Is Russia Pulling Out Or Not?

Now we can't even be sure. Just depends on which news source you go by I guess. I don't see it being possible to do both to the extremes that are being reported thus far. On one side, you have reports that streams of Russian armor are heading out of Georgia proper. On the other side, there are reports of Russian soldiers digging in at checkpoints they've set up. Which suggests "they" are there to stay a while.

We'll start with the reporting about pullbacks. Per the AP article found HERE, you have this opening to their article;

"IGOETI, Georgia - Russian military convoys rolled out of three key positions in Georgia and headed toward Moscow-backed separatist regions on Friday in a significant withdrawal two weeks after thousands of troops roared into the former Soviet republic."

It was followed up with this tid bit;

"In western Georgia, a column of 83 tanks, APCs and trucks hauling artillery moved away from the Senaki military base north toward the border of Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region on Friday afternoon."

When you read the AP article, you will see there are also reports of another 40+ Russian military vehicles having departed the area around Gori, headed towards South Ossetia. As well as several checkpoints having been abandoned by Russian forces. But now the full withdrawal isn't expected to be completed for another 10 days, per "a top Russian general."

But at least they are leaving, right?

We'll, let's see what the negative reporting says. As found on the International Herald site, not only the U.S., but Germany as well, said "they had not seen clear evidence of a substantial withdrawal." Georgia says it has seen some movement by Russia, to leave. When you read the IHT article, you'll find the following comment which does support something;

"Georgia's National Security Council secretary Kakha Lomaia said Russian troops had left the key central town of Gori and were pulling back from some surrounding areas." But that was immediately followed with this comment; "But outside the Black Sea port of Poti, over 200 km (120 miles) west of the main conflict zone, a Reuters photographer saw Russian soldiers using an excavator to dig a trench at a checkpoint guarded by troops and armoured personnel carriers."

Uh? Pull backs anyone?

There's also reporting about Russian soldiers simply tossing blue helmet bands or armbands on to give the "new" appearance of being part of the peace keeping force, instead of an occupational force. Russia has also it seems, to have extended the buffer zones between both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, upwards of 30Km into Georgia.

This just gets lovelier all the time.