Georgia is in turmoil. Over the past 72 hours, South Ossetian separatists have seized control of Tbilisi and are now operating with near impunity in and around the capital. The Georgian government is in shambles. With the capital engrossed in lawlessness and violence, civilians are fleeing in droves.
Without sufficient warning, US Embassy personal were unable to escape Georgia prior to South Ossetian forces seizing control of both the local airports and roadways. As of 1600 hours, the resident USMC unit, callsign GRAPPLER 11, had barricaded the embassy compound and were actively defending against an onslaught of separatist attacks. These attacks are believed to be deliberate actions by rouge separatist factions unconcerned with bringing the United States into the fray.
