Transcript of Bush remarks on Russia-Georgia

AP ^ | August 13, 2008

[rightinthemiddle]

Remarks by President Bush in the Rose Garden on Wednesday about the crisis in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, by as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions.

Good morning. I've just met with my national security team to discuss the crisis in Georgia. I've spoken with President Saakashvili of Georgia and President Sarkozy of France this morning.

The United States strongly supports France's efforts, as president of the European Union, to broker an agreement that will end this conflict.

The United States of America stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia. We insist that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected.

Russia has stated that changing the government of Georgia is not its goal. The United States and the world expect Russia to honor that commitment.

[rightinthemiddle]

Whoops...misunderstood you.

[Cheburashka]

The United States could send one of more destroyers or frigates into the Black Sea - we have done so before.

[oceanagirl]

Thank you. What about subs?

[Mariner]

"I wonder if a U.S. carrier group has ever been in the Black Sea without Russian cooperation"?

The has never been a Carrier battle group in the Black Sea, and we better not start now.

[rightinthemiddle]

Looks like an Aegis cruiser, the San Jacinto,split off from the Harry S Truman and recently conducted training operations in the Black Sea with the Romanian and Ukrainian navies.

But, no carrier.

[Mariner]

The US Navy enters the Black Sea only with Russian permission. Only.

It's Russia's private lake and they WILL defend it with everything they have.

To believe otherwise is both folly and hubris.

[Cheburashka]

Thank you. What about subs?

---

Possible, but a submarine usually relies on the fact that it's a small sub in a big ocean for safety. The Black Sea does not qualify as a big ocean, it would be hard to remain undetected there. On the other hand, a sub is a small chess piece, unlike a carrier, therefore easier to risk.

Any ship that passes through the Turkish Straits on the surface will be seen by Russian spies. There have to be some watching ship traffic at all times. And a sub is unlikely to pass through under water, since it would be so dangerous. The Straits are shallow and winding, and there's a lot of surface traffic. Easy to either ground the sub, or hit a surface ship, both of which would be bad. (I'm not even sure the straits are deep enough for a submarine to pass through without surfacing.) But the word "unlikely" does not mean the same thing as "no possibility".

[oceanagirl]

Thank you once again.

[Chgogal]

Ping!