Georgia Signs Cease-Fire With Russia

Deal Includes Concessions To Moscow; Georgian Leader: NATO Snub Invited Russia's Invasion

(CBS/AP)  Georgia's president grudgingly signed a truce with Russia Friday, even as he denounced the Russians as invading barbarians and accused the West of all but encouraging them to overrun his country. Standing alongside, a stone-faced U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Russian troops must withdraw immediately from their smaller neighbor.

U.S. President Georgia W. Bush talked tough, too, accusing the Russians of "bullying and intimidation," but neither he nor Rice said what the U.S. might do if Russia ignored them.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's press office had no information Friday night on whether he had signed the cease-fire agreement.

Even as Rice stood with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in a show of solidarity, he asked, "Who invited the trouble here? Who invited this arrogance here? Who invited these innocent deaths here?"

Shaky and near tears following a difficult, nearly five-hour meeting with her, Saakashvili answered his own question: "Not only those people who perpetrate them are responsible, but also those people who failed to stop it."

Rice let that pass, focusing instead on the demand that Moscow immediately withdraw its forces.

"With this signature by Georgia, this must take place and take place now," she declared.

There was no immediate clue to the Russians' intentions a week after their tanks and bombers attacked Georgia in retaliation for Georgia's attempt to retake a disputed province by force.

Russian troops allowed some humanitarian supplies into the strategic city of Gori but otherwise continued their blockade.

Adding to the day's tensions was a top Russian general's comments that Poland's agreement to accept a U.S. missile interceptor base exposed the ex-communist nation to attack, possibly by nuclear weapons, the Interfax news agency reported.

The statement by Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn is the strongest threat that Russia has issued against the plans to put missile defense elements in former Soviet satellite nations.

The cease-fire document sets out no specific penalties or deadlines. It contains concessions to Russia that Saakashvili obviously found hard to swallow. Russia could retain peacekeeping forces in the separatist region of South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, and the forces would have a broader mandate in South Ossetia.

Even if Russia fully complies with the cease-fire, the Bush administration says there will be more consequences to come. Bush's advisers are settling on penalties that would be intentionally modest and subtle, such as continuing to exclude Russia's foreign minister from discussions among his counterparts in elite gatherings of the world's leading economies.

The idea is to give Moscow the diplomatic cold shoulder while offering face-saving leeway for Russia to turn away from a mentality the West sees as throwback to its empire days. Russia would then have motivation, and some wiggle room, to seek inclusion in Western economic, political and security institutions.

In Washington, Bush accused Russia of resorting to thuggery from another era. He insisted the United States will not abandon Georgia, a Western-leaning democracy on Russia's southern flank and once part of the old Soviet Union.

"Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century," Bush said. "Only Russia can decide whether it will now put itself back on the path of responsible nations or continue to pursue a policy that promises only confrontation and isolation."

Russian withdrawal from Gori, in the center of Georgia proper, would be a major sign that Russia is not trying to hold permanent sway in Georgia or topple its enthusiastically pro-American government. By holding Gori, Russia holds the small country's only major east-west highway and effectively slices Georgia in half.

The peace pact was worked out earlier in the week by French president Nicolas Sarkozy and both sides had said they agreed to it.

Russian forces remained, however, and U.S. officials said the document would take effect once it was formally signed Friday. It tells both sides to pull their forces back to the positions they held before fighting broke out last week in South Ossetia.

Saakashvili's emotional tirade and the forceful words from Bush in Washington suggested that a week into the crisis, both leaders were reassessing how they got here.

"We will rebuild. We want them out. I want the world to know, never, ever will Georgia reconcile with occupation of even one square kilometer of its sovereign territory. Never, ever," Saakashvili said.

His leadership is founded on a close alliance with Washington that has always exasperated Moscow.

Bush gave his most sustained explanation of U.S. action during the crisis, saying the conflict is about much more than a small country far away. Bush made clear the real fight is about the power and ambition of nuclear-armed Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Russia's resurgence as an energy dynamo.

"The Cold War is over. The days of satellite states and spheres of influence are behind us," Bush said at the White House, before a vacation delayed by the crisis. "A contentious relationship with Russia is not in America's interest, and a contentious relationship with America is not in Russia's interest."

Rice said the time had come "to begin a discussion of the consequences of what Russia has done. This calls into question what role Russia really plans to play in international politics."

Rice was flying to Texas, where she was to give Bush a firsthand account of her diplomatic mission.

Apparently concerned that her awkward press conference with Saakashvili had set the wrong tone, Rice spoke briefly on her own before leaving Georgia.

"It's obviously a very emotional time here in Georgia," she said after visiting wounded people in a hospital.

"It's clearly a very emotional time, but I think that it should still be seen that this was a productive day. I hope now that peace can return to Georgia and Georgians can return to a normal life."

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Friday that 82 tons of humanitarian supplies have been delivered to Georgia so far in four aircraft flights. He said the U.S. military is planning to do another two flights each day through the weekend.

There are still roughly 100 U.S. military personnel in Georgia - ranging from military trainers to security personnel at the embassy. Some of the trainers are scheduled to leave because they are reservists and their tour is over, Whitman said.

"The United States would never ask Georgia to sign onto something where its interests were not protected," she told reporters aboard her plane as she flew to the Georgian capital from France where she met French President Nicolas Sarkozy who brokered the cease-fire.

The cease-fire requires Russia to withdraw its combat forces from Georgia but allows Russian peacekeepers to remain in the breakaway region of South Ossetia and conduct limited patrols outside the region.

A draft of the document did not commit Russia to respecting Georgia's "territorial integrity," but rather refers to Georgian "independence" and "sovereignty." That means Moscow does not necessarily accept that Georgia governs South Ossetia and a larger separatist territory, Abkhazia.

Officials say the eventual status of the two areas will be worked out under existing U.N. Security Council resolutions which recognize Georgia's international borders. Those borders now include the two provinces where many Russian citizens and loyalists live.

The U.S. and its allies had been pushing for Russia to agree to restore the situation to the status quo before Georgian troops moved into South Ossetia last week, prompting Russia's severe response and seven days of bloodshed.

Now they have been forced to back down on the key issues of the mandate of Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia, which did not previously include outside patrols, and the territorial integrity question, which Russia ostensibly accepted before but no longer does.

U.S. officials concede the agreement is not perfect but maintain it will get Russian combat troops out of Georgia, ideally within days.

In addition to the cease-fire document, Rice carried with her a letter signed by Sarkozy that clarifies the special security measures that Russian peacekeepers will be allowed to take on Georgian soil, officials said.

"These clarifications are meant to protect Georgian interests," she said.

The cease-fire would allow Russian peacekeepers who were in South Ossetia before the fighting broke out to stay and to patrol temporarily in a strip of up to 6.2 miles, or 10 kilometers, outside, officials said.

Officials say the expanded mandate would end as soon as a team of international monitors could be sent to observe, something they believe can be done in weeks.

[babooph]

After working with Bush , dealing with an idiot liar is natural for her.

[nextgenman]

Condi the Gaptoother Scowler heads to Georgia with more empty promises and her hat in her hand pleading with Russia to please stop beating up on our "friend" Georgia.

[pirmin3]

Sleazy Leezy armed with a piece of paper? Bet the Ruskies hang it in the out house. LOL

[skyk-2009]

What happened to the Neocon''s and their arrogance? This agreement allows Russia to stay in Georgia. LOL If they are the biggest frauds to ever be served on the US People, I don''t know who would be.

[raskal_2]

...How do you get a cease fire agreement signed between two parties when you only talk of the interests of one and concede to the interests of the other. Then you go behind the back of the one you haven''t talked to and set up rocket defenses they "vehemently opposes"... I would bomb your ash...

[raskal_2]

...anybody counting big silver planes fling really high over Barrow, Alaska? LOL

[omnibus66]

I''m sure that she will do a whole lot of grinnin ''n wavin'', and then the Smirkinator can declare another ''mission accomplished''.

After all, this administration and John McCain know how to to win wars. The record speaks for itself.

[trrrorislamx]

WHY RUSSIA WENT INTO GEORGIA,,,

Tensions between Georgia and Russia were strained over the Pankisi Gorge, a lawless region of Georgia that Russia said had become a haven for Islamic militants and Chechen rebels.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107564.html

GET SOME RUSKIES,,, GET SOME,,,

NEVER FORGET THE RAPES OF BESLAN GIRLS!

Terror at Beslan
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1316935651894423094

RAPES IN BESLAN: IN MUHAMMAD%u2019S FOOTSTEPS
http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/News/Trifkovic04/NewsST091304.html

Forget Not the Children of Beslan
http://kenlydell.typepad.com/islamic_evil/forget_not_the_children_of_beslan/index.html

Religion of Peace??? More like a cult of death.
http://www.terrorists-suck.org/why_suck/beslan.html

Radical Islamists must be stopped:

comments on the Beslan child slaughter.
http://www.sullivan-county.com/immigration/list.htm

Rapes in Beslan: in Muhammed''s Footsteps
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1214617/posts

[scoleridge-2009]

What happened to the Bushie Neocon arrogance? Remember equating Iraq with Neville Chamberlain''s concessions to the Nazis? Shame on all Bushie Neocons! Classic symptom of a bully. When you know your nose is going to be bloodied, you chicken-out.

[ajaxtheleast]

Rice To Georgia armed with

Chef Georgio Bush''s Own Minced Loin A la Crotch.

[obamanation6]

trrrorislamx aka terrorspamvirus lives in his mother''s attic.....

[usmcvn1]

The Bush Adim is stupid. Leave the Russians alone. They can kick the USA''s azz. Russia is not a third world country with an Army on horseback and no airpower. Bush has lost his mind.

[neoconrcrazy]

rice, the secretary of state who never does a deal - is on her way to another failure -

after having allowed (and armed) georgians to attack their own province -

she now must ASK the russians to accept her proposal-

GOOD LUCK ! you''ll need it as my instincts say russia will politely refuse.

NEOCONS = FAILURE every time.

[obamanation6]

WHO ARE BUSH AND CONDI KIDDING?

No wonder Russia is paying no attention to President Bush and Sec. of State Rice on their paper tiger threats about what the U.S. will do if Russia doesn''t pullback on their invasion of Georgia.

The United States doesn''t have a military that can do a *** thing about what Russia is doing.

[nextgenman]

Posted by trrrorislamx at 07:40 AM : Aug 15, 2008
-----------------------

Spam. Posted over and over and over and over and over....

[obamanation6]

trrrorislamx how many times have you been kicked out of CBS? terrorsalami hates MEXICANS,BLACKS,MUSLIMS,and probably his own "white" neighbor,whatta a f.ukken loser

[neoconrcrazy]

Speaking of useless, can anyone name ANYTHING Condo "Chevron Oil Tanker" Rice has accomplished

Posted by tuckerndfw

yes, she brought the intel "Bin Laden to stike US" to the commander but evidently he couldn?t read it (it even mentioned hijacking airliners!!).

at senate 9-11 hearsing she said "she didn''t think it was important at the time"

neocons only endanger our country, not protect it.

[obamanation6]

Terrified of Islam is an inmate in a lunatic asylum.

He is only allowed access to a computer to prevent him from eating the curtains.Posted by tuckerndfw yeah and probably on "meth" too...

[trrrorislamx]

WOW,,, WHY DID''T WET WILLY KLOWNTOON DO SOMETHING???

the 1993 World Trade Center bombing,,, inside job

the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed five U.S. military personnel,,, inside job

the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military personnel,,, inside job

the 1998 bombing of U.S . embassies in Africa, which killed 224 and injured 5,000,,, inside job

the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 and injured 39 U.S. sailors,,, inside job

talk is no substitute for action,,,

kkklowntoon just gave us the same old tired speech and did nothing else,,,

"We will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to find those who killed our sailors and hold them accountable."

yahhh right

In a moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing. Theodore Roosevelt

[realpatriot1]

I guess the threats of McCain & Bush to round up the free world aginst Russia didn''t work out so it''s time for appeasement.

Russia has learned that to the invader goes the spoils.

[donevis-2009]

Speaking of useless, can anyone name ANYTHING Condo "Chevron Oil Tanker" Rice has accomplished since becoming George Bush''''s girlfriend?
Posted by tuckerndfw at 07:37 AM : Aug 15, 2008

Yeah, she learned how to pole Dance and to stay away from Cheney when he''s hunting.

[toldyouso12]

As Secretary of State, so far Rice has managed to do nothing very well and still convince her supporters that she is productive and not just a mouthpiece. Not all her fault though....her biggest crime is being partially in thrall to her psuedo "husband" (Bush) who, along with Cheney left such a trail of lies,backstabbing, mercenary acts and corruption, that when it comes to international clout and negotiation--she and the country do not have much of a reputation or credibility to go on.

[bigsk8fan]

what big hypocrites condoleeza and dubya are! sure, ok for usa to attack iraq without any wmd''s or other justification, but have russia attack georgia without any justification, and condi and dubya get bent out of shape. what''s up with that george?

[bluestardad]

HANG IN THERE MISS NO ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE...

HOW IS RICE FOR CREDIBILITY?

SHE IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE GOING TO BE TRIED FOR THE IRAQ WAR CRIMES...

[obamanation6]

Long-term methamphetamine abuse has many negative consequences, including extreme weight loss, severe dental problems, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, and violent behavior. Chronic methamphetamine abusers can also display a number of psychotic features, including paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects creeping under the skin). TERRORSALAMI???

[toldyouso12]

I thought aggression of other countries invading others (ourselves excluded from this rule) resulted in Operations Desert Storms and such..what happened, are we balking from our normal kick azz position because Russia has more than Scud missles and might kick our own azz?

[ajaxtheleast]

Condi:,, "Hello, Mik, nice to see you again,,,

I''m here to salvage what''s left of Georgia."


Saaka:,, Welcome Condi.,First,,,step a little

closer,,,I believe your''re standing in Turkey.

[trrrorislamx]

BETTER THAN MAD-ELEINE AL-DIM,,,

Skit featuring albright, Kim J Ill, and Osama bin laden

The David Zucker Madeleine Albright ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hzH6X8g34Y

[hungry1968]

Since when has it become the responsibility of the United States government to become THE mediator for the world? Where the hell is the UN?

And after this administration ***** on Putin and his government EVERY opportunity they had for 8 years, what makes them think that Russia wants ANYTHING to do, with anything that the Bush regime wants?

[neoconrcrazy]

Rice In Georgia Armed With ......

black nylons?

push-up bra ?

her kinda-sleazy grin?

let''s wait and see how she impressions the russkies!

[toldyouso12]

Terrified of Islam is an inmate in a lunatic asylum.

He is only allowed access to a computer to prevent him from eating the curtains.Posted by tuckerndfw yeah ...

Posted by obamanation6 at 07:55 AM : Aug 15, 2008


Very sad, that the people of Curtia have been housed with the likes of terrorislam. LOL

[trrrorislamx]

WHATTTTTT ISN''T THE WAR OVER???

did not tim kaine tell the world that HUSSEIN has ended the war between georgia and russia,,,

Video - Tim Kaine: Obama Ended The War Between Georgia and Russia
http://beltwayblips.com/video/tim_kaine_obama_ended_the_war_between_georgia_and/

Tim Kaine: Barack Obama Solved The Crisis In Georgia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w43m6vQrEYw

[hasher471]

I''ve wondered why Bush, the Bush Administration, or McCain (the Bush Administration-extended) has not mentioned that this whole thing was cause by Georgia militarilly going into South Ossetia.

According to a news report I read yesterday, Rice, in a meeting earlier this year told Georgai we (i.e. the US) would support Georgia going into South Ossetia. Even though the Bush administration KNOWS that is a very contentious area.

Per CIA Factbook - https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gg.html:
Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence, but this progress has been complicated by two ethnic conflicts in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These two territories remain outside the control of the central government and are ruled by de facto, unrecognized governments, supported by Russia. Russian-led peacekeeping operations continue in both regions.

God I''ll be glad when Bush & Co are out of office!!!

[neoconrcrazy]

Where the hell is the UN?

Posted by hungry1968


a little late, don''t you think?

the republican controlled senate wouldn''t even allow our dues to be paid for years, trying to blackmail that organization.

they bad-mouthed it, tried to get Kofi Annan thrown out - sent guys like john Bolton to speak for us -

finally, bush decided to lie to it and sent Powell to do the dirty work!

but now bush runs to the UN asking for sanctions against iran, now russia...

band of frigg''en chickenhawks

[brianbwb-2009]

"Deal Would Include Concessions To Russia; Fate Of Separatist Regions Not Addressed"

Then it is of absolutely no use whatsoever, as long as the separatist regions'' issues are not addressed, there will be no solution, no matter how many "pacts" the Leezard brings with her.

Uncle Tom''s perverted Rice should ****, go home, and start preparing her defense for the war crimes trials.

[tbweb]

Since when has it become the responsibility of the United States government to become THE mediator for the world? Where the hell is the UN?

Posted by hungry1968 at 08:04 AM : Aug 15, 2008,,,

Exactly! Inquiring minds want to know!

[timdgrim]

"U.S. and Polish negotiators reached a deal on Thursday to deploy American interceptors in Poland as part of a European missile shield the United States plans. Under another agreement, a radar tracking station will be located in the Czech Republic."
*********
Isn''t that kind of like Russia or China putting interceptors and radar stations and missle shields in...oh..say Mexico or Canada? And, Bush and McCain say ''should not invade a sovereign nation''..What was Iraq? No wonder the world hates us! Ever think about that Georgie Porgie? Oh, that''s right...it''s ''Do as I want'' NOT ''Do As I''VE Done'' When are going to throw God out of his position? Is HE next on your holier than thou list?

[toldyouso12]

"Rice will be consulting with pro-Western Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili about details of the cease-fire, which will require Russia to withdraw its combat forces from Georgia but allows Russian peacekeepers to remain in South Ossetia and conduct limited patrols outside the region.

The draft document also does not commit Russia to respecting Georgia''s "territorial integrity," but rather refers to Georgian "independence" and "sovereignty," meaning Moscow does not necessarily accept that South Ossetia and Abkhazia, are Georgian."


Translation: We fvcked over Iraq the same way. So now, we get Iraq and they can have bits of Georgia and since we are afraid to fight someone who might actually be able to fight back, we''ll just cough up a paper which says that Russia can stay and that they are "heroes" whose acts were done to liberate those bits, just like our invasion and killings liberated Iraq.

[hungry1968]

a little late, don''''t you think?

Posted by neoconRcrazy at 08:09 AM : Aug 15, 2008




Correct, but the Bush regime snubbing EVERY other country in the world is irrelevant when it comes to issues external to the US.

Georgia v Russia has NOTHING to do with the US, and we should make sure it stays that way - NOT jump into the fire with both feet. If ANYONE needs to mediate this problem that they''re having, then it should be the UN. After all, that is their job.

[rosieod4prez]

Rice In Georgia Armed With ......black nylons? push-up bra ? her kinda-sleazy grin? Posted by neoconRcrazy


Funny, that''s exactly the sort of get-up I was thinking Obama might want to try when meeting with ahmadinejad. After all, Barack has every intent of bending over for anyone that is Muslim extremist.

[chimpyout]

Is this the situation at present: Congolisa wants the Russians to agree to the Bush administration''s conditions which favor Georgia.
To secure Russian goodwill, she will go to Poland and sign an anti-Russian missile defense agreement.
And to strengthen this effort, Bush is even now on TV lying about Russia and their intentions and blabbing about "freedom" as if he were a "beacon of liberty."

[toldyouso12]

TO: toldyouso12 at 07:58 AM : Aug 15, 2008

Hell is definitely facing a cold spell.

I AGREE with YOU!!! (mostly except the part about it not being all her fault, she would have resigned if she had integrity, which she does not, nor does anyone else in the Bush administration, mainly Bush & Cheney)

I see you also appear to have read that report about Condo "Chevron Oil Tanker" Rice inadvertently referring to George Bush as her "husb. . .".

Posted by tuckerndfw at 08:07 AM : Aug 15, 2008


I never thought I would see the day where we had a corrupt and evil administration coupled with a Congress derelict in their duty to prosecute. We have the perfect storm for a failed/corrupt ineffective gov. It goes without saying that the Bush Admin should be charged with treason and war crimes and that maybe a few in Congress should also be charged with aiding and abetting those acts.

[tbweb]

The UN Security Council can do nothing since Russia will veto any effort to force her to do anything. And is why leaders of the five permanent members will never be held accountable for their war crimes (such as Bush).

Posted by tuckerndfw at 08:17 AM : Aug 15, 2008,,,

Russia should have lost its U.N. status when the Soviet Union collapsed and then after reapplying should not have been given Veto power! The U.N. missed a golden opportunity.

[rosieod4prez]

"Where the hell is the UN?

Posted by hungry1968 at 08:04 AM : Aug 15, 2008

The UN can do absolutely nothing without agreement from all five permanent members of the UN Security Council.- tucker




Which is exactly why we should leave the UN. But thanks for pointing out that it was a democrat that screwed things up for us at the UN.

[toldyouso12]

Since when has it become the responsibility of the United States government to become THE mediator for the world? Where the hell is the UN?


Posted by hungry1968 at 08:04 AM : Aug 15, 2008

As the only remaining superpower--we have always felt that we were responsible for maintaining the status quo, and only people in our own special, elite club can invade and destroy others with our blessings. Russia is not in the club. The embarrassing thing is--the world is getting a first hand look at just how much of a bully we are. Bullies never, ever attack anyone that might actually be able to defend themselves. It is the credo of the Bully/Imperialist handbook. Look it up.

[tpraskac]

Right. We expect Russia to sign this cease fire in Georgia right after the USA and Poland sign a deal in Poland for Poland to have a Defense Missile shield in Poland. What do you think Russia will say to this. Are we americans stupid.

[hungry1968]

Funny, that''''s exactly the sort of get-up I was thinking Obama might want to try when meeting with ahmadinejad. After all, Barack has every intent of bending over for anyone that is Muslim extremist.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by RosieOD4Prez at 08:16 AM : Aug 15, 2008





Obama proposed meeting with Iran to solve the nuclear proliferation problem with them.

Bush chose to ignore them and impose meaningless sanctions to solve the nuclear proliferation problem with them, AND THEN negotiate with them AFTER they''ve acquired the technololgy.

Iran NOW has nuclear capabilities.



Who''s policy looks better now?

By the way, when Bush sent a negotiator to meet with the Iranians, McCain said it was an "approriate response". So apparently, everyone BUT YOU thinks that we should keep trying negotiations.

[toldyouso12]

The other day, McCain condemned the acts of Russia by declaring: "In the 21st century nations do not invade other nations". The obvious lie and hypocrisy of his declaration appears to have been lost to Him, the media and apparently most Americans. Like Clinton''s sniper remark--it should have been replayed ad nauseum, perhaps along side pictures of our invasion in the 21st century of Iraq.

(McCain should have said, that the Europeans and Americans do not invade countries that are not full of people of color, so we could all see what is in the US wallet)

[smirk5]

Rice forgot to ask "Pretty please?"

[obamanation6]

Breaking News:U.S. President Bush: Georgia''s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.(CNN) the beginning of WW3!! get ready folks..