U.S. presses Russia to withdraw troops immediately

Friday 22nd August, 04:20 PM JST

WASHINGTON —

The United States turned up the heat on Russia on Thursday to immediately withdraw its troops from Georgia in line with the commitments it made to leave after invading two weeks ago. ‘‘The withdrawal is not happening very quickly, if it in fact has begun,’’ National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said at a news briefing. ‘‘The withdrawal needs to take place, and needs to take place now.’’ These were Washington’s toughest remarks to date on the crisis in Georgia and reflect increasing U.S. frustration about the delay in a full-scale Russian pullout from its small neighbor.

The current crisis erupted after Russia sent troops to counter a Georgian attack on the Moscow-backed South Ossetia region. Georgia is a pro-Western country that the United States wants to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. U.S. Navy and other vessels are scheduled to soon head into the Black Sea—an area where Russia is sensitive about the presence of NATO forces—to deliver relief supplies to Georgia. ‘‘What is really important right now is getting humanitarian assistance to the people who need it, and that is our priority right now,’’ said State Department spokesman Robert Wood to reporters.

Kyodo

Latest 15 of 90 Total Comments Show All

sdf_crew_member at 01:15 PM JST - 23rd August

AlliedForces, JoeBigs

Dudes, your ignorance is astounding! Do you have ANY knowledge of the history of this region? Guess not. There're not any right side!

Had you yelled all known propaganda stamps or have any?: "drunk evil russians", "Hell Russia", "our son of a bitch", "nuke'em all". Something else? Come on, more imagination! "Us vs. Them" mentality could produce the real gems sometimes.

As to nukes... You know, Russia has them too and its missiles WILL reach US mainland if mutual madness prevails, and both countries have more than enough warheads to stop the life on this planet! Oh, my god, it looks like I'm talking to six years old brat!
AlliedForces at 01:21 PM JST - 23rd August

sdf crew member; Hey, you shouldn`t be cussing true patriots. Speaking for myself, i only want what is best for the world. Bush proved he is the man, by making Russia withdraw from Georgia. We must continue to use our overwhelming military superiority to enforce justice, and to stop any further agressive attacks by the Russians.

We made them learn not to mess with the only super power. Great job, well done , no casualties.
skipthesong at 01:22 PM JST - 23rd August

Hell Russia would never have made this kind of move under Clinton. That is saying a lot about how the world sees him." I thinks that an unfair assessment. I thinks its more timing than anything.

He should have been a better President and lead when he needed to, in the beginning.
sdf_crew_member at 02:21 PM JST - 23rd August

AlliedForces

I'm not cussing. I'm warning. The collision course of two giant and powerful countries is something that shouldn't ever happen. The alternative is catastrophic.

i only want what is best for the world

Well, you're not alone, me too. :))) The problem what "best" means and who has a right to impose his internal knowledge upon others.

We must continue to use our overwhelming military superiority to enforce justice, and to stop any further aggressive attacks by the Russians

Justice?! U.S. and Justice! Hilarious :)) Replace "justice" with "strategic interests" I'd accept it, don't agree but accept. Justice! Unbelievable :)
SushiSake3 at 03:28 PM JST - 23rd August

JoeBigs - "Overall, Bush did well in this crises but he took too bloody long to respond!"

That's probably because when the invasion took place, he was on holiday at his ranch in Texas.

Amazing thing is, he still is.
JoeBigs at 05:14 PM JST - 23rd August

sdfcrewmember at 01:15 PM JST - 23rd August AlliedForces, JoeBigs Dudes, your ignorance is astounding! Do you have ANY knowledge of the history of this region? Guess not. There're not any right side!

The histories of Georgia and Russia haves been intertwined for more than 500 years. Russia each time tries to take Georgia and Georgia frees itself. The cycle has continued for most of those 500 years.

But this time Georgia has a friend that may help it rid itself of Russian oppression and be free at last. 500 years of being attacked is enough I think.

What do you think? Should Georgia be given back to Russia? Or should they be free to govern themselves?

This invasion was just that, an invasion.
JoeBigs at 05:18 PM JST - 23rd August

SushiSake That's probably because when the invasion took place, he was on holiday at his ranch in Texas. Amazing thing is, he still is.

I thought he was having a few with Putin at the Olympics?

Please dont tell me this man is on vacation again! You have to be kidding! No other President would ever be on a Vacation at this time!

Piss poor management skills, piss poor if he is on Vacation!
VOR at 05:37 PM JST - 23rd August

I hate it when I am right, aside from a few personal attacks from the usual suspects, no one has disputed my original post:

VOR at 07:14 PM JST - 22nd August

This latest act orchestrated by Vlad Putin and co. exposes three realities:

Russian arrogance, United Nations insignificance and European cowardliness.

The only hope for the Georgian people rest with the United States ability to unify the free world against Russian aggression.

The UN and the EU aren't going to do it.

For those with comprehension disorders, notice I am not calling for war with Russia. What I am calling for is for other government bodies or international organizations start showing some leadership.

China enslaves Tibet and the world just sleeps, Muslems are slaughtering non Muslems in Dafur and the world sleeps, Russians destroyed Chechnya and now in the process of destroying Georgia and the world sleeps. I'd really love to see some other country other than the United States step up for a change.

C'mon Europe time to quit acting like a bunch of cowards. Georgia is pretty much in your backyard. You have to at least take some measurable action to these transgressions.
sdf_crew_member at 07:33 PM JST - 23rd August

The histories of Georgia and Russia haves been intertwined for more than 500 years. Russia each time tries to take Georgia and Georgia frees itself. The cycle has continued for most of those 500 years.

I was right you haven't any. A good start:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History of Georgia (country)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian-Ossetian_conflict

What do you think? Should Georgia be given back to Russia? Or should they be free to govern themselves?

No, It shouldn't be given back moreover Russia will vigorously reject such a "generous" offer. Besides they really should start to govern themselves and not being lap-dog of one very proud messianic country.

This invasion was just that, an invasion.

I dare to guess you're against Kosovo independence, aren't you? :)))))
JoeBigs at 10:43 PM JST - 23rd August

VOR What I am calling for is for other other country other than the United States step up for a change.

Will never happen, Europe likes how everthings is running right now and they do not want to rock the boat. That is way they look to the US to do the dirty work. If the US looks like a bully then that is ok.

Russia is one loss of face away from a Military coup. The moment Putin looks weak the Military will move in and he will, well retire.

Then Europe will be with out Russian oil for a few years while they pick a new strongman.
sdf_crew_member at 02:15 AM JST - 24th August

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gg.html

It's a good stats info but it doesn't support your argument about 500 period of russian aggression.

No mention about when the first time georgian ambassadors asked for russian tsar help, no word about Treaty of Georgievsk, no info about Russian-Persian and Russian-Turkish wars which formed the borders of modern Georgia, when the only war between Georgia and Russia (rather soviets) happened and more.

Sorry, you're not in a position to utter advices in a mentoring tone.
kimigano at 02:33 AM JST - 24th August

Georgia's insane land grab needs to be stopped. Thank God Russia has the foresight to see this and can lend a hand to helping stabilize the peace in Europe before it's too late.
JoeBigs at 09:04 AM JST - 24th August

sdfcrewmember about 500 period of russian aggression.

Please reread my post, I did not say anything to the likes that the Russians have been aggressive for 500 years. I said that their histories had been intertwined for 500 years.

Intertwined and not in wars of aggression. As in trade assistance and at times aide. But not till the times of the Tzars did Russia invade Georgia.

BTW you forgot about the Mongols they were the ones that placed the last nail into the Kingdom of Georgia. But that is another subject.
Kijimuna at 01:21 PM JST - 26th August

Attention Russia. You stop it this instant! I mean it! I really mean it! I really really mean it! I really really really mean it! I really really really really mean it! I really really really really really mean it! I really really really really really really mean it! I really really really really really really really mean it! I really really really really really really really really mean it! I really really really really really really really really really
JoeBigs at 10:18 AM JST - 27th August

LOL so true, just like the Bush Administration to drop the ball again. No one in the world respects this man and his Administration because they do not follow through with anything. All talk and always on vacation, sad sad sad.