Courtesy of the Wall Street Journal, here are the senator's latest thoughts on the crisis:
As Russian tanks and troops moved through the Roki Tunnel and across the internationally recognized border into Georgia, the Russian government stated that it was acting only to protect Ossetians. Yet regime change in Georgia appears to be the true Russian objective.
Two years ago, I traveled to South Ossetia. As soon as we arrived at its self-proclaimed capital -- now occupied by Russian troops -- I saw an enormous billboard that read, "Vladimir Putin, Our President." This was on sovereign Georgian territory.
Russian claims of humanitarian motives were further belied by a bombing campaign that encompassed the whole of Georgia, destroying military bases, apartment buildings and other infrastructure, and leaving innocent civilians wounded and killed. As the Russian Black Sea Fleet began concentrating off of the Georgian coast and Russian troops advanced on one city after another, there could be no doubt about the nature of their aggression.
More...
The Georgian people have suffered before, and they suffer today. We must help them through this tragedy, and they should know that the thoughts, prayers and support of the American people are with them. This small democracy, far away from our shores, is an inspiration to all those who cherish our deepest ideals. As I told President Saakashvili on the day the cease-fire was declared, today we are all Georgians. We mustn't forget it.
I'm a Georgian.
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4 comments:
John writes, "John McCain is ahead of the curve--even in front of President Bush..."
Sen. McCain has even talked of sending his own delegation (Sens. Lieberman and Graham) to Tbilisi.
Weren't you and even McCain himself calling that sort of thing "presumptuous" a few weeks ago?
How many sides does your mouth have for you to talk out of?
Unlike Berlin--where Obama chose to speak as if he was already president--Georgia is in crisis.
Do you need some Dramamine for all that spin you're doing?
PS: Specifically because Georgia is in crisis, McCain ought to step back and not interfere with what the actual President feels he needs to do.
Speechify all you want (and both candidates are), but needlessly ratcheting up the already hot rhetoric and sending an envoy of his own...?
McCain's crossing the line -- and it's not too difficult to understand that he may be doing because his top adviser is earning a mint by lobbying for the government of Georgia.
People are dying and McCain's trying to score political points off it. Don't your morals tell you that's just plain wrong?
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