Bush: U.S. military taking aid to Georgia

by Mark Silva and updated with Russian and Bush statements.

President Bush, declaring "solidarity'' with the people of Georgia, is dispatching Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Paris and then Tbilisi and sending a military and Naval armada of humanitarian aid and medical supplies to the besieged nation.

Bush, making a Rose Garden appearance with Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates by his side, maintained that the actions of Russia do not conform with its statement that it is not threatening the democratically elected government of Georgia.

"Russia's ongoing actions raise serious questions about its intentions,'' Bush said. "Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis.... We expect Russia to meet its commitment.''

The president, announcing "a series of steps to demonstrate our solidarity'' with Georgia, said a C-17 military transport already is on its way with humanitarian aid and Defense Secretary Gates will lead a humanitarian mission involving both U.S. aircraft and Naval forces in the delivery of food and medical supplies.

Endorsing the efforts of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, head of the European Union, to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Georgia, Bush said Rice first will travel to France to meet with Sarkozy and then travel to Tbilisi, the Georgian capital.

Rice will 'rally the free world,'' Bush said.

"Russia has stated that changing the government of Georgia is not its goal,'' Bush said. "The United States... and the world... expect Russia to honor that.'' However, he said, "unfortunately,'' Russia's continuing actions in Georgia - blocking ports and attacking ships - are "inconsistent with that statement.''

Within an hour after the president's statement, the Russian government issued a statement today, with President Dmitry Medvedev declaring today "a day of mourning for the humanitarian disaster in South Ossetia.''

Claiming that the Russian Air Force had "terminated all bombardments'' as of Aug. 12 and that there are no Russian tanks in Gori, the government said that medical units had started working in the "practically destroyed'' city of Tskhinvali.

Calling the Georgians "the aggressor'' in the conflict that started five days ago, the Russian government said its "peacekeepers'' had suffered many casulaties: 74 killed in action, 171 wounded in action and 19 missing in action. It also said that "no withdrawal of Georgian forces can be seen.''

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili was taking his own appeal directly to the American people. The Georgian leader made appearances on morning network and cable news shows. See his comments, President Bush's statement today and the Russian government's statement below:

"The situation is dramatic,'' Saakashvili said today on CBS News' The Early Show. "We are witnessing a new stage of full-blown Russian invasion and aggression against my country.... the situation developing on three different fronts.

"First, in the... region of South Ossetia, where Russian tanks are going through villages inhabited by Georgian population and throwing people out of the houses, putting people into concentration camps that they are setting up in those villages and separating men and women and doing worse kinds of atrocities, unheard of since Balkans or since the war in Chechnya.

"The other thing is Upper Abkhazia, in the region of Abkhazia, which is several hundred kilometers -- miles -- away removed from the South Ossetia where they're going through villages again inhabited by Georgians and throwing out every single Georgian man or woman and children,'' he said. "And the third one is that they have moved into the town of Gori and they rampage the town, looted the town. These are regular Russian troops. They go into houses, they destroy houses. There is all this documentary footage around that can prove it.''

This is the text of the president's statement in the Rose Garden today:

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I've just met with my national security team to discuss the crisis in Georgia. I've spoken with President Saakashvili of Georgia, and President Sarkozy of France this morning. The United States strongly supports France's efforts, as President of the European Union, to broker an agreement that will end this conflict.

The United States of America stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia. We insist that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected.

Russia has stated that changing the government of Georgia is not its goal. The United States and the world expect Russia to honor that commitment. Russia has also stated that it has halted military operations and agreed to a provisional cease-fire. Unfortunately, we're receiving reports of Russian actions that are inconsistent with these statements. We're concerned about reports that Russian units have taken up positions on the east side of the city of Gori, which allows them to block the East-West Highway, divide the country, and threaten the capital of Tbilisi.

We're concerned about reports that Russian forces have entered and taken positions in the port city of Poti, that Russian armored vehicles are blocking access to that port, and that Russia is blowing up Georgian vessels. We're concerned about reports that Georgian citizens of all ethnic origins are not being protected. All forces, including Russian forces, have an obligation to protect innocent civilians from attack.

With these concerns in mind, I have directed a series of steps to demonstrate our solidarity with the Georgian people and bring about a peaceful resolution to this conflict. I'm sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to France, where she will confer with President Sarkozy. She will then travel to Tbilisi, where she will personally convey America's unwavering support for Georgia's democratic government. On this trip she will continue our efforts to rally the free world in the defense of a free Georgia.

I've also directed Secretary of Defense Bob Gates to begin a humanitarian mission to the people of Georgia, headed by the United States military. This mission will be vigorous and ongoing. A U.S. C-17 aircraft with humanitarian supplies is on its way. And in the days ahead we will use U.S. aircraft, as well as naval forces, to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies.

We expect Russia to honor its commitment to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance. We expect Russia to ensure that all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, airports, roads, and airspace, remain open for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for civilian transit. We expect Russia to meet its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia. And we expect all Russian forces that entered Georgia in recent days to withdraw from that country.

As I have made clear, Russia's ongoing action raise serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region. In recent years, Russia has sought to integrate into the diplomatic, political, economic, and security structures of the 21st century. The United States has supported those efforts. Now Russia is putting its aspirations at risk by taking actions in Georgia that are inconsistent with the principles of those institutions. To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe, and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis.''

This is the Russian government's statement:

President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev has declared August 13 a day of mourning for the humanitarian disaster in South Ossetia.

The President signed a decree 'On Declaring a Day of Mourning for the Humanitarian Disaster in South Ossetia:

Georgian forces, in violation of the peace agreements in place in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone and the UN Charter, and with the sanction of the Georgian leadership, illegally invaded and attempted to seize South Ossetian territory on August 8, 2008, using aviation, heavy artillery and guns and killing the local population. This act constitutes genocide against the South Ossetian people. The city of Tskhinvali and other towns have been practically destroyed, creating a humanitarian disaster in South Ossetia.

Furthermore, an armed attack was launched against a Russian Armed Forces contingent stationed in the region in accordance with international agreements for normalising the situation in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, which constitutes an act of aggression under the terms of the UN General Assembly's resolution of December 14, 1974.

As a result of these actions numerous civilians in South Ossetia have been killed and members of the Russian Armed Forces peacekeeping contingent in the region have also lost their lives.

The President expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and declared August 13, 2008 a day of mourning in the Russian Federation.

Briefing by Deputy Head of the General Staff

Col-Gen Anatoly Nagovitsin

Wednesday 13 August 2008

Key statements:

· Russian casualties among peacekeepers: 74 KIA; 171 WIA; 19 MIA

· There are no Russian tanks in Gori

· By 12 August, Russian air force had terminated all bombardments

· Medical units started working in Tskhinvali

· In last 24 hours reconnaissance was being conducted to protect the facilities

· No withdrawal of Georgian forces can be seen

· The disarming operation in Abkhazia was conducted successfully

· The Russian Black Sea fleet is assisting the peacekeeping operation. One ship was attacked

· Georgian troops were armed with illegal weapons

Col-Gen Nagovitsin showed a map captured by Russian paratroopers 11 August. It depicts a detailed operations plan, which includes as targets not only Tskhinvali but Sukhumi as well. The plan includes a sea-based attack.

Q&A- Russian answers

1. Exchange of captured servicemen: a "list to list" exchange was proposed to Georgian side. For the moment there is no new data on civilians killed. Humanitarian operations are underway.

2. Abkhazia: the number of peacekeepers is sufficient, although snipers are still firing. The Georgian side violated the 1992 agreements, and a legal infrastructure is hard to restore. We are at a "wait and see" stage now. We're monitoring the situation.

3. No one is in charge of Gori now and Russian is appealing to the Georgian side on this issue. Georgian troops were disarmed with no resistance in the Kodori Gorge, and there is no threat to the peacekeepers.

4. The aggressor always has an advantage. Ukraine assisted with the arming of Georgian forces, including air defence systems. Only 585 peacekeepers were resisting against Georgian troops. The Russian air force had difficulties and many casualties at the beginning of the engagement, and carpet bombing was not successful.

5. You [the journalists] and I have done a lot to break through the fake words presented in the media. Saakashvili said he was in South Ossetia when Russian tanks were bombing there. Yet this is a lie, as he didn't leave Tbilisi and did not appear in Tskhinvali.

6. No comments given on a possible re-deployment of the peacekeeper force and on the Georgian decision to leave the CIS, as these are political questions.

7. It's difficult to categorise those who perished (ground troops or pilots). There will be additional info later.

8. The Russian reaction on Georgian operation was timely. We monitored Georgian military exercises. We also carried out ours. We secretly observed peacekeepers' status. We didn't expect Georgia to behave so inhumanely.

9. After the announced cease-fire there were sporadic shots, with some snipers continuing. We must respond to provocations. Russia will reply to firings.

10. It's difficult to say why Georgian forces abandoned Gori.

11. I'm familiar with the information about the journalists who perished in Gori but we lack clear-cut facts. As soon as have the information we will share it with you. Heavy weaponry was present in Kodori Gorge, but fortunately the bloodshed was prevented there.

12. 34 journalists in the region work in an organised manner. The editorial offices are responsible for the others. If you want to go, we organise the trips now. Regarding the RTR group, one journalist is in a hospital and is feeling better. We ask you not to make individual trips.

13. We used only regular weaponry such as high precision ammunition, guided missile "surgical strikes", etc... but nothing new.