Bush to make statement on Georgia 11:00 EST

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush spoke to Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili on Wednesday and will make remarks on the conflict between Georgia and Russia at 11:00 am (1500 GMT), the White House said.

Bush -- who spent the morning in the "Situation Room," his high-tech national security nerve center in the mansion's basement -- was to make his remarks in the Rose Garden outside his Oval Office.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice scrapped a planned morning press conference to deliver Washington's formal diplomatic answer to the bitter conflict and was expected to be at the president's side.

"The president will make a statement on Georgia later today," said spokeswoman Dana Perino, who declined to give details from Bush's talks with Saakashvili. An aide later said the remarks would be at 11:00 am.



Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i2OCn6dtD45FwYq2mK1vTqRqe1fA

---

just a heads up

Bush: Russia May Be Violating Georgian Cease-Fire

WASHINGTON (AP) ― President Bush said Wednesday he is skeptical that Moscow is honoring a cease-fire in neighboring Georgia, demanding that Russia end all military activities in the former Soviet republic and withdraw all its forces.

"The United States stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia and insists that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected," Bush said sternly during brief remarks in the White House Rose Garden.


"To demonstrate our solidarity with the Georgian people," the president announced that he was sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Paris to assist the West's diplomatic efforts on the crisis, and then to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.


He also announced that a massive U.S. humanitarian effort was already in progress, and would involve U.S. aircraft as well as naval forces. A U.S. C-17 military cargo plane loaded with supplies is already on the way, and Bush said that Russia must ensure that "all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, roads and airports," remain open to let deliveries and civilians through.


"To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe and other nations and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis," Bush said.


more:http://wcbstv.com/national/georgia.russia.conflict.2.794009.html

[WriteDown]

1. Reba Mcentire will be joining him n/t

[Doctor_J]

2. Her comes the first question from the Press Corpse

"Mr. President, does your faith in God and Christ-like gravitas among the world's leaders enable you calmly and expertly provide acumen and wisdom to people of all countries, faiths, and socioeconomic status?"

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Will Bush will be heading to Atlanta to assess the situation first hand?

He's a hands-on guy.

[bananas]

4. That's ten minutes from now. nt

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Ho-Hum. Time to rearrange the sock drawer.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. I have that time slot scheduled...

For a heathy crap, or as we call it here in NJ "Giving birth to an NJ State Trooper".

It's a far better use of valuable time. After all, I am sure that Dear Leader is only worried about potential dangers to the Atlanta Falcons.

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. Bush is not too concerned, because it's off-season, however

the Braves are playing home games.

[Doremus]

10. LOL! n/t

[chelsea0011]

5. Blah blah blah....Russia is about to make is sorry ass look like he's been spanked.

[Bravo Zulu]

8. changed to 11:15 AM

[Ilsa]

11. "I strongly encourage everyone in or near Georgia to preserve

... the peaches. "

[maddezmom]

12. Is bush going to use humanitarian aide by US military as a way to get our troops involved?

[dipsydoodle]

Yes

.

[maddezmom]

16. I got a really eerie feeling listening to him

Vigorous and ongoing humanitarian aid led by the US military

[dipsydoodle]

17. Its tragic

that you can't get BBC TV <UK> live over where you are. You'd see instant response comments from their correspondent in Moscow.

Apparently humanitarian aid is already on the way by plane.

[maddezmom]

20. It is tragic

I miss living in the UK, I can only get the BBC America here in the states.

[dipsydoodle]

21. Ordinary news link up now on BBC News

Mr Bush also said the US would use military aircraft and naval forces to deliver humanitarian aid to the region.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7559252.stm

Dumwit.

[maddezmom]

22. check this headline: US plans to send troops to Georgia

US plans to send troops to Georgia
5 minutes ago

The US is to send troops to embattled Georgia in the form of a humanitarian aid exercise, President George Bush said.

Mr Bush said military planes would deliver supplies in a move which would put American forces in the heart of the region.

The president said he was concerned that Russia might be violating the ceasefire in Georgia and he expected all Russian forces to withdraw.

He is also sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Paris for talks with EU peacemakers and then to Georgia to express solidarity with the democratically elected government there.

more:http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jorhfPxN2BCKj4ip07OGf-ddKCPg

[maddezmom]

23. Saakashvili quoted as saying the military presence is a turning point

However, minutes after Mr. Bush’s comments, President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia characterized the import of the American aid as “definitely an American military presence” and called it a “turning point.”

In a telephone interview, he said of Mr. Bush’s statement: “We were unhappy with the initial actions of the American officials, because they were perceived by the Russians as green lines basically. But this one was very strong.”

“What I expected specifically from America was to secure our airport and to secure our seaports,” he went on, concluding that the American presence would do so. “The main thing now is that the Georgian Tbilisi airport will be permanently under control.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/world/europe/14prexy.html?hp

[dipsydoodle]

24. The downhill slope

The devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind 'cos he was way behind: he was willin' to make a deal.

:hi:

[Andy Canuck]

13. Watching * now. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!!!

[Andy Canuck]

19. I realize my comments weren't very erudite

but sending in US military planes into a Russian war is insanity!! "Humanitarian" or not, it is a game of chicken, and the Russians aren't going to blink. Would the US blink if the Russians were to come to the defence of, say Baja California, if the US invaded it? This is about Russian hegemony in their historical realm of control. American military planes and ships into the fray is madness. It is madness because no one can win, and the US can lose, badly. The world can lose badly.

[dipsydoodle]

14. What he's said in a nutshell

is that he's concerned so he'll now make sure this goes further downhill.

[bitchkitty]

15. I can't think of anyone with less credibility than Bush. n/t

[radfringe]

18. ummmm....how 'bout McBush? .......

[bitchkitty]

26. Yes, even McBush.

McCain is bad, but I'll never forget this administration as long as I live. People will be talking about it for years to come. No one has ever been as inept. They set records, standards of sheer fucked-up-ness that can never again be met. I honestly don't think there's a man or woman alive who tops GW Bush in terms of stupidity, arrogance, incompetence - all of it.

[amandabeech]

25. AP reports Russians pulling out of Gori and Zugdid (near Abkhasia).

http://www.wlos.com/template/inews_wire/wires.international/2153f972-www.wlos.com.shtml

It would be great if this were true.

If all sides retreat to their previous positions and peacekeepers from none of them take up position, maybe this thing will come to a reasonably and timely conclusion without more bloodshed.

I think that would be a victory for the people living with this mess, and for everyone who hopes that this thing will not escalate any further.

[HuffleClaw]

27. what utter fucking madness

of course such a simpleton would decide that russia is the 'bad guy' in this. at least the russians know that there will be a new non-lunatic president soon.