x 1GB compact flash and 1 x 4GB.

An EeePC 901. Relatively solid, portable. 1 x 8GB SDHC card for portable storage. I will probably bring this instead of my MacBook Pro.

A Flip Ultra. Will be testing it shortly, so this would be a make-it-up-as-you-go-along effort. But could prove invaluable, it is compact, durable and solid-state. The Mino would be nicer but I haven’t seen it around.

What other gear should I bring, if any?

Update: Michael Totten recommends an Olympus voice recorder. I might get one in duty free.

I have been accused of being biased in favour of Georgia in prior posts. I guess I should explain.

Since the conflict I have been watching just as much CNN and Sky News as I have been Russia Today. The coverage of Russia Today has been astounding. I can’t recall watching such bile, it could even compete with Fox News for sheer blatant propaganda. Indeed one British Russia Today journalist resigned as a result of an editorial decision not to let him talk about the Russian bombardment of Gori.

But it is not so much that I am biased in favour of Georgia, it is that I question the claims of Russia. In order for 2,000 civilians to be killed in Tshinvali, there would have to be several times that figure injured. Not even the pictures from Russia Today show that level of injury (and I’m sure if there were, they would). Recent reports from media outlets and Human Rights Watch back up the claim that far, far less than 2,000 people were killed in any bombardment of Tshinvali. Perhaps just 5% of that figure.

So too is Russia using Ossetia as a casus belli in Abkazia, and further movements into Georgia proper, including the destruction of Georgian civilian infrastructure which goes far beyond Russia’s stated aims of reducing Georgian military abilities.

But I realise that from Ireland it is not entirely easy to ascertain the facts of the situation. Depending on the security situation in Georgia, I plan on going to Tbilisi in mid-September. Perhaps I can get a better idea of what happened or what is happening.

I plan to start from the Georgian side simply because it is easier in terms of access and visas, and I have contacts in the city who can provide accommodation and translation. If I can gain access to the Russian side, I will. And again it depends on the security situation.

Any trip will also include travel away from Tbilisi, specifically to Telavi in the north-east of the country, where relatives of friends reside. This region has been relatively unaffected by the conflict.

I won’t decide on any travel to the more volatile regions, such as Gori, until I am in the country. And if readers are concerned that I am being somewhat rash, please don’t be. I had planned on visiting Georgia last year but had to postpone it. Things look like they have settled down sufficiently to allow safe travel to a degree I find acceptable.