Bush Orders Military to Deliver Aid to Georgia

Fox News ^ | 08-13-08

[MNJohnnie]

President Bush has directed the U.S. military to lead a humanitarian mission to Georgia where tens of thousands have been forced out of their homes following a Russian invasion last week that has been described by Georgia's president as an "ethnic cleansing."

A U.S. C-17 aircraft with humanitarian supplies already has arrived in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and another C-17 will arrive there Thursday with additional medical and humanitarian aid, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said after the president's announcement.

Speaking from the White House Rose Garden with Defense Secretary Bob Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Bush said the aid mission will be "vigorous and ongoing." He warned Russia not to interfere.

[ichabod1]

Gotcha. I should not breeze over logistical challenges. Logistics: probably the most important, and least appreciated part of any military.

That said, it seems like 24 hours is a long time before getting another flight going, especially since this one seemed to go in lickety split.

One can imagine, though, that the President’s hand may have been forced a bit in terms of the timing of this announcement out of a desire to forestall the bear from overrunning the whole country. IOW, he might have rather waited until the logistical train was more firmly lined up, Condi was in the air, etc.

Or, hopefully, Doleeza. Cedric the Entertainer had a comedy bit about Condi, the good girl, the class president, and her dark side, Doleeza, who would rip your head off and spit down your neck.

[JRandomFreeper]

Pucker factor.... high.

/johnny

[Old Sarge]

“And the Devil went down to Georgia...”

[SJackson]

Israeli lobby? Sometime, someplace a wacko liberals is gonna say this is a war for Israel.

They've been saying that for days, based on the fact that Israel is sending aid and has supported Georgia with arms and training in the past.

[Blind Eye Jones]

Saakashvili said the U.S. and West underestimated Russia's regional ambitions and warned that "America's reputation here, since (the) Cold War, is going to hell now."

I don't know what to believe. I just read today that Saakashii, mentored by the US and Europe, was advised to play it cool with the Russians -- but he didn't and became reckless or overly confident. Putin probably thinks that the US is more interested in the threat of Iran, where Putin is suppose to help the US, but now at the price of giving up on Georgia.

[alarm rider]

A better “humantarian” exercise might be a US aircraft carrier, just off the coast, with a few “humantarian” aircraft loaded up to the max with “humantarian” weapons of ahh...self defense.

[Natchez Hawk]

“And the Devil went down to Georgia...”

Who gets to be Johnny?

[ichabod1]

No. That just flat doesn’t make sense.

[Fred]

[EagleandLiberty]

lets help the Georgians do some BEAR HUNTING!!! (see my tagline!!)

[cmsgop]

Good Point

There is nothing more humanitarian than a Super Hornet.....:*)

[airborne]

Putin is evil!

BTTT!

[steve86]

The proper way to end a comment like yours is “/sarcasm”. Otherwise people are dumbfounded thinking you’re serious.

[NormsRevenge]

God bless then and protect them.

Ditto! Godspeed!

[ichabod1]

ras-Putin is a reptile.

[ClayinVA]

hard to get a carrier thru the straits, I don’t think anyone has ever done it. The Black sea has been Russia’s personal playground for so long, they would raise the defcon status if we put any major combatants in there.

[Cold Heat]

Let the games begin..............

It's the only way to set up a proper trip wire and force them to back out or risk a real serious confrontation.

[jjm2111]

You know how dumb the air force logistics guys can be. Oops, how did this ammo and javelins and stuff get in with the HUMRATS. at least it’s not an ICBM warhead.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Maybe this is the reason Russia has agreed to a cease-fire because they do not want a direct open conflict with the US.

[rdax]

How come Georgia isn’t complaining like New Orleans was cuz the response is so slow?

- oh wait...nevermind