UPDATE 4:23pm: MCCAIN PRESS CONFERENCE NOW. I gotta tell you, the man is positively presidential. Obambi looks like a babe in the woods, more like a deer in the headlights:
Welcomes France and EU's involvement. Disturbed that the "peace agreement" did not speak to Georgia's sovereignty".
We must review our NATO alliance
Must review Russia's membership in the G8 and World Trade organization.
NATO must review membership of Georgia and Ukraine as soon as possible.
Lieberman and Graham going to Georgia (Armed Services Committee). Hopes other members will do as well
We have to do what we can to reassure other countries in the region .....
Q&A: Question on Obama's remark on McCain's "belligerence":
This isn't the time for partisanship and sniping.
This is about the lives of hundreds, thousands of people. This is not the time for that.
"I have been to Georgia on several occasions. I know the President of Georgia, I know him well. I know the people of Georgia after enjoying a period of peace and prosperity, the people of Georgia are suffering mightily."
Questions: Would you take military action:
"No"
He doesn't see this as a return to the nuclear standoff of old." In the 21st century, nations do not invade other nations." We must show solidarity. An attack on a NATO member nation, is an attack on all.
Remains concerned about the integrity of Georgian sovereignty.
US is still a beacon of hope and liberty across the world.
I recognize we are a member of the international community
UPDATE: CONDI PRESS CONFERENCE: "WE STAND WITH GEORGIA". Oy, we know what that means. Just ask Israel.
UPDATE: "This is not 1968 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia where Russia can threaten a neighbor, occupy a capital, overthrow a government and get away with it," Rice said just hours before leaving for France. "Things have changed.". Meanwhile Russia is further advancing into Georgia.
Laughingly, the Obama spokesbots' position is McCain made things worse for strongly backing Georgia.
Obama adviser Susan Rice, appearing on MSNBC's "Hardball" Tuesday night, accused McCain of responding irresponsibly.
"We were dealing with the facts as we knew them. John McCain shot from the hip, very aggressive, belligerent statement. He may or may not have complicated the situation."
Who the hell are these folks rooting for? What country do they represent?
BUSH: "WE STAND WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF GEORGIA"
Do Obama and Russia Share Advisors? RedState
[...]. While one might think the White House would have the best statement, given the Secretary of State’s expertise in Russian affairs, the media and bloggers all recognized McCain’s as the most forcefully in support of the Republic of Georgia, an American ally.
Barack Obama’s campaign statement was perhaps the most pathetic statement ever issued by a Presidential candidate or President about an international military incident. Even Jimmy Carter was more forceful when Russia invaded Afghanistan.
BUSH PRESS ONFERENCE: WASHINGTON - President Bush put the U.S. more firmly than ever on Georgia's side in its conflict with Russia on Wednesday, sending humanitarian aid on American military planes to help the embattled ex-Soviet republic and displaying growing impatience with Moscow's aggression.
"In recent years, Russia has sought to integrate into the diplomatic, political, economic and security structures of the 21st century," the president said. "The United States has supported those efforts. Now Russia is putting its aspirations at risk by taking actions in Georgia that are inconsistent with the principles of those institutions."
Bush also gave repeated and unqualified assurances of "America's unwavering support for Georgia's democratic government."
And he announced that U.S. military assets and personnel would be deploying into the conflict zone. Though they are only going on a humanitarian mission, Bush made a point of noting that "we will use U.S. aircraft, as well as naval forces" to distribute supplies. He warned Russia not to impede relief efforts in any way.
All this appeared designed to answer criticism that Bush has not done enough to stand by his 2005 pledge, made from the center of Tbilisi before tens of thousands of citizens, to "stand with" the people of Georgia.
But only hours before Bush's remarks Wednesday, Saakashvili called the Western response of late inadequate. "I feel that they are partly to blame," said Saakashvili, who talked with Bush by phone earlier in the day. "Not only those who commit atrocities are responsible ... but so are those who fail to react."
[...]From Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov derided Georgia's leadership as "a special project of the United States" and said the U.S. will have to choose "either support for a virtual project, or real partnership on issues that really demand collective action." This was a reference to U.S. cooperation with Russia in the U.N. Security Council on Iran, North Korea and other global hot spots.
