McCain on Crisis in Georgia [Updates]
By SusanUnPC on August 8, 2008 at 11:21 AM in Foreign Policy, National Security
(I haven’t gotten anything from Obama’s camp. Am searching for a statement. Of course, he’ll have to have someone write the entire thing for him. God, I hope there’s a press conference today, and the press ask him about this crisis. UPDATE at 9:23 a.m. PT — Six minutes ago the A.P. posted “McCain, Obama urge halt to fighting in Georgia.” 2nd UPDATE: Memeorandum.com has an excellent list of the best stories. I find it astonishing that I cannot find more coverage of this story on ANY of the three “news” networks. They’re blathering mostly about the latest “crime” stories. They insult our intelligence. UPDATE 3: BBC World Service radio is on the story. UPDATE 4: Added a map from the NYTimes story, which also has a riveting photo. It’ll help Barky. UPDATE 5: I have added Obama’s statement at the end. I INVITE YOU to COMPARE and CONTRAST the two statements.)
For Immediate Release
Contact: Press Office
Friday, August 8, 2008
703-650-5550
ARLINGTON, VA — U.S. Senator John McCain issued the following statement regarding the current conflict between Georgia and Russia:
“Today, news reports indicate that Russian military forces crossed an internationally-recognized border into the sovereign territory of Georgia. Russia should immediately and unconditionally cease its military operations and withdraw all forces from sovereign Georgian territory. What is most critical now is to avoid further confrontation between Russian and Georgian military forces. The consequences for Euro-Atlantic stability and security are grave.
“The government of Georgia has called for a cease-fire and for a resumption of direct talks on South Ossetia with international mediators. The U.S. should immediately convene an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to call on Russia to reverse course. The U.S. should immediately work with the EU and the OSCE to put diplomatic pressure on Russia to reverse this perilous course it has chosen. We should immediately call a meeting of the North Atlantic Council to assess Georgia’s security and review measures NATO can take to contribute to stabilizing this very dangerous situation. Finally, the international community needs to establish a truly independent and neutral peacekeeping force in South Ossetia.”
Here is Barack Obama’s statement, such as it is, via The Page:
Below is a Statement from Senator Obama on the Grave Situation in Georgia
“I strongly condemn the outbreak of violence in Georgia, and urge an immediate end to armed conflict. Now is the time for Georgia and Russia to show restraint, and to avoid an escalation to full scale war. Georgia’s territorial integrity must be respected. All sides should enter into direct talks on behalf of stability in Georgia, and the United States, the United Nations Security Council, and the international community should fully support a peaceful resolution to this crisis.”






















