Shevardnadze says US can use Georgia

BBC News ^ | 9/18

[oxi-nato]

The Georgian President, Eduard Shevardnadze, has joined the list of world leaders to say his country will allow the United States to use its land and air space for what he called anti-terrorist operations, if requested. The Georgian Defence Minister, Davit Tevzadze, said this decision should not worsen relations with Russia, although he added it might cause a new wave of accusations from Moscow.

Meanwhile, Russia has called on the Georgian authorities to extradite immediately hundreds of Chechen rebels Moscow believes are based in Georgia. A Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said that despite numerous Russian requests, not a single one of what he called the hundreds of terrorists in Georgia had been extradited.

The Georgian authorities have admitted that several hundred Chechen fighters may have entered their territory but have refused Russian requests for joint policing of the Georgia-Chechen border.

[AmericanInTokyo]

show sweet it is.

quick! somebody attach a .ram file so we can here Louis Armstrong sing "Georgia"! How fitting. Zdravistuye, Presidenti Shevardnadze.

[My2Cents]

Who'd have believed that Georgia, part of the former Soviet Union, would be a better friend to the United States than France!? (Well, on second thought, maybe it's not so surprising.)

[VadeRetro]

This appears mostly symbolic, alas! Georgia nestles between the Black and Caspian seas, a long way from Afghanistan. We'd still need flyover permission from Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia . . . Anyway you try to fly it, you're several countries away.

[MarMema]

Georgia is about 99% Christian Orthodox. The Orthodox have been persecuted by Islam for many centuries.
I have a son from Georgia, btw - adopted.
It's a great country, with great people.

[The_Reader_David]

Excellent.

May the prayers of St. Tamara of Georgia be with us!*

.

*For those of you who don't know, St. Tamara was a 12th century Queen of Georgia who lead her army into battle, was renowned for her justice and charity, was called "King" by her people, and converted many of the Muslim hill-tribes in neighboring lands to Holy Orthodoxy.

[Hugin]

somebody attach a .ram file so we can here Louis Armstrong sing "Georgia"!

Make that Ray Charles.

[Rocko]

Friends will be remembered.

[blam]

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

This appears mostly symbolic, alas! Georgia nestles between the Black and Caspian seas, a long way from Afghanistan. We'd still need flyover permission from Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia . . . Anyway you try to fly it, you're several countries away

Turkey--->Azerbaijan--->Georgia--->Turkmenistan-->Uzbekhistan.
I believe all we need is Azerbaijan on board. No need to fly through Armenia or Iran. I believe Armenia is somewhat hostile.

[kjam22]

I don't completely understand this need for fly over permission. I think you just fly over and light up anything that tries to stop you.

[magellan]

Georgia on my mind.

[Hugin]

Symbolic? Are the Khattab and Bin Laden-backed Chechnyan Islamists and Mujahadeen operating in Georgia symbolic?

Why are they allowing Mulsim terrorists to operate there? Do they actually have control over the territory? Kinda strange that they would help them. Maybe Powell could arrange a deal where Georgia turns over the Chechens to Russia in exchange for Russia backing our play in Afghanistan and persuading the former Soviet Republics to let us base there. That would be a win-win situation for all (except the terrorists!).

[Ranger]

A few weeks ago, I think Turkey deployed a squadron of F-16s to Azerbaijan to assist it with some problems related to Iran and the Caspian Sea. I suspect Azerbaijan air rights are in the bag.

[Ranger]

Turkey reportedly has F-16s in Azerbaijan. Deployed there a few weeks ago as a show of force against Iran.

[Ranger]

bump

[BubbaJunebug]

PEACHY !