Smiling at you...summer is always good (minus the weeds).
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,404104,00.html
(AP)
“Georgia: 100-Vehicle Russian Convoy Pushing Toward City”
Thursday, August 14, 2008
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia’s prime minister said a convoy of more than 100 Russian tanks and other vehicles are moving from the western city of Zugdidi deeper into Georgia.”
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50816
Georgian Invasion Sends Message to World, Gates Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2008 – With their invasion of Georgia, the Russians are sending a message not only to neighbors, but also to the world, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.
Georgia, a nation of 5 million in the Caucasus region, has allied itself with the West and is seeking membership in NATO. Abkhazia and South Ossetia are provinces that are seeking to break away from Georgia and ally with Russia.
Gates noted that, like clockwork, there have been exchanges of gunfire between Georgian and South Ossetian troops every August. “And this year, it escalated very quickly,” he said. “The Russians were prepared to take advantage of an opportunity.”
The Russian air, land and sea attacks against Georgia went far beyond asserting the Russian view of the autonomy of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Russians, Gates said, wanted “to punish Georgia for daring to try to integrate with the West economically and politically and in security arrangements.”
The Russian military action was directed against Georgia, but Kremlin leaders wanted nations in all parts of the former Soviet Union to understand the dangers of integrating with the West, Gates said. “I think that they had an opportunity to make some very broad points [to these nations] and, I think, [the Russians] seized that opportunity,” he said. Gates holds a doctorate in Russian and Soviet history from Georgetown University.
The message has been received by the nations of the world, Gates said.
“My guess is that everyone is going to be looking at Russia through a different set of lenses as … we look ahead,” the secretary said. “I think Russia’s got some serious work to do to try and work its way back into the family of nations that are trying to work together and build democracy and build … their economies, working together.”
Gates said he does not want to repeat the Cold War, and that he certainly does not want to see U.S. and Russian troops in a hot war.
“The United States spent 45 years working very hard to avoid a military confrontation with Russia,” he said. “I see no reason to change that approach today.”
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50808
Gates Says Russian Actions Have Long-Term Implications
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2008 – Countries around the world are looking at Russia “through new lenses” following its aggression against the former Soviet republic of Georgia, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. Video
Meanwhile, the United States continues humanitarian efforts to help Georgians affected by the conflict. Two U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo jets have delivered supplies to Georgia, and another aircraft delivered a U.S. military survey team to the country.
“During these humanitarian relief operations, the United States expects Russia to ensure that all lines of communication and transport — including seaports, airports, roads and airspace — remain open,” Gates said during a Pentagon news conference.
Gates echoed President Bush’s call for Russia to abide by its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia. “We expect all Russian forces that entered Georgia in recent days to withdraw from that country,” Gates said.
Russian aggression against Georgia will have long-term implications for U.S.-Russian relations, the secretary said. The military incursion into Georgia will affect ongoing and long-term strategic dialogue with the Russian Federation that he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had engaged in since 2007, Gates said.
“The expectation was that our two nations, despite our differences, shared areas of common interest where we could work together as real partners,” he said.
But Russia’s military action in Georgia and in the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia “has called into question the entire premise of that dialogue, and has profound implications for our security relationship going forward, both bilaterally and with NATO,” Gates said. “If Russia does not step back from its aggressive posture and actions in Georgia, the U.S.-Russian relationship could be adversely affected for years to come.”
The United States cancelled participation in a multinational naval exercise with Russia due to begin tomorrow. “We’ve also canceled a U.S.-Canadian-Russian exercise — Vigilant Eagle — that was to have begun on Aug. 20,” Gates said.
“In the days and weeks ahead, the Department of Defense will reexamine the entire gamut of our military-to-military activities with Russia and will make changes as necessary and appropriate, depending on Russian actions in the days ahead,” the secretary said.
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50814
“Georgian Humanitarian Mission Continue”s
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2008
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50806
“Air Force Completes First Georgia Humanitarian Aid Mission”
By Air Force Capt. Erin Dorrance
Special to American Forces Press Service
TBILISI, Georgia, Aug. 14, 2008
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50804
“Soldiers, Airmen in Europe Work to Provide Georgia Aid”
By Army Capt. Bryan Woods
Special to American Forces Press Service
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany, Aug. 14, 2008
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http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/1669_august_14_2008/1669_ceasefire.html
“Ceasefire proposed, but not kept”
By Mikheil Svanidze
Thursday, August 14
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “United States President George W. Bush has made a statement condemning Russian military adventures in Georgia, welcoming French peace efforts and sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to France and Georgia to take part in negotiations.
“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.
Earlier, President Saakashvili had accused Russia of violating the agreement on ceasefire and the non-resumption of hostilities reached between Georgia and Russia. “This is the sort of ceasefire that, I don’t know, they had with Afghanistan I guess, in 1979,” Saakashvili said. “There is no ceasefire, they [Russian troops] are still moving around.””
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Note: Photo included.
http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/1669_august_14_2008/1669_gori.html
“Torrent of refugees surges through Tbilisi”
By Shorena Labadze
Thursday, August 14
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http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/08/20080813.html
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 13, 2008
“President Bush Discusses Situation in Georgia, Urges Russia to Cease Military Operations”
11:10 A.M. EDT
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http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/08/20080813-2.html
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 13, 2008
“Setting the Record Straight: President Bush Has Taken Action to Ensure Peace, Security and Humanitarian Aid in Georgia”