France's Kouchner Challenges Cheney, U.S. Tactics in Georgia

Source: Bloomberg

Sept. 6 (Bloomberg) -- French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner questioned U.S. tactics in resolving the crisis in Georgia, saying the use of warships to deliver humanitarian aid risks inflaming tensions with Russia.

Anchoring about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from a Russian outpost, the USS Mount Whitney docked at a Georgian Black Sea port yesterday to unload relief supplies for Georgians driven from their homes by last month's Russian invasion.

The crisis ``can only be solved politically and not with warships,'' Kouchner told reporters today after a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Avignon, France. He also cast doubt on the practical value of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's trip to Georgia and neighboring ex-Soviet republics.

The EU is trying to forge a common stance with the U.S. to press Russia to pull troops back from buffer zones inside Georgia and prevent Russia from intimidating other former satellites, such as Ukraine.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called the American naval presence a provocation, asking in Moscow today how the U.S. ``would feel if our fleet sent humanitarian aid to the countries of the Caribbean that recently suffered a devastating hurricane.''

Cheney's spokeswoman, Megan Mitchell, declined to comment on Kouchner's remarks.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=admXmp5wr5JU&refer=home

...if Russian warships were sent to provide humanitarian aid in the Caribbean. There's simply no need for such provocation...unless provocation is the goal. And with BushCo it always is.

does he know that military vessels are used by us in every emergency if possible? Military vessels respond to disasters and humanitarian crises around the world because they're trained to do it and capable of carry aid quickly to anyplace needed. Doesn't seem like a provocation to me... they aren't in Russian waters so basically it's none of their business. And they should get the fuck out of Georgia like they agreed to in the cease-fire agreement.

for 'security reasons'. They said they'd go when the entire area is secure. Russia never agreed to leave as soon as the bullets stopped flying.

Given the new Iraq-inspired ambiguity of both terms, that basically means they can stay as long as they want. They wouldn't have agreed otherwise.

The world view is quickly changing to believe the US only wants war.

The US only has warships. Which is just goes to prove to everyone that humanitarian missions are just not on our agenda.

to get anywhere quickly, and as I've already pointed out, trained and capable of bring large amounts of supplies wherever needed. The Russian's aren't going to provoke US Navy ship, nor is anyone else. The ships will make their deliveries and be out to make another run. If the world is concerned they are quite free to send aid in merchant vessels if they have any.

to a fragile conflict zone is suspect, in everyone's eyes except those eyes of warmongers and warmonger supporters.

Warships of foreign countries are not welcome here in US waters, and we should not send our warships into foreign waters and not expect people to suspect our motives.

This is what Westin Poltical Brain presents--responding viscerally not with rationality.

I think you providing cover for operation "Let's Fuck with Russia before we are out of office."

It's not a mistake, it's a deliberate choice.

http://www.msc.navy.mil/N00p/pressrel/press08/press17.htm

Navy-chartered ship delivers humanitarian aid equipment to Liberia



Military Sealift Command-chartered ship SS Cleveland arrived in Monrovia, Liberia, March 24 carrying U.S. Navy Seabee equipment and supplies for a contingent of Navy Seabee's in the Gulf of Guinea conducting humanitarian aid projects.

The equipment delivered by SS Cleveland, including a dump truck, bulldozers and generators, will be used by members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 Detachment APS on four construction sites. Africa Partnership Station, or APS, is a U.S. Naval Forces Europe initiative that provides maritime training and humanitarian assistance to West and Central African nations.

Before arriving in Liberia, SS Cleveland loaded supplies in Rota, Spain, and picked up additional equipment in Tema, Ghana, where the Seabees were wrapping up a handful of construction projects.

In Liberia, the Seabees will renovate two medical clinics, giving them electricity and running water, and make structural improvements and roof repairs. The detachment will also repair a road that leads to one of the medical clinics so that it is more easily accessible to the local population. One of the largest high schools in Monrovia will also receive a new electrical system, new windows and doors, new roofing and a paint job courtesy of the Seabees.


"Military Sealift Command is proud to be supporting APS and all of the great work the U.S. Navy and our multinational and non-governmental organization partners are doing on the continent of Africa," said Capt. Nicholas H. Holman, commander, Sealift Logistics Command Europe. "Whether we're delivering aid supplies ashore or refueling APS platform ships like USS Fort McHenry, MSC's efforts contribute to the goal of building regional maritime security which, in turn, promotes economic prosperity and stability in Africa and around the globe."

MSC operates more than 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that deliver combat equipment to troops, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, re-supply Navy ships at sea, and perform a variety of other missions for the Department of Defense.

There should be more of these missions..lot more.

Iv'e been reminded quite a few times in past 10 plus days-- Pres Clinton: "U.S. is /or we are/ always more powerful by example than militarily" /close

That's provocation.