US Rice Warned Georgia President To Avoid Conflict With Russia NYT

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP)--US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice privately warned Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to avoid a conflict with Russia during her trip to Tbilisi in July, The New York Times reported Thursday, citing a US official.

"She told him, in no uncertain terms, that he had to put a non-use of force pledge on the table," an unnamed senior US official who accompanied Rice on the trip told the newspaper.

The message was delivered during a private dinner on July 9, the report added.

Publicly, however, during the trip Rice blamed Russia as a source of continuing unrest in the country.

Russia "needs to be a part of resolving the problem and solving the problems and not contributing to it," she said at a July 10 joint press conference with Saakashvili.



Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=...

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not sure I'm buying this timed leak from another unnamed US official.

[Sanity Claws]

1. I don't know

There's a lot of infighting going on between Rice and Cheney. She may have said that to the Georgian Pres. and then Cheney contradicted her and said she doesn't know what the hell she's talking about. Remember Cheney went on and made an announcement on the war before Bush talked.

[islandmkl]

2. 'no uncertain terms...??'

he must have missed that part of their conversation...

surely he just didn't ignore candigirl and the bushco orders, did he??

[gratuitous]

5. Or maybe Putin had his fingers crossed

He's very sneaky! And no one could have predicted . . .

[OwnedByFerrets]

3. No credibility at all...nt

[dipsydoodle]

4. She should 'phone him and say

Exactly what was it about "non-use of force" you didn't fucking understand - you wanker.

[annabanana]

6. The Republic of Georgia had no army until

we went in there and built them one. Anyone with an ipod should get ahold of Rachel Maddow's show from 8/11 and listen to hour 1.. There is a GREAT history of our recent (post Soviet collapse) involvement with this Country.

[dkf]

7. I don't know what to think about this. Would they simply

disregard Rice's words so easily?

I think this Georgian President is as reckless as John McCain, which scares me.

If Georgia wants to be a part of NATO, they really shouldn't be provoking the Russians the way they are.

[WriteDown]

12. If you've ever been to the region...

you'll see there are deep divides. Russians consider Georgians, Estonians, etc. to be inferior or almost slaves. Georgians and the others consider Russia to be oppressors. I fear that nothing we do or say will ever be able to stop these type of conflicts. The pressure eventually finds some sort of vent.

[dkf]

17. Well they are poking the Russian Bear and then running behind the US.

Its ok if they can stand up by themselves, but not OK if they expect us to bail them out when we are simply incapable of doing so.

[islandmkl]

8. do you believe in coincidences??

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/election2008/story/46982.htm...


m.c.johnny's got his hands down in somebody's pockets in Georgia...

who would have thought?

on edit: forgot to mention: Randall Scheunemann

[smiley_glad_hands]

9. I think the Mclame camp orchestrated this.

Surely the Georgians knew what kind of response to expect from Russia. Now Mclame gets to go on TV and try to look like a prezident, while the big O is on vacation.

[snappyturtle]

10. Me thinks this adminstration, which of course includes Condi, is

speaking out of both sides of it's nefarious mouth. If, if we assume the above story is true, why was the U.S. training and supplying Georgian troops for combat and urging them on in their NATO bid knowing full well the big bear would be angered? Whose best interests were being served?

[jimlup]

16. Agreed

This wouldn't be the first time. Condi does understand the situation a little more than the rest of those idiots. Condi probably did what she could but the Cheney contingent was working the other side.

Once again the administration proves its complete incompetence.

[edhopper]

11. Doesn't anyone else

Think this is disinformation from an "unnamed source" to cover Rice's ass?

[Hugabear]

13. "But if you do decide to use force, here are some business cards that you might find useful"

n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. Aaah aaah aaah

Aaaaaaaachoobullshit.

Gezundheit.

[alcibiades_mystery]

15. If the New York Times wanted to be serious, they would refrain from

printing this story until they had documentary proof of some kind, or confirmation from the other party to the discussion. Instead, they merely reprint propaganda from an "unnamed State Department source" as if it is the gospel truth. This leak doesn't rise to the level of a news story until there is rock solid confirmation that such a warning actually happened from several parties to these actual discussions.

[Javaman]

18. and here are the words of wisdom from an "authority" on all things russian

basically saying, "don't go there, girl!"

Fuck, I'm no authority, but it doesn't take a fucking goddamn genius to say, "don't poke the lion.

She's a fucking worthless human being.

[underpants]

19. That's not fair

She isn't worthless, she is a classicly trained Sovietologist--irrelevant? sure but not worthless

[Javaman]

20. LOL nt