Russian Never Said They'd Do A Withdrawal--Just 'Pullback'

Besides manipulating the media, don't forget that Russia knows how to manipulate Western leaders too:

Russia 'Starts Georgia Pull-Out'

Russia says it has started to pull troops out of Georgia despite reports that they are moving deeper into Georgian territory.

The deputy head of Russia's general staff, General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said: "Today, in line with the plan, the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers has begun."

But he added that there had been a misunderstanding about President Dmitry Medvedev's promise to pull forces out of Georgia.

"There is a distinction between the understandings of a 'pullback' and a 'withdrawal'... In the conversation with French President Sarkozy, the discussion was about a pullback of forces, not a withdrawal," he said.

Russian forces will pull back to the borders of South Ossetia, the separatist region of Georgia at the centre of the conflict, General Nogovitsyn said.

He would not say how many Russian troops will remain in Georgia.

This is Sarkozy's handiwork? Another Jimmy Carter in the making??

[Hat tip: Hot Air Headlines]

Technorati Tag: Russia and Georgia.