Cheney Supports Former Soviet Republics

Says Georgia Will Join NATO; Kremlin Says VP Is Building "Anti-Russian Axis"

(AP)  Vice President Dick Cheney insisted that Georgia will join NATO and backed its attempts to rebuild from its war with Russia on Thursday, using a trip to former Soviet republics as a show of U.S. support for their pro-Western leaders.

Cheney flew to Kiev from Georgia, where he denounced Russia's "illegitimate, unilateral attempt" to redraw the U.S. ally's borders by force.

"Georgia will be in our alliance," Cheney told reporters while standing alongside Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, whose pro-Western government has sought to join NATO despite Russian opposition.

Angry Russian officials have repeatedly said U.S. military aid was instrumental in emboldening Georgia to try to retake South Ossetia by force on Aug. 7. The attack sparked five days of fighting and resulted in Russian forces driving into South Ossetia and on into Georgia.

Speaking in Moscow, Konstantin Kosachyov, head of foreign affairs committee in the Kremlin-controlled lower house, accused Cheney of trying to forge an "anti-Russian axis."

"It's Cheney who was behind all recent events on the former Soviet turf," Kosachyov said in televised remarks.

The vice president's trip was intended as a signal that the U.S. will continue cultivating close ties with Georgia and its neighbors even after Russia showed it was willing to use military force against countries along its border.

Before Georgia, Cheney also stopped in oil-rich Azerbaijan.

There are concerns the Kremlin might next seek to squeeze Ukraine as it tries to reclaim dominance in the former Soviet Union. The strategically located country of 46 million has pipelines that carry Russian gas to European consumers and a Black Sea port that is home to a key Russian naval base.

"America will do its duty to work with the governments of Georgia and our other friends and allies to protect our common interests and to uphold our values," Cheney said.

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

On the eve of his arrival, the White House announced a $1 billion commitment to help the small, strategically located nation recover from its war with Russia.

Saakashvili said Georgia was grateful for the aid, which matched his government's estimate of war damages: "Together with our other partners, in Europe, America and elsewhere, we will rebuild Georgia. We feel that we are not alone."

The United States is at Georgia's side, Cheney said, "as you work to overcome an invasion of your sovereign territory and an illegitimate, unilateral attempt to change your country's borders by force, that has been universally condemned by the free world."

New U.S. military aid to Georgia would further test relations between Washington and Moscow, which are already at a post-Cold War low.

Russia has condemned the U.S. use of warships to deliver aid as a form of gunboat diplomacy. The flagship of the U.S. 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, the USS Mount Whitney, sailed into the Black Sea on Wednesday with more aid for Georgia.

According to a military official, the ship is planning to dock in the Black Sea port of Poti. The official, who spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said that the Russians have said they would not impede the ship's movement, but they want to check the cargo when it arrives in Poti. The U.S. has agreed to that, the official said.

The United States and European Union say Russia has failed to meet its obligations under an EU-brokered cease-fire deal. But Moscow insists the cease-fire accord lets it run checkpoints in security zones more than 4 miles into Georgian territory.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said before meeting with his Russian counterpart Thursday that the EU hopes the Russian troops will pull out by Monday when an EU delegation led by French President Nicolas Sarkozy visits Moscow.

"The EU peace deal talks about temporary security measures and patrols, not about permanent installations," Frattini was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.

But Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov firmly said after talks with Frattini in Moscow that Russian peacekeepers will stay in the security zone until there is a comprehensive mechanism of international monitoring.

For the first time since the outbreak of hostilities, Russia on Thursday allowed military monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to patrol a road near South Ossetia. "Access to the area has been a focus for the OSCE and international partners, and we welcome this important step," Ambassador Terhi Hakala, the head of the OSCE mission to Georgia, said in a statement.

The OSCE has decided to increase its team of observers in Georgia from 8 before the conflict to 100.

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko, who has supported Georgia, has objected to Russia using its ships stationed in the Ukrainian base in the war, thus dragging Ukraine into the conflict. His move has angered Moscow and further strained relations which already have been tense over energy disputes and the Russian navy presence in Ukraine.

Since the war in Georgia last month, Russia has asserted it has what President Dmitry Medvedev called "privileged interests" in its sphere of influence, which includes the former Soviet states in the South Caucasus.

"I would like to say firmly: we are worried about the Russian president's recent use of the term 'regions of privileged interests of the Russian Federation'," Yushchenko said Thursday at a meeting with the ambassadors of G-7 nations. "I don't think this corresponds to the spirit of our neighborly relations."

Cheney's visit comes at an awkward time for Yushchenko. The governing coalition, made up of his party and that of his 2004 Orange Revolution partner - now Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko - has collapsed, dashing hopes for quick progress and integration with the European Union.

Yushchenko and Tymoshenko have turned into bitter rivals before the 2010 presidential election, in which they are likely to compete against each other, blocking each other's policies and stalling much-needed reform.

After Tymoshenko sided with the Russia-friendly opposition to trim presidential powers, Yushchenko's allies pulled out of the coalition, robbing it of a parliamentary majority. The parliament now has to come up with a new alliance or a new election will be called. That would be the third parliamentary vote in as many years and a major embarrassment to Yushchenko's government.

[dontbasucka]

World War III is coming. $300/barrel of oil is coming. Prepare yourselves before 2012.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Vice President *** Cheney has condemned Russia for what he says is an "illegitimate, unilateral attempt" to change Georgia''s borders by force."

After his own unilateral changing of the Iraqi government by lies? Give us a break.

He also forgets to mention, and thus condones the Georgian attempt to change South Ossetia''s and Abkhazia''s pro-russian breakaway wish by force of genocide.

Now I hear that McSame wants to go there, and pretend to be president. Bush might have given him permission to do so, but McSame is just as "illegitimate" as a representative of the US, as Cheney''s war in Iraq is.

[nextgenman]

Putin says, "Tell us about that invasion of Iraq again".

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Republicans fail at everything they do.

[pirmin3]

These republiscum give me something to laugh about every day. Illegitimate??? Just look to Iraq you brain dead fossil.

[formrusmcsgt]

Posted by pirmin3 at 06:07 AM : Sep 04, 2008

Cheney is delivering his "do as we say, not as we do" message to Russia.....

[haoli25]

How do you say, ''**** Cheney'' in Russian?

[pirmin3]

"Cheney is delivering his "do as we say, not as we do" message to Russia..... Posted by formrusmcsgt"

That''s quite true. So very GOP or Christo-fascist like. Knocked up daughters are OK for GOP moms but they''re ho''s if they''re democrats. Too funny

[kohin-2009]

It is funny to see the same people who yesterday didn`t want to listen anybody on Iraq, Somalia, Kosovo, runing upand down trying to lecture us how bad it is to take an unilateral action!!!! Don`t they know that for the last 7 years, it is they who brokes all the international law? Don`t they know,it is thi stupid Guy at the head of the georgian gov. is the one who started every thing and gave the reason Russia to a self defense act. We have to be carefull here if we don`t want to see the end of human kind. Russia is not Iraq or IRAN but a country who is capable of distrying our planet periode!And now they have an unexperienced women who started proning last I,I,I,I,I,without knowing what she was talking about. It is not Alaska which is at stake Madam, it is the world peace and humanity, and George and Mccain are the same and as a world citizen I urge you my fellow american world citizen not elect any more the same crazy bunch of people in the white house.

[panhandlpete]

Can''t you just see Palin making the same trip Cheney made and handing out a Billion dollar aid package???? Ask yourself one question.....if our gov''t had nothing to do with this little conflict of Georgia/Russia, then why must we PAY? What are the future benefits to this country for all this money? Nothing in this world is FREE without conditions, so where is truth? Did Cheney make a bargain to put a military base in Georgia, or missile defense system, or maybe start a bigger conflict at a later date? Stay tuned...

[oleander8]

Hey Mr Cheney! Just because you are ''persona non grata'' at the GOP convention - don''t go starting another war just before the door hits you in the bum on the way out.

[realityzone]

Of course, its another Halliburton opportunity. Fat Boy needs to keep those kickbacks coming for years to come.

[hacker2xy]

Cheney playing Russian roulette he,he

[chimpyout]

GFY, ***. You have neither credit nor credibility. Take your boss and McSame and dodder off into the sunset. Don''t worry, the American people will take care of your "legacy."

[chimpyout]

Should I have said GFY, Richard?

[rushliberal]

Is there anyway to put Cheney on the Terrorist Watch List so that He CAN''T get back into the United States?

[rushliberal]

McCain = Bush with DUH!
Palin = Cheney with PMS

[lloydbest1]

With regards to Richard Cheney''s message to Russia:

Pot - Kettle - Black

[erb0087]

Shut up, Cheney.

Let Palin worry about Putin.

[erb0087]

They should have sent Jimmy Carter to Georgia.

Not D/ick Cheney, who knows nothing about the place.

[georgew1956]

lets look at the bush cheany popularity poll again!!

the two dumb a@@s don''t get do they. they are dumb and dumber.

[georgew1956]

can we make bush and cheany political ghost too.
we can make a deal on that ruskie.

[smurfcrusher]

Perhaps if they act quickly, the UN can yet arrest Cheney for war crimes while he''s still outside of the country.

[samsel3]

The truth is, this is all about control of oil & gas pipelines. The BTC oil pipeline in South Ossetia & the Nabucco natural gas pipeline in NW Georgia supply markets in the European Union. In November 2003 the World Bank funded the BTC pipeline to circumvent Russian pipelines supplying europe.

Shareholders in the BTC pipeline are: British Petroleum, AzBTC, Chevron, Statoil, TPAO, ENI, Total, Itochu, INPEX, ConocoPhillips & Amerada Hess.

Russia is the second largest supplier of oil & gas on the planet.
After loosing Iraqi oil to Operation Iraqi Freedom, they negotiated supplies with Iran. The Russians were not happy with Cheneys BTC pipeline or the Caspian Sea Pipelines project going through Afghanistan. This threatens their economy based on oil & gas.

Again it''s the Bush administrations lust for money in World markets for their BIG OIL buddies

[johnpatrick9]

Slimeball cheney better watch his mouth for the Russkies will slap him up the side of his head...he is a real blowhard but has met someone who wont take his pompous posturing in Putin.

[trishab57]

CBS: Cheney Blasts "Illegitimate" Russian Moves

-Didn''t you hear that *** Xplosion? LOL!

[trishab57]

faarrt pops! I''ve been censored for faaarrtt! WOW! Thanks WaxFaceDicck! go back to your farming activity.

[hacker2xy]

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced a $1 billion aid package to help Georgia "survive, rebuild and thrive" after the war with Russia. The package did not include military aid and it was not yet time to look at such assistance, she said....

[karlo59]

The cheeney is a christian zionist nazi pig, that needs to be tried and hanged at the Hague for war crimes. Bush also and the sooner the better.

[marinecwo2]

Everyone needs to understand that while our actions are sinister in nature, they are necessary for survival. Either we play the political game or we become a 3rd world nation overnight. As long as we are dependant on foreign oil we must play these cat and mouse games with Russia and Iran and N. Korea. Once free from those bonds tehn we can actually make progress with these people. Right now they have the bargaining chips and we have rhetoric. When the field is level you will see a different attitude from these nations.

[marinecwo2]

Everyone needs to understand that while our actions are sinister in nature, they are necessary for survival. Either we play the political game or we become a 3rd world nation overnight. As long as we are dependant on foreign oil we must play these cat and mouse games with Russia and Iran and N. Korea. Once free from those bonds tehn we can actually make progress with these people. Right now they have the bargaining chips and we have rhetoric. When the field is level you will see a different attitude from these nations.

[sly_64]

Now we are pulling 1 billion out of are assses to help another country while people here are losing their homes. Accounting 101, the Bush administration never passed it.

[hacker2xy]

NEW YORK, Sept 4 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures fell further on Thursday after a government report showing an unexpected jump in the number of people filing for jobless benefits added to concern about the U.S. labor market...and Cheney heads for Tbilisi as US gives billion dollars to Georgia -

[hacker2xy]

When the field is level you will see a different attitude from these nations.Posted by MarineCWO2..you mean "our field"? our field could get level with nuclear bombs!! wake up and smell the coffee!!

[intheshade-2009]

MarineCWO2 You are saying our involvement in genocide and ethnic cleansing in Georgia is justified because we are desperate for oil. The same argument put forward by every criminal in the world. You are knowingly committing crimes in the name of the US for the sake of oil. You are a war criminal.

[zykracosmos]

Everyone needs to understand that while our actions are sinister in nature, they are necessary for survival...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by MarineCWO2 at 09:01 AM : Sep 04, 2008
---------------------------
Your premise says it all. These actions are neither necessary nor smart. Instead they are provative and stupid. We need Russia''s cooperation in world affairs far more than we need Georgia, which is led by a certified idiot. Cheney/Bush/Rice gave Georgia the green light to terrorize the autonomous regions that are culturally distinct from ethnic Georgians (95% carry Russian passports), and after they spent two days attacking the capital with sniper fire, killing numerous Russian peacekeepers and countless citizens, they began a 24 hour barrage of mortar rounds and rockets, indiscriminately killing anyone near the capital all through the night on August 7 & 8. Cheney wasted our money sending military machinery in there in the first place, which the Russians have now confiscated or destroyed, and he is wasting our money now with another billion of our tax dollars. NATO on Russia''s doorstep? What right does he have to stick a military alliance aimed against Russia on its boundaries? What a sicko neocon stuck in the Cold War. And should Russia decide to get Cuba, Venezuela, and other countries in our sphere to join a military alliance and plant missiles in their country too?

[harp1963]

Cheney should go into acting after his term is up.

[mzidel]

WHAT A JOKE!!! THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS NO RIGHT TO CRITIZIE ANYBODY AFTER STARTING AN ILLEGAL WAR.

[williamfold]

where there''s oil, there''s sure to be a ***.

[samsel3]

The truth is, this is all about control of oil & gas pipelines. The BTC oil pipeline in South Ossetia & the Nabucco natural gas pipeline in NW Georgia supply markets in the European Union. In November 2003 the World Bank funded the BTC pipeline to circumvent Russian pipelines supplying europe.

Shareholders in the BTC pipeline are: British Petroleum, AzBTC, Chevron, Statoil, TPAO, ENI, Total, Itochu, INPEX, ConocoPhillips & Amerada Hess.

Russia is the second largest supplier of oil & gas on the planet.
After loosing Iraqi oil to Operation Iraqi Freedom, they negotiated supplies with Iran. The Russians were not happy with Cheneys BTC pipeline or the Caspian Sea Pipelines project going through Afghanistan. This threatens their economy based on oil & gas.

Again it''s the Bush administrations lust for money in World markets for their BIG OIL buddies

[hacker2xy]

BREAKING NEWS:Barack Obama would consider charging Bush administration over Guantanamo
Joe Biden, Barack Obama%u2019s vice-presidential running mate, has indicated that a new Democratic administration could pursue criminal charges against the Bush administration over the treatment of detainees in Guantanamo bay.

[jerr11]

Beneath the feel goodness of the republican convention.

A stench that reeks to high heaven.

Over 4000 corpses of Dead Americans killed by the republican war based on 935 LIES.

All the ex-wives of McCain, Giuliani, and Thompson, hiding in the shadows while the trophy wives enjoy the glory.

And a child molester sitting with his victim in the convention, applauded by the christian hypocriticals.


No Surprise.

This is after all the party of Bush/Cheney/Halliburton/Larry Craig/Mark Foley...

[samsel3]

Sept. 2, 2008 International Herald Tribune reports:

MOSCOW: Russia and Uzbekistan are to build a new natural gas pipeline across Uzbekistan, strengthening Russia''s bid to establish control over Central Asian gas exports to the West.

Speaking Tuesday in the Uzbek capital Tashkent, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the pipeline will be built to "serve the growing export potential" of Uzbekistan and neighboring Turkmenistan. He added that the deal will be signed "in the near future.""

Energy-hungry China has also sought a cut of Turkmenistan''s gas wealth, reaching a deal to build a natural gas pipeline that is to come on line in 2009."

[jumblerumble]

It sucks that McCain has become a Bush. Palin has oil ties, McCain''s "energy policy" calls for oil with empty promises of alternative energy. He voted 8 times against alternative energy initiatives! I see Iraq II coming up with all the Cheney/McCain tough talk with Russia.

[samsel3]

Cheney is in Georgia and the region proposing new pipelines to replace oil & gas lines taken over by the Russians in South Ossetia & NW Georgia.

[xmanborg]

Oh Shut the FRACK up Cheney you Bald headed Douschbag LOOSER.

[venkata4--2008]

"Again it''''s the Bush administrations lust for money in World markets for their BIG OIL buddies

Posted by samsel3 at 09:41 AM : Sep 04, 2008"

It is a very good post. Even if Russia does anything US so over spent military personal resources wise and money wise, just cannot do anything. BP Exxon Mobil, Chevron,etc. all privately owned and protected by US military. Profits will go to these company coffers. In contrast Gazprom taken over by Russia and profits go government coffers. US military runs tax dollars to protect private profits, doing in a Republican way.

[liberalme]

HE HE HE Cheneys a hypocrit.

Russian moves and motives are not any less legitimate than what we did in Iraq.

Cheney quit spending taxpayers money over there come home and wait quietly until you are no longer in office.
Posted by fedupwithit1

My thoughts exactly---these people constantly amaze me!

[hacker2xy]

Three White House officials have been held in criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to respond to subpoenas. Former counsel Harriet Miers, former chief political adviser Karl Rove and current chief of staff Josh Bolten have all refused to appear.

[xmanborg]

Hacker2xy

Bush will give all them a Presidential Pardon before he leave office.

[liberalme]

BREAKING NEWS:Barack Obama would consider charging Bush administration over Guantanamo
Joe Biden, Barack Obama%u2019s vice-presidential running mate, has indicated that a new Democratic administration could pursue criminal charges against the Bush administration over the treatment of detainees in Guantanamo bay.

Posted by Hacker2xy at 09:43 AM : Sep 04, 2008

And we can do a heII of a lot more than that!! These guys have broken all rules and laws pertaining to Iraq, the Constitution, Guantanamo and as far as I''m concerned diebold ought to go down with them as he followed through on his promise to get Ohio for Bush.

Criminals, every one of them.