Albright slams US handling of Georgia crisis (click here)
22 hours ago (on August 31, 2008)
BERLIN (AFP) — Former secretary of state Madeleine Albright has blasted the current US administration's handling of the Georgia crisis, saying her first move would have been to travel to Russia for talks....
For the Republicans, it is all about oil. The diplomacy with Russia doesn't matter because they want conflict to exist. The ultimate goal for Cheney was to have control over the Caspian Sea. That came to light with his Energy Committee and its report to the nation. The Caspian Sea was part of the Cheney Energy Strategy and was published in the report.
That is simply outrageous.
There is no conceivable way the Caspian Sea security would ever be dominated by the USA, it borders with Russia. Diplomacy and economic ties while promoting Nuclear Non-Proliferation was the only viable solution for the region and it would have stabilized the former Soviet States in a benevolent way without threatening Russia.
The Republicans see 'nuclear war' as an option with Russia. They completely discount China's alliance with Russia and wear blinders when it comes to the vulnerabilities of the USA and its allys.
18:12 01/09/2008
U.S. Coastguard cutter Dallas enters Sevastopol Harbor (click here)
Russian sailors said the escort ship’s arrival could be linked with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko’s recent decree concerning Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, and that the Dallas would monitor Russian ship movements. (47 sec./1.76Mb, shows: 86)
USS Dallas at sea
South Ossetian parliament: Genocide of Ossetians could be stopped? (click here)
Recognition of independence of South Ossetia is the only way to stop the genocide of the people of South Ossetia, the republican parliament's Vice Speaker Yuri Dzidsoity stated at a press conference at the Tskhinval-2008 international press center in Tskhinval. Georgian invasion of South Ossetia on Aug 7, 2008 became another stage in Tbilisi's policy of genocide against South Ossetians, REGNUM correspondent quotes Dzidsoity to state....
EU Spars Over Georgian Crisis, Won't Sanction Russia (Update1) (click here)
By James G. Neuger
Sept. 1 (Bloomberg) -- European Union leaders sparred over how to respond to Russia's invasion of Georgia, shying away from sanctions that would undercut EU-Russia trade and aggravate the economic slowdown.
``Sanctions are not on the agenda today,'' EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told reporters before an EU summit in Brussels today.
The meeting, convened by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, threatens to showcase the EU's divisions over how to handle Russia, the bloc's principal oil and gas supplier and third- biggest trading partner....
Berlusconi signs Libya 'sorry' pact (click here)
Paola Totaro, Europe Correspondent
September 1, 2008 - 11:24AM
The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has signed a five billion euro "sorry" pact for his nation's occupation and colonisation of oil rich Libya - in return for a halt to the flow of illegal immigration from North Africa.
The memorandum, signed between Berlusconi and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi over the weekend, paves the way for a symbolic compensation package which will provide pensions for Libyan soldiers who served with the Italians in World War II, as well as a raft of student grants and reconstruction projects.
"It is my duty, as a head of government, to express to you in the name of the Italian people our regret and apologies for the deep wounds that we have caused you," said Berlusconi.
The weekend's events come on the eve of the European Union meeting to discuss the Georgian crisis....
European nations divided over Georgia crisis (click here)
Posted Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:31pm AEST
There are increasing signs of division between European countries over the crisis in Georgia.
Germany has blamed both Russia and Georgia for taking unilateral actions that have made the situation worse.
But Britain has blamed Moscow for the crisis.
The comments could hardly be further apart.
Germany's Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said both Russia and Georgia were to blame for the growing tension....
