Cheney, in Georgia, Rips 'Illegitimate' Russian Action

Vice-president vows US will stand in solidarity with Georgia

By Rob Quinn

Posted Sep 4, 2008 6:40 AM CDT

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Cheney, in Georgia, Rips 'Illegitimate' Russian Action — Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili speaks at a news conference with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, unseen, in Tbilisi, Georgia, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Dick Cheney tore into Russia while speaking in Tbilisi today, Reuters reports, slamming its attempt to redraw Georgia's borders as a move that "cast grave doubt" on the reliability of Russia as an international partner. Cheney vowed the US would stand by Georgia, and the White House pledged $1 billion in aid on the eve of his visit.

"After your nation won its freedom in the Rose Revolution, America came to the aid of this courageous young democracy," said Cheney, with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili by his side. "We are doing so again as you work to overcome an invasion of your sovereign territory and an illegitimate unilateral attempt to change your country's borders by force that has been universally condemned by the free world."
(More Georgia stories.)

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