Cheney says U.S. is intent on Georgia joining NATO

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.startribune.com/world/27891414.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBcy7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Continuing a tour of former Soviet republics, the vice president was harshly critical of Russia's recent invasion.

By ALEX RODRIGUEZ, Chicago Tribune

Last update: September 4, 2008 - 8:46 PM


TBILISI, GEORGIA - Vice President Dick Cheney assured Georgian leaders Thursday that the United States is "fully committed" to Georgia's pursuit of NATO membership, an assurance likely to further anger a Kremlin bent on keeping the Western military alliance out of former Soviet territory.

Meeting with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, Cheney used some of the harshest rhetoric yet from Washington against Russia, condemning its recent invasion and occupation of parts of Georgia as an "illegitimate, unilateral attempt" to forcibly change its tiny neighbor's borders.

"Russia's actions have cast grave doubts on Russia's intentions and on its reliability as an international partner," Cheney said.

Georgia was the second stop on a tour by Cheney of former Soviet republics. On Wednesday, he visited oil-rich Azerbaijan, and he wound up his day Thursday in Ukraine, which, like Georgia, wants to join NATO.


http://news.theage.com.au/world/russia-backed-over-georgia-angry-at-us-20080906-4auu.html
Russia backed over Georgia, angry at US
Russia has won backing over Georgia from six heads of ex-Soviet states and hit out at the United States for sending a navy flagship to a key Georgian port where its troops have been patrolling.

The renewed support for Russia from the leaders of a Moscow-dominated bloc called the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) came as US vice-president Dick Cheney wrapped up a tour of America's allies in the region.

Cheney told Ukraine's squabbling leaders they must unite on a pro-Western course if they wanted to avoid the prospect of a Russian invasion similar to the one that befell Georgia last month.

"We believe in the right of men and women to live without the threat of tyranny, economic blackmail or military invasion or intimidation," Cheney said in Kiev. "Ukraine's best hope to overcome these threats is to be united."

As the war of words between Russia and the US intensified, Moscow angrily questioned why Washington had chosen one of its most sophisticated warships, the USS Mount Whitney, to transport aid to the Black Sea port of Poti.

Washington says the ship is there to deliver vital aid to Georgian refugees but a senior Russian official suggested it might be serving military purposes.

[kurth_]

1. Bad idea. VERY bad idea.

Damn warmongering idiot.

[Up2Late]

2. I think he meant Exxon/Mobil...

...easy mistake to make in that "crisis."

[davidinalameda]

3. I'm all in favor of these countries joining NATO but

this is a really bad idea right now

I wonder if this is some plot between Bush and Putin to make McCain look good

[Wetzelbill]

4. There are merits to it, but ultimately a bad idea

Not at this time. Maybe at a more stable time, but you have to understand we go to war for countries under the NATO umbrella. A few weeks ago if Georgia was part of NATO, we'd have had a war with Russia. Not a good thing.

This is a combustible situation and the last effing guy you want in charge to navigate it is John "War First, Country Second" McCain.

[seemslikeadream]

5. Cool reception for Cheney in Azerbaijan

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