Bush orders U.S. military to help Georgian civilians

[Mark Kerr]

This could get really bad.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Wednesday he is dispatching U.S. military personnel to Georgia in a "vigorous and ongoing" mission to provide humanitarian aid to victims of the fighting between Russian and Georgian troops.

Shortly after Bush spoke, the White House announced that a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo jet carrying medical supplies arrived in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.

Another C-17 is to arrive in Tbilisi on Thursday carrying more supplies, including 104,000 doses of antibiotics requested by the Georgian Ministry of Health, a State Department spokesman said. The value of both shipments is $1.28 million, he said.

Bush said more U.S. military aid missions were planned by the Navy and Air Force.

He warned Russia not to interfere with any relief efforts.

"We expect Russia to honor its commitment to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance. We expect Russia to ensure that all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, airports, roads, and airspace, remain open for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for civilian transit," Bush said at the White House.

Russia sent troops and tanks into the breakaway Georgia region of South Ossetia last week after Georgia's military acted to clamp down on Russian-linked separatists there. Separatists in South Ossetia want independence -- or unification with North Ossetia, which is in Russia.

Russian forces have since moved out of South Ossetia and into other parts of Georgia.

Bush said he expected Russia to honor a truce agreement made Tuesday.

"We expect Russia to meet its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia, and we expect all Russian forces that entered Georgia in recent days to withdraw from that country," Bush said.

The president said he was sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Europe to express "America's unwavering support" for the Georgian government.

Rice will travel to France, which negotiated the cease-fire between Russia and Georgia on Tuesday. Rice will then head to Tbilisi,Bush said.

French President Sarkozy, acting as the president of the European Union, had negotiated the cease-fire agreement, which called for U.S. ally Georgia and Russia to each return to the position it held on August 6, before Georgia's crackdown on South Ossetia.

Bush said the United States is concerned about reports that Russian units have taken positions on the east side of Gori, which is just outside of South Ossetia, and that they have entered and taken positions in the Black Sea port city of Poti.

Russian personnel carriers were moving toward the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, CNN's Matthew Chance also reported on Wednesday.

Dimitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Russian government, said Wednesday that the troops were demilitarizing the area near the South Ossetia border and "never had plans" to travel to the capital.

Administration officials told CNN that the U.S. and its European allies were considering kicking Russia out of the G-8, the group of the world's largest industrial economies, and other international organizations as punishment for its actions in Georgia. They also said Russia's relationship with NATO was also at risk.

The priority was to get Russian troops out of Georgia. The U.S. had communicated that to the Russia government, administration officials told CNN. The Russians who said they have no intention of keeping troops permanently in Georgia, U.S. officials told CNN.

The U.S. appears to have let its European allies take the lead on the diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting in Georgia, Zain Verjee, CNN's State Department correspondent, said.

The Europeans have a greater influence over Russia and the U.S. needs Russia to help with other thorny diplomatic issues, such as efforts to pressure Iran to suspend its nuclear program, Verjee reported.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili criticized the U.S. for not taking more measures to help during an interview with CNN Wednesday.

"America is losing the whole region, and this is the region of eastern and central Europe," said Saakashvili, who called for the U.S. and European powers to send peacekeepers to the region. "This is much bigger than any other place where there is America influence, and this is the most natural allies of America."

"Who else can stand up for liberty in the world?" Saakashvili asked.

But U.S. officials said they warned Saakashvili not to provoke Russia militarily by sending Georgian troops into South Ossetia and that they had ruled out any U.S. military action to defend Georgia.

Russia's move in Georgia is happening amid an overall struggle between the U.S. and Russia for influence within Eastern Europe. From the Russia's point of view, American support for Georgia is a direct threat to its influence.

By striking heavily in Georgia, Moscow is sending a signal to other former Soviet republics, like Ukraine and Moldova, said Sarah Mendelson, the director of the Human Rights and Security Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

"If I were a neighbor of Russia and I saw what Russia had done in Georgia, I would be very nervous," Mendelson said. "I think those countries that are leaning toward the West are very nervous today."

[bigdumbbell]

we need to help our white brothers and fast

[BroadStreetBruiser]

It was nice knowning all off you when we all nuke each other over some 3rd world shithole.

[Deicide]

This could get really bad.

Will the interventionism ever end?! 

[CalvinH]

US soldiers were already there training the Georgian troops.

[Tapeworm]

I'm sure The American People will stand firmly behind this latest deployment.  Again.

[Deicide]

US soldiers were already there training the Georgian troops.

JCET...

Sigh...

[titusisback]

we need to help our white brothers and fast

I bet you had never even heard of Georgia before last week 

[Brutal_1]

Instead of sending a C-17 cargo jet...

probably would've been more helpful to send an AC-130 Gunship

[Figo]

Georgia started attacking civilians, because they voiced their displeasure at being a part of Georgia,and wanting independence.

Those civilians were Russian passport-holders, so Russia retaliated and helped evacuate them.

Georgia declares  cease-fire, and breaks it the next day, by attacking the evacuating civilians.

Georgians are commiting genocide.

Russians are helping their own people and protecting them.

Why is the USA and Bush taking the Georgian side?

[Disgusted]

It was nice knowning all off you when we all nuke each other over some 3rd world shithole.

     

[bigdumbbell]

I bet you had never even heard of Georgia before last week 

wrong  i read all about georgia in foreign service 101

[Deicide]

Georgia started attacking civilians, because they voiced their displeasure at being a part of Georgia,and wanting independence.

Those civilians were Russian passport-holders, so Russia retaliated and helped evacuate them.

Georgia declares  cease-fire, and breaks it the next day, by attacking the evacuating civilians.

Georgians are commiting genocide.

Russians are helping their own people and protecting them.

Why is the USA and Bush taking the Georgian side?

Guess you missed out on the last 7 years...

[Figo]

Guess you missed out on the last 7 years...

They found oil in Georgia?

[Deicide]

They found oil in Georgia?

Well....not that you mention it, it certainly is CLOSE to the Caspian.

Why do think we have Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo? To keep the peace?...to keep the oil pipelines flowing...

[Figo]

Well....not that you mention it, it certainly is CLOSE to the Caspian.

Why do think we have Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo? To keep the peace?...to keep the oil pipelines flowing...

Im not in the US, but do know re US/Georgia relations since 90's. Obviously something is of interest to your gov, but to accept the feeble excuses and lies of the Georgian puppet president, knowing fully well that Russia is right?

A decade or so ago, the US took the other side when it was Kosovo, and it was exactly the same story...

[Deicide]

Im not in the US, but do know re US/Georgia relations since 90's. Obviously something is of interest to your gov, but to accept the feeble excuses and lies of the Georgian puppet president, knowing fully well that Russia is right?

A decade or so ago, the US took the other side when it was Kosovo, and it was exactly the same story...

It was always about oil pipelines...primarily. Anything else is just an add on for the story.

[ibfasport]

better stay out of russia...and china

[Figo]

It was always about oil pipelines...primarily. Anything else is just an add on for the story.

Lets hope it doesnt escalate. Russia is a sleeping giant you dont wanna fuck with. Not quite Iraq...

[SAMSON123]

This could get really bad.

WHEN AMERICA FINALLY GETS IT ASS NUKED IT WILL LEARN TO MIND ITS OWN GOD DAMN BUSINESS. EVERY TIME I READ THE NEWS THERE IS ANOTHER DISTURBANCE IN THE WORLD AND AMERICA IS BEHIND IT....MEANWHILE FOURTH WORLD AMERICA SITS IN ITS OWN SQUALOR AND IDIOCY WHILE ITS DEBT BURIES IT AND CHINA OVER RUNS IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

[Figo]

better stay out of russia...and china

If China gets involved, then Americans better get to the tip of South America fast.

[Deicide]

If China gets involved, then Americans better get to the tip of South America fast.

Whence hailest thou friend?

[Figo]

Whence hailest thou friend?

Another country about to explode into oblivion on the southern tip of Africa.

One of these days, back to Europe, when it becomes another Zim or Mozambique.

[youandme]

WHEN AMERICA FINALLY GETS IT ASS NUKED IT WILL LEARN TO MIND ITS OWN GOD DAMN BUSINESS. EVERY TIME I READ THE NEWS THERE IS ANOTHER DISTURBANCE IN THE WORLD AND AMERICA IS BEHIND IT....MEANWHILE FOURTH WORLD AMERICA SITS IN ITS OWN SQUALOR AND IDIOCY WHILE ITS DEBT BURIES IT AND CHINA OVER RUNS IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

Hey look everyone black guy that hates america cause he's black is back

[dario73]

Lets hope it doesnt escalate. Russia is a sleeping giant you dont wanna fuck with. Not quite Iraq...

HEHEHEEH!!

And you think Russia will be willing to go to war with USA. Give me a break. If those 2 countries get into it, neither will win. They both will nuke each other till kingdom come.

They both know this. You obviously don't. That is why neither will start anything.