Comments on: The Rose Reversal

By: Inkan1969

Inkan1969 — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:01:50 +0000

What happens now? You would think that Saakashvili has committed political suicide, as even people sympathetic with him seem to be left dumbfounded at the overreaction, and troubled by the closing of media. But are there any political forces out there that really could force him to resign?

By: jb

jb — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:34:37 +0000

As the day grinds on, “stunned” appears to be shifting to “furious”. Rustaveli is closed again, and it’s killing local businesses. (Actually, a larger stretch is closed today than during the past few days of protests.) Additionally, people are getting their heads around just how brutal the police were yesterday.

We’ll see. Yesterday’s actions were ridiculously over the top.

By: jb

jb — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:26:54 +0000

I think he’s pretty entrenched for now. Storming Imedi was definitely over the top, and destroying Badri Patarkatsishvili’s amusement park was ridiculous. But it all happened, and it looks right now (and I mean right now, as I’m typing this in an internet cafe on Rustaveli Ave.) that the military is sticking by Misha.

The general mood in the city, if I had to characterize it right now, is stunned. A fun time to be here.

By: brenden

brenden — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 06:18:02 +0000

I live in Georgia, and I’ve been watching the events unfold for awhile on TV and talking with the georgian fam I live with (who, incidentally, have a cousin now in prison because of the riots), and the media coverage on both sides has been incredibly biased. One news report said that after 6 days of rioting (what the hell??? this has been the most peaceful demonstration ever) the police finally moved in… others are saying that after protesters attempted to give the police freshly baked chocolate chip cookies they were brutally beaten and potentially sexually abused. Let’s get some common sense on both sides… the protesters tried to block rustaveli, the police said no, and then they got tear gassed. sucks to be everyone.

And yes, good lord, georgian riot police are F******* scary. Especially when they’re riding behind sonic weapons on the back of the truck, or in columns of about 500. freaky as hell to watch.

By: Michael Hancock

Michael Hancock — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 04:56:11 +0000

Where’s Gordon Freeman when we need him! Calling all MIT grads with knowledge of quantum physics! Georgia needs You!

But seriously — I was with you Josh. Granted, I was silent, so it’s hardly worth mentioning.

By: Joshua Foust

Joshua Foust — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:32:42 +0000

I think we should focus on the real news here, which is that those masks are freaking awesome. And when I say “awesome,” I mean “dear god why.”

Meanwhile, remember a couple days ago when our erstwhile commenters chided me for wondering how long Saakashvili had left in office? You think that still holds?