Bush orders Navy to provide aid to Georgians

Russian soldiers ride atop an armored vehicle through a street in Tskhinvali, capital of Georgian breakaway enclave of South Ossetia on Aug. 12. A destroyed tank is seen in the foreground.


Bush orders Navy to provide aid to Georgians
By Amy McCullough - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Aug 14, 2008 7:00:51 EDT

President Bush directed Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday to oversee a “rigorous and ongoing” air and naval humanitarian mission to Georgia, saying the United States is “seriously concerned” that Russia is not following the preliminary cease-fire agreement reached less than 12 hours earlier.

Navy spokesman Lt. Sean Robertson said Wednesday afternoon that the Navy is “considering a wide range of options,” but declined to discuss details.

Robertson also confirmed reports that the U.S. had pulled out of Operation FRUKUS, a joint U.S.-Russian naval exercise scheduled to begin later this week off Russia’s Pacific coast. France and the United Kingdom also were to take part in the exercise, although it was not clear if those plans will proceed.

The destroyer McCampbell was on its way to Russia to participate in the exercise, but had not yet made it to port, Robertson said.

“It’s just inappropriate to participate, given the current situation,” Robertson said.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/navy_bushdirective_081308w/