US Military will go sit on Putin's doorstep / deliver aid to Georgia

[radioheadrule83]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7559252.stm

President George W Bush has said the US will use military aircraft and naval forces to deliver aid to Georgia following its conflict with Russia.

He also urged Russia to respect a ceasefire agreement with Georgia.

President Bush said the US was concerned about reports of continuing Russian military action in Georgia.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to fly to France for talks with Nicolas Sarkozy before travelling to the Georgian capital Tbilisi.

Mr Bush said the US was launching a "vigorous and ongoing" humanitarian mission.

A C-17 aircraft with humanitarian supplies was already on its way to Georgia, and in the following days the US would use military aircraft and naval forces to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies, Mr Bush said.

"We expect Russia to honour its commitment to allow in all forms of humanitarian assistance," he said.

Action 'necessary'

The US president's address at the White House came amid reports that violence has flared in Georgia, where Russian tanks have been seen patrolling the town of Gori, near the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

The crisis erupted late on 7 August when Georgian forces bombarded South Ossetia to restore Tbilisi's control over the region, where the majority of people hold Russian passports. Russia quickly became involved, bombing targets in Georgia and sending troops to South Ossetia.

A French-brokered ceasefire has been in place between Russia and Georgia since Tuesday, but it seems to be very fragile, correspondents say.

Mr Bush said the reports of ongoing Russian actions had "raised serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region".

"The United States stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia and insists that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected," he said.

"To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis."

Russia said its forces had dismantled and destroyed military hardware and ammunition at an undefended Georgian military base near Gori on Wednesday, in the interest of demilitarising the conflict zone.

Russian defence officials also said the Russian military had shot down a Georgian spy drone over the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, and accused the Georgians of continuing military activities despite the ceasefire deal.

Speaking to the BBC, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said attacks by Russian forces on Georgian military targets outside the South Ossetia region were both legal and necessary.

He said Russia had to destroy Georgian artillery systems and bomb military airports in order to protect its peacekeepers in South Ossetia, a number of whom had already been killed by Georgian forces.

Mr Ivanov denied that the goal of the Russian action had been to topple the Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvili.

Russian armoured vehicles have been seen in Gori and on the main highway linking Gori to Tbilisi, although both Moscow and Georgian officials have denied that they are moving towards Tbilisi.

The BBC's Gavin Hewitt, outside Gori, says residents of the town have spoken of their houses being torched.

European Union foreign ministers in Brussels said they planned to send a group of monitors or peacekeepers to Georgia to monitor the ceasefire - but they want the United Nations to back the proposal first.

"We are determined to act on the ground," said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the UN was ready to facilitate international talks and contribute to possible peacekeeping arrangements in the region.

Moscow called a halt to military action on Tuesday, shortly before a meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Russia and Georgia have agreed to a peace plan.

Some 100,000 people are estimated to have been displaced by the conflict, which has created huge tensions in international relations.

Ballsy! 

[Brehvolution]

At least Bush is consistent in doing the wrong things when it matters most.

[MrAngryFace]

I dont really feel like a new cold war, I like my carefree american lifestyle

[Bocsius]

Tis a shame it didn't end in 1962.

[duckman2000]

Bush should fight Putin in hand to hand combat.

That'd be one quick fight

[lordmaji]

what happened to the UN? 

[Ganhyun]

what happened to the UN? 

they are too busy getting drunk (summoner reference, lol)

No, Russia is permanent Security Council member who could veto any plan brought to security council. So unless whatever help it is doesnt have to go to the security council, then it will likely be vetoed.

[Mupepe]

We should have never let commies into the UN.

[Brehvolution]

At least Bush is consistent in doing the wrong things when it matters most.

How exactly is this the wrong thing to do?

How is it our problem?

[Ganhyun]

At least Bush is consistent in doing the wrong things when it matters most.

How exactly is this the wrong thing to do?

How is it our problem?

they are an ally of ours? They actually willingly sent troops into Iraq to help us? (Granted it was a shitlow number)

[Brehvolution]

At least Bush is consistent in doing the wrong things when it matters most.

How exactly is this the wrong thing to do?

How is it our problem?

they are an ally of ours? They actually willingly sent troops into Iraq to help us? (Granted it was a shitlow number)

They shot first even when we told them not to!!!

[MrAngryFace]

There's nothing wrong with humanitarian aid, ever.

[Bocsius]

How is it our problem?

I was going to argue with you but you've won me over with this.

Seriously, there are times I think we should let the rest of the world destroy themselves a million times over. They complain when we get involved, they complain when we don't. Screw them all. Let them blow themselves to smithereens.

Besides, it would be that much easier to go in and take their oil when they're done.

Of course, then there's the humanitarian side of me that tries to get a word in.

[Brehvolution]

There's nothing wrong with humanitarian aid, ever.

While I agree, they brought it on themselves.

[Human Snorenado]

At least Bush is consistent in doing the wrong things when it matters most.

How exactly is this the wrong thing to do?

How is it our problem?

A. Georgia has an actually democratically elected govt.  It's in our interest to not have to deal with shit in the Middle East (not going away anytime soon, sadly), compete for resources with China, and have a monolithic, aggressive phoenix rise from the ashes of the Soviet Union.
B. Georgia has one of the few pipelines from Asia to Europe not controlled by Russia.  Russia having a monopoly would be bad.  Oil prices have already gone up since this shit has started after a nice period of them dropping.  In the interest of the road trip I'm taking next week, I'd like them to keep dropping.
C. Shit like this and Darfur are international bruhahas we SHOULD be getting involved in, imo.  Helps restore our moral standing with the world, and if we're going to play cop to the world (and we ARE, no matter what anyone wants) then we might as well go after some legitimate assholes as opposed to shit like Iraq.

[Boogie]

At least Bush is consistent in doing the wrong things when it matters most.

How exactly is this the wrong thing to do?

How is it our problem?

A. Georgia has an actually democratically elected govt.  It's in our interest to not have to deal with shit in the Middle East (not going away anytime soon, sadly), compete for resources with China, and have a monolithic, aggressive phoenix rise from the ashes of the Soviet Union.
B. Georgia has one of the few pipelines from Asia to Europe not controlled by Russia.  Russia having a monopoly would be bad.  Oil prices have already gone up since this shit has started after a nice period of them dropping.  In the interest of the road trip I'm taking next week, I'd like them to keep dropping.
C. Shit like this and Darfur are international bruhahas we SHOULD be getting involved in, imo.  Helps restore our moral standing with the world, and if we're going to play cop to the world (and we ARE, no matter what anyone wants) then we might as well go after some legitimate assholes as opposed to shit like Iraq.

What, Saddam Hussein wasn't a legitimate asshole?

[FlameOfCallandor]

We need to send more aid. It's the only way they will ever be our allies!!!!!! It's definitly worth my hard earned tax dollars!

[Cormacaroni]

We need to send more aid. It's the only way they will ever be our allies!!!!!! It's definitly worth my hard earned tax dollars!

Yeah, Burger King should just sign over your paycheck directly to the government of Georgia to save time

[Tauntaun]

We need to send more aid. It's the only way they will ever be our allies!!!!!! It's definitly worth my hard earned tax dollars!

Yeah, Burger King should just sign over your paycheck directly to the government of Georgia to save time

[Ganhyun]

We need to send more aid. It's the only way they will ever be our allies!!!!!! It's definitly worth my hard earned tax dollars!

Yeah, Burger King should just sign over your paycheck directly to the government of Georgia to save time

 

[Human Snorenado]

At least Bush is consistent in doing the wrong things when it matters most.

How exactly is this the wrong thing to do?

How is it our problem?

A. Georgia has an actually democratically elected govt.  It's in our interest to not have to deal with shit in the Middle East (not going away anytime soon, sadly), compete for resources with China, and have a monolithic, aggressive phoenix rise from the ashes of the Soviet Union.
B. Georgia has one of the few pipelines from Asia to Europe not controlled by Russia.  Russia having a monopoly would be bad.  Oil prices have already gone up since this shit has started after a nice period of them dropping.  In the interest of the road trip I'm taking next week, I'd like them to keep dropping.
C. Shit like this and Darfur are international bruhahas we SHOULD be getting involved in, imo.  Helps restore our moral standing with the world, and if we're going to play cop to the world (and we ARE, no matter what anyone wants) then we might as well go after some legitimate assholes as opposed to shit like Iraq.

What, Saddam Hussein wasn't a legitimate asshole?

Sure, but he was a contained, mostly harmless asshole.  Actually, in the scheme of things he was kind of what we wanted in a middle east ally- a mostly secular strongman.  Which is why we backed him over Iran in the 80's.  It was only when he got greedy and attacked Kuwait (which the top US diplomat in Iraq actually said would be ok with us, lolz) that he got smacked down.  But I don't know why I'm reciting a history lesson to YOU. 

[FlameOfCallandor]

A certain congressman warned us of current GA- Russia conflict in 2002. Guess who.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya6JfFK_lYQ

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Ron Paul in an interview with Jim Lehrer says in 2002 interview that by the US adopting a preemptive first Strike Doctrine would eventually lead to Russia invading GA

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