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| Foreign Policy

$1 Billion for Georgia?

by Paul Gessing

In case you missed it, earlier this week President Bush proposed that US taxpayers should send $1 billion to the Republic of Georgia which was recently engaged in a brief war with Russia. The aid would dwarf the $63 million the United States provided to Georgia last year.

I'd have a problem if Bush wanted the rest of us to send $1 billion to the State of Georgia where lots of taxpayers reside, much less another country. Worse, it seems that between the foreign aid and the out-of-control rhetoric from the Administration, Bush Administration policy seems hellbent on re-igniting the Cold War for the benefit of a country that is at best on the periphery of US interests.

If Obama and the Democrats take a strong stance of opposition to these absurd and dangerous policies, those who have rational foreign policy beliefs might have someone to vote for, but it seems unlikely.

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Comments

First it's Georgia, the the Ukrine want more???

# posted at by Hunt dog

This is outrageuos. This is not just welfare it is international welfare.

# posted at by alex bott

Georgia is located few thousand miles away from the East coast and it might seem quite odd for average American taxpayer to provide $1bln aid to rebuild that country. I was truly surprised to hear that Senator Biden and now VP nominee from the Democratic Party announced it 3 weeks ago while visiting Tbilisi, Georgia, and recently it was reaffirmed by President Bush. I believe that it is worth for the US. Georgia is the corridor of the Caspian and potentially Central Asian fossil fuel. The US receives approximately 75 thousand barrels/day via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline that traverses Georgia, and thus puts the Caspian region on the 16th place among top 20 oil importing countries/regions. The safety of this route is highly important for the US and European Union, since this is the only route that bypasses Russia and guarantees competitive prices for the energy. Besides, promotion of democracy for the region that was oppressed by the Soviet Empire is important for future safety of the civilized world. It is evident that the region is becoming a barrier to resurgent Russia.

# posted at by Anonymous

Yes, this is true! Give them an education! Thank you!!!

# posted at by Anonymous

THE GEORGIANS possessed a flourishing state, wrote epic poetry and advanced architecture while the Russians were still nomads on the steps of Asia. They were the second nation to officially embrace Christianity, after Armenia. I have developed deep friendships with many Georgians and experienced, through them, this remarkable country's hospitality and friendship in my home (US)

The Georgians know the true agenda of the Russian government. Putin stated, "the Russians feel encircled." He has been working to break this perceived encirclement and the Geogians have anticipated that he would forge Russia's "rise again". Putin, at the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, called the fall of the Soviet Union a 'geopolitical disaster.' "

The Georgians are a bulwark against the attempt by Russia to reinvent its empire. No doubt the United States cannot be the world's policeman. But we must continue to do what we can to support Georgia's continued independence. Every person deserves freedom. Please don not overlook that Georgians have fought side-by-side with Americans in Iraq since the beginning.

I have personally witnessed the long, hard road traveled by the Georgian people to rebuild not only the destroyed infrastructure of their country, but even more their moral backbone and their culture, which was very nearly corrupted by 70 years of Communist central control and the tyranny of the secret police. New churches have been built in every major city. They need our sincere prayers and aid to care for more than 55,000 refugees from August's warfare. My prayer is that the Georgian people's spirit will not falter, and that Russia will fail in their latest attempt to take away Georgia's freedom as well as gaining strengh in the world again.

# posted at by Anonymous