Georgia/Russia Conflict

[Brad and Vika 129]

What about Cr-1 Visas, any ideas if they could be affected?

Sorry Ilya - no idea

[slim 1,533]

Is this the site? http://www.appleseedinfo.org/ . (wow, that's some annoying intro music, and no way to turn it off that I can see!) Thanks for the info, I'll check them out. I was actually looking into a hand gun for starters, but I'm thinking of a rifle in the long term, so I'll have to keep your offer in mind, if for anything else than to buy you a beer.

That's the one! The music (drum beat) actually shuts off after a few seconds.

Offer stands for mox and for everyone. You get a rifle and get to an Appleseed, I'll get there to instruct you.

Mox, a good gun for the home is a winchester defender or maybe a 357 large frame revolver loaded with 38 glaser rounds.

I'll give a big for the Winchester Defender. A 12 gauge pump is about the best thing for a "newbie" to use (I know you're not 100% green, mox, but I bet you didn't do very many house to house combat drills in the Navy.) because not only does it intimidate the poop out of the bad guys, but it's relatively easy to use and highly unlikely that you'll miss your target. Plus, even as big as it is, collateral damage is pretty low with shot shells. Plus, it's PRK (People's Republic of Kalifornia) friendly.

A friend of mine is selling his Sig P220. Everything I've read about the gun says it's a pretty decent gun. Anyone have thoughts?

Very good all-around gun. The military was actually going to adopt the P220 instead of the Beretta 92FS but ended up with the Beretta becuase of legalities/contract issues, NATO influence, etc. Certain special units (CID, NCIS, even the FBI) have the P220 as standard issue.

But watch the price though.... depending on condition, a good used one with 2 clips should fall between $500-$600. If he wants more than that, barter a little or head to the pawn shop or gun show.

On that note, I traded for a Para Ordnance Warthog today at the gun show. What an appropriate name because it's a little monster!

Today's Los Angeles Times quotes an anonymous "American Official" saying that sanctions may be imposed against Russia. One of the sanctions he listed was restricting visas for Russians. This has me worried most of all............

I've got to believe that K visas would be the last sort to be restricted, because thet are done at the request of a USC. Especially a K-3.

Once again, restrictions, sanctions, etc. do not relate to K-1/3 visa processing. Short of closing the embassy down your visa will not be delayed any more than it already is.

[slim 1,533]

Cool. I'm so gonna take you up on that if I ever get a rifle.

That should say when I get a rifle, right? And for Appleseed, a simple Ruger 10/22 from Wal-Mart works quite well.

Yeah I pretty much re-qualified on the .45 every year...ish.

So you're pretty much starting all over again. It's like riding a bike, but your proficiency is perishable.

He's cutting me a pretty good deal, $500 and he's only shot it a couple times. It's practically new, with the addition of some aftermarket (Hogue) grips and 2 extra clips.

$500 would be a great deal for that gun. Jump on it!

Over father's day I was back in Denver with the family, and we took all the dads out. My uncle loves to start political arguments with me because he's pretty far right, while I'm left on most issues. He starts in on his "why do you want to take my guns away?" and I'm like "hell, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm in the market for a gun myself. In fact, I might just join the NRA." He almost had a stroke, poor guy. I completely shattered his world view. I actually have no intention of joining the NRA though. I do believe in extremely minimal levels of gun control (i.e. keeping mortars and anti-tank weapons out of civillian hands), and I don't think the NRA is going to stop until you can have a stinger missile system for home defense.

The NRA is kind of a touchy subject for me too. As of right now, I'm not a member because the entire political process disgusts me. However, they're about the only people doing anything worthwhile in Washington to protect RKBA and like all other things in Washington, the only thing that matters is money and votes. I'll probably be joining in the near future so I can "stand and be counted" (and put some of my money to good use lobbying Congressmen.)

This sets me apart from those liberals who really do want to take away your/our 5th amendment rights, but hey, I likes me some dolphin with my tuna too, so meh.

That dolpin tuna is good. A little mayo and some mustard....mmmm delicious. However, I don't know if that has anything to do with keeping our guns. It may have something to do with keeping us from incriminating ourselves though. (Thanks, Miranda!)

[PJB 0]

But if America restricts visas for Russians, Russia will restrict visas for Americans (reciprocity). Which means those of us who have a spouse in Russia won't be able to visit during this long stupid visa wait. Also if we want to visit relatives there it could be complicated or impossible. Then our Russian spouses with American citizenship could have trouble trying to visit back home and may run the risk of not being able to get back here.

It could get tough for USCs, but wouldn't she be in effect a dual citizen? So Russia wouldn't recognize her US passport, and she would use the Russian one. Vice-versa here.

My husband will come in on K3 visa but his mother is in her 80s and if something happens to her he wants to be able to get back to Russia quickly (and be able to come back to the US without any delays or problems). I am the USC but want to be able to visit him while we wait for the immigration process. Already all the new Russian visa restrictions and registration headaches are making getting back and forth difficult and stressful. Add to that the fear that Passport Control will not let one of us through is just too stressful. Last fall Russian Passport control refused exit to a French citizen who is the wife of a duma member. She has legal permanent residency in Russia and had just renewed her documents in Moscow. But they passed a new law and overnight everyone who had permanent residency needed NEW documents which take weeks or months to get. Just one of the fun little games that this stupid cold war mentality created.............

[Brad and Vika 129]

But if America restricts visas for Russians, Russia will restrict visas for Americans (reciprocity). Which means those of us who have a spouse in Russia won't be able to visit during this long stupid visa wait. Also if we want to visit relatives there it could be complicated or impossible. Then our Russian spouses with American citizenship could have trouble trying to visit back home and may run the risk of not being able to get back here.

It could get tough for USCs, but wouldn't she be in effect a dual citizen? So Russia wouldn't recognize her US passport, and she would use the Russian one. Vice-versa here.

My husband will come in on K3 visa but his mother is in her 80s and if something happens to her he wants to be able to get back to Russia quickly (and be able to come back to the US without any delays or problems). I am the USC but want to be able to visit him while we wait for the immigration process. Already all the new Russian visa restrictions and registration headaches are making getting back and forth difficult and stressful. Add to that the fear that Passport Control will not let one of us through is just too stressful. Last fall Russian Passport control refused exit to a French citizen who is the wife of a duma member. She has legal permanent residency in Russia and had just renewed her documents in Moscow. But they passed a new law and overnight everyone who had permanent residency needed NEW documents which take weeks or months to get. Just one of the fun little games that this stupid cold war mentality created.............

I hear that. Small consolation that lots of USCs that actually want to visit relatives with there spouse will be in the same boat. Nothing to be done about changes to laws and regs, the target seems to move in Ukraine too - nature of the situation.

[NavarreMan 10]

Sorta back on topic:

Georgian President being presidential!

[Kotenochek 0]

Here is a page where you can read what actually is happening in Georgia,this page also has videos,they are georgian,but you still can see the picture of what is happening...

http://rustavi2.com/

[Ilya R. 0]

Here is a page where you can read what actually is happening in Georgia,this page also has videos,they are georgian,but you still can see the picture of what is happening...

http://rustavi2.com/

Yes Terrific unbiased website....

thanks....

[Bobalouie 0]

Here is a page where you can read what actually is happening in Georgia,this page also has videos,they are georgian,but you still can see the picture of what is happening...

http://rustavi2.com/

Yes Terrific unbiased website....

thanks....

And Russian websites/news sources aren't biased? I can tell you without a doubt that the western ones are.

[Ilya R. 0]

Here is a page where you can read what actually is happening in Georgia,this page also has videos,they are georgian,but you still can see the picture of what is happening...

http://rustavi2.com/

Yes Terrific unbiased website....

thanks....

And Russian websites/news sources aren't biased? I can tell you without a doubt that the western ones are.

They are biased, but at least there some kind of similarities with information provided.(Russian/Western/European) If you read this website, its pretty heavy on made up articles without any evidence.

[Bobalouie 0]

Here is a page where you can read what actually is happening in Georgia,this page also has videos,they are georgian,but you still can see the picture of what is happening...

http://rustavi2.com/

Yes Terrific unbiased website....

thanks....

And Russian websites/news sources aren't biased? I can tell you without a doubt that the western ones are.

They are biased, but at least there some kind of similarities with information provided.(Russian/Western/European) If you read this website, its pretty heavy on made up articles without any evidence.

I see very little similarity between any of them. There are 3 story lines going on right now. Wesern/European, Russian, and Georgian. They all say different things. Russia says Georgia killed 2000 innocent civilians, Georgia says Russia has killed 1000's of innocent civilians, Western/European with reporters in country are saying "hundreds" and in some cases "dozens" which is an order of magnitude different.

Russia knows what really is going on but tell it with an obvious pro-Russian slant, Georgia knows whats really going on but tell it with an obvious pro-Georgian slant, Western/European think they know whats going on (probably dont), but everyone is telling a different story. The truth is somewhere in the middle. But Russia isnt doing itself any favors by signing a cease-fire and then instead of withdrawing their troops, or at the very least stopping them where they are, they continue to push forward for four days.

Edited August 18, 2008 by Bobalouie

[Kotenochek 0]

I am sorry that videos are Georgian,if they were Russian,russian people would come out on the streets again their president..there are over 6 000 georgian people killed...and since i have families in both countires i pretty much know whats going there...

Yesterday Russians took over village

Ahalgori,where i pretty much spent all my childhood vacations..SAd...People still get killed and raped,their houses get burned..If you guys speak Russian watch videos there how russian soldiers are stealing stuff from georgians and by the way they come from Chechnya not Russia!!!these soldiers are sick..I feel bad for them..Instead of taking care of them,thats what government does.uses their insanity...to harm civilians..

Its easy for you guys talk shitt about Georgia,if your fsmily was there you would thing differently..and again Russian web pages are like a yellow press,no even tiny thing of truth there...ust read pages on all languages availible for you and analyze..Have your own opinion,not what your government wants you to think...

[Kotenochek 0]

and couple days ago my cousine had to go through hell..since he is a driver of the train that goes through Kaspi...He had to go there to bring people back from vacations where they were stuck...On the Way Russians came in and riped clothes from women,just to humiliate,they touched them,had sex with couple,Of course Georgian guys tried to protect them,but they got beat up and some got shoot..My cousine crowled back home to his 2 babies(2,and 5 year olds),he was so beat up he cant even walk..and guess what if he done anything wrong he would be one of those 6000 that nobody cares about:(

Now think..what these people that suffer have done?Nothing!

[Brad and Vika 129]

and couple days ago my cousine had to go through hell..since he is a driver of the train that goes through Kaspi...He had to go there to bring people back from vacations where they were stuck...On the Way Russians came in and riped clothes from women,just to humiliate,they touched them,had sex with couple,Of course Georgian guys tried to protect them,but they got beat up and some got shoot..My cousine crowled back home to his 2 babies(2,and 5 year olds),he was so beat up he cant even walk..and guess what if he done anything wrong he would be one of those 6000 that nobody cares about:(

Now think..what these people that suffer have done?Nothing!

I am sorry your family is going through this difficult time. You are right, it is easy to for any of us to be critical when our relatives are not suffering. The Georgian President has a very abrasive rhetoric that makes his message very hard for some people to take. I also think there are some here who just believe in Russia (right or wrong), or don't like American policy towards Georgia.

We can all agree that the time for violence should end, and humanitarian aid needs to be delivered to the many families on both sides of the conflict. I hope things get better for your relatives, and every one stays safe® from now on in Georgia.

[Bobalouie 0]

I am sorry that videos are Georgian,if they were Russian,russian people would come out on the streets again their president..there are over 6 000 georgian people killed...and since i have families in both countires i pretty much know whats going there...

Yesterday Russians took over village

Ahalgori,where i pretty much spent all my childhood vacations..SAd...People still get killed and raped,their houses get burned..If you guys speak Russian watch videos there how russian soldiers are stealing stuff from georgians and by the way they come from Chechnya not Russia!!!these soldiers are sick..I feel bad for them..Instead of taking care of them,thats what government does.uses their insanity...to harm civilians..

Its easy for you guys talk shitt about Georgia,if your fsmily was there you would thing differently..and again Russian web pages are like a yellow press,no even tiny thing of truth there...ust read pages on all languages availible for you and analyze..Have your own opinion,not what your government wants you to think...

I hope you are not angry at me, I meant no offense. I do have an opinion, and believe me, it does not go over well with my wife. I personally think that Russia is flexing its mucsles a little bit at the expense of Georgia. Put a little fear in the masses, so to speak. Poland, Latvia, Lituania, Ukraine, all the Stans will all think twice before trying to deal with or talk tough with Russia. That is my personal opinion, based on what I am reading, and a good bit of history.