Did Bush speak too soon about U.S. Navy aiding Georgia?

[DogPoundPup]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — President Bush Wednesday promised that U.S. naval forces would deliver humanitarian aid to war-torn Georgia before his administration had received approval from Turkey, which controls naval access to the Black Sea, or the Pentagon had planned a seaborne operation, U.S. officials said Thursday.

As of late Thursday, Ankara, a NATO ally, hadn't cleared any U.S. naval vessels to steam to Georgia through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles, the narrow straits that connect the Mediterranean and the Black Seas, the officials said. Under the 1936 Montreaux Convention, countries must notify Turkey before sending warships through the straits.

Pentagon officials told McClatchy that they were increasingly dubious that any U.S. Navy vessels would join the aid operation, in large part because the U.S.-based hospital ships likely to go, the USNS Comfort and the USNS Mercy, would take weeks to arrive.

"The president was writing checks to the Georgians without knowing what he had in the bank," said a senior administration official.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/48293.html

[Selatius]

1. It appears Saakashvili got fucked over by the US.

He should have known better than to rely on the Bush White House as a friend.

[bemildred]

2. A tool in every sense. nt

[razors edge]

3. Recommended tool for poking Bears.

Sacrificial in design.

[notadmblnd]

4. I'm wondering how he feels about that betrayal?

I heard earlier McCain is planning on going over. Since he was bought and paid for by the Georgian governemnt, I wonder if they'll ask for a refund?


Payback can be a bitch.

[Captain Hilts]

5. He also should have read some history, circa 1956.

He thoroughly fucked himself - and his own country - over.

[gateley]

6. Didn't he actually say the ship/s were en route? nt

[bemildred]

7. Yes, but when you think about it, that means absolutely nothing.

They could be rounding Cape Horn, they could have engine trouble, they could have to go somewheres to rest and refit.

[daleo]

9. They are bound to be en route to somewhere

Even sitting in port, they are whirling through the galaxy at a fantastic speed.

[amandabeech]

8. The Turks will do what they want.

Do they now expect us to put pressure on the Europeans to let them into the EU?

[14thColony]

10. I seriously doubt Turkey would deny permission for humanitarian relief

especially by hospital ships. They have rarely denied warships transit permission as long as they were folowing the prescriptions of Montreaux. The USN operates warships in the Black Sea on a fairly routine basis with no problems.

Turkish PM Recep Erdogan has been involved in trying to end the current fighting, intervening with the UN SecGen on Georgia's behalf. He has also proposed a 'Caucasus alliance' of the Caucasus countries, plus Russia, the US, Turkey, and the EU in order to have a forum to talk through problems.

Turkey is a pretty solid US ally, but they get little notice or credit for their efforts. And Turkey is becoming much less interested in joing the EU nowadays.

[laststeamtrain]

11. Did Bush speak too soon about U.S. Navy aiding Georgia?

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Did Bush speak too soon about U.S. Navy aiding Georgia?
Jonathan S. Landay | McClatchy Newspapers

last updated: August 14, 2008 09:11:45 PM

WASHINGTON — President Bush Wednesday promised that U.S. naval forces would deliver humanitarian aid to war-torn Georgia before his administration had received approval from Turkey, which controls naval access to the Black Sea, or the Pentagon had planned a seaborne operation, U.S. officials said Thursday.

As of late Thursday, Ankara, a NATO ally, hadn't cleared any U.S. naval vessels to steam to Georgia through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles, the narrow straits that connect the Mediterranean and the Black Seas, the officials said. Under the 1936 Montreaux Convention, countries must notify Turkey before sending warships through the straits.

Pentagon officials told McClatchy that they were increasingly dubious that any U.S. Navy vessels would join the aid operation, in large part because the U.S.-based hospital ships likely to go, the USNS Comfort and the USNS Mercy, would take weeks to arrive.

"The president was writing checks to the Georgians without knowing what he had in the bank," said a senior administration official.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/48293.html

[dipsydoodle]

12. Well it's not exactly an uncommon event

him opening his mouth with engaging his brain first.

[Angleae]

13. Engaging his brain?

When has he ever done this?

[Ganja Ninja]

14. Ol' bring'em on sure looks like an ass on this one.

Putin gave him the smackdown while he was sitting right next to him at the olympics. I'd have loved to be a fly on the wall in * hotel room for the first 5 days of this crisis. I'm sure the bully must have been reduced to tears at some point.

[LiberalFighter]

15. Without knowing what he had in the bank????? Hmm