Russia Halts Attack on Georgia

At approximately 7:00 AM EST this morning, it was announced that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced a cease fire to the attacks on independent Georgia.

After five days of various land and air attacks, according to Associated Press, Medvedev is quoted as saying the military had "punished Georgia enough". However, he also said that the Russian military would defend itself if any new signs of Georgian resistance appear.

Russian officials have been claiming that Georgia instigated the attacks by invading Ossetia, an independent province, because of ethnic cleansing.

However, last night on a Fox News Alert interview, Retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters warned that nations and people should not believe Russia's reason for the original advance into Ossetia last week, or for their reported advancement into other Georgian towns, such as Gori, basically cutting Georgia in half. (This interview is not yet catalogued online, however, related Fox stories can be found here) Russian spokespersons have denied taking Gori.

Peters stated that indications show Russia has been planning the invasion for some time, unprovoked, and that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin fully intends to put the entire USSR back together.

Peters further stated that if Georgia, currently an independent sovereign nation, were to be captured and forcefully reunited with Russia, then Russia could invade the Ukraine next and other former pieces of the USSR which are now independent. He calls this aggression into Georgia "aggression at the Hitler level", and advises that the U.S. and other world powers begin diplomatically supporting Georgia's independence.

According to ABC, Georgian Ambassador to the UN Irakli Alasania called on the Security Council to act on behalf of that country. Countries such as France were also drafting resolutions to call for ceasefire as of yesterday.

What does it mean to be a "Sovereign Nation"?

"National Sovereignty" means that a nation functions completely independently of the rule or power of any higher governmental authority. The United States of America is a "sovereign nation", and many political analysts have said that our current evolving relationship with the United Nations, such as it extends to the possibility of our military wearing U.N. uniforms, has the potential to threaten U.S. national sovereignty.

Although a cease fire was called for, Georgian officials have been reporting throughout the day that the country is still being bombed. Stay up to date on the Russia - Georgia conflict resolution by watching your favorite news channel.