Rice: Russia Must withdraw from Georgia
US Secretary of State Condi Rice told Russia that it has to withdraw immediately from Georgia at the same day that Georgia and Russia signed a cease-fire agreement.
Although Rice’s visit to Georgia and Bush’s strong words – condemning Russia for ‘intimidation and bullying’ – are good signs, the crux of the issue is whether or not the United States is willing to protect former Soviet Republics by force. At this moment, most people believe it is not.
This means that Russia will dominate the region more than it has done since the fall of the Soviet Union. Other countries in the region are looking at the United States. Officials here in Azerbaijan are happy with American support for Georgia, but complain that the initial reaction was too weak. They are clearly afraid of Russia and looking at the US for protection. When they are let down, they may very well decide that they have to be dependent on other countries. That would mean that the US would lose even more influence.
And that is something it cannot afford. Neither can Europe.
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