Thread: Bush to Russia: You're jeopardizing your relationship with the West

BY STEPHANIE GASKELL
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, August 12th 2008, 2:29 AM
Sachs/Pool President Bush speaks out on the situation in Georgia.




President Bush warned Russia against a "dramatic and brutal escalation" of its onslaught in tiny Georgia on Monday, telling the Kremlin it's jeopardizing its relationship with the West.
"Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people," the President said at the White House. "Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century."
Bush said the conflict in Georgia has "substantially damaged Russia's standing in the world" as the fighting spread closer to the former Soviet republic's capital city Tbilisi.
"These actions jeopardize Russia's relations with the United States and Europe," he warned.
PHOTO GALLERY: SEE LATEST PHOTOS FROM GEORGIA
The violence has killed thousands and forced tens of thousands more to flee from their homes since the conflict erupted on Friday.
Russia swept into Georgia when troops there entered South Ossetia, a separatist region in the north of the tiny country. Most of the 70,000 people in Ossetia are ethnic Russians, whose loyalties still lie with Moscow.
"There is evidence that Russian forces may soon begin bombing the civilian airport in the capital city," Bush said. "If these reports are accurate, these Russian actions would represent a dramatic and brutal escalation of the conflict in Georgia."
Georgian President Mikail Saakashvili said Monday the fiercest fighting is now taking place in Abkhazia, another pro-Moscow separatist region in the western part of the country.
Saakashvili also said Russia had taken control of Georgia's main east-west highway - splitting the country in half and putting Georgian troops on the run.
He also said Russia was trying to bomb a key pipeline, which supplies oil to the West.
Tensions between Russia and its former Soviet bloc nation escalated last week after Russia started issuing Russian passports to South Ossetians and opposed Georgia's quest for NATO membership.
Georgia broke free from the former Soviet Union in 1991. South Ossetia and Abkhazia have remained autonomous, though not recognized by the international community.
Georgia offered a ceasefire soon after the Russians swept in, but Moscow has fought on. The U.S. has accused the Kremlin of seeking regime change. A top Russian official has, in fact, told Secretary of State Rice that Saakashvili must go.
"Russia's actions this week have raised serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region," Bush said. "It is time for Russia to be true to its word, to act to end this crisis."
Diplomats from the U.S., Japan, Italy, France, Germany, Britain and Canada met Monday to try to broker a peace deal and all urged Moscow to back down.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is still leading his nation in this crisis despite stepping down as president this year, blamed the United States for escalating the conflict.
"The Cold War has long ended but the mentality of the Cold War has stayed firmly in the minds of several U.S. diplomats. It is a real shame," Putin said.
The U.S. began delivering humanitarian aid as about 170 Americans were evacuated from Georgia to nearby Armenia. The U.S. has also flown Georgian troops back home from Iraq - on American jets.
The growing conflict has also become a presidential campaign issue, with both Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican John McCain weighing in.
"No matter how this conflict started, Russia has escalated it well beyond the dispute over South Ossetia and invaded another country," Obama said. "There is no possible justification for these attacks."
McCain said he's convinced Russia is trying to topple the Georgian government.
"This pattern of attack appears aimed not at restoring any status quo ante in South Ossetia, but rather at toppling the democratically elected government of Georgia," he said. "This should be unacceptable to all the democratic countries of the world, and should draw us together in universal condemnation of Russian aggression."
sgaskell@nydailynews.com

Originally Posted by maniclion

Bush is just acting tough cause he thinks they are in our Georgia, little does he know about the other Georgia over there.

LMFAO! This is so fuckin true.