I'm sitting in the Eugene, OR, airport en route to Tbilisi, Georgia for the final meeting of our NATO -OSCE South Caucasus River Monitoring Project. I am not looking forward to the trip, but not because I'm connecting through Heathrow. I'll miss these annual meetings and the camaraderie of my friends from Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, and Norway. Hard to say when or if I will return.
I am curious to see what the Georgians are thinking and what Georgia looks like after the Russian invasion. There are still Russian troops in country; they are supposed to be out by 10 October, the day I depart for home.
I do know one thing for sure: I doubt we will be taking any field trips, like the one we took last year up the spectacular Georgian Military Highway. That drive, almost to the Russian border (which was closed), was an enjoyable trip, and we skirted the eastern boundary of South Ossetia. Here I am at about 2500 meters above mean sea level testing my augering skills as Eric observes.
So why will we be sticking close to Tbilisi? Too much risk of encountering UXO - unexploded ordnance - or Russian troops.
I'll provide reports when I can. Don't forget to check my personal blog, Campanastan.
"If you forgive the fox for stealing your chickens, he will take your sheep." -- Georgian proverb
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