Post by psychecc on Sept 3, 2008 15:35:25 GMT -6
The timing of this is interesting since Bush was in Louisiana today talking up how well the volunteers are doing to help out. I wonder if they ever got around to spending the bulk of the oft mentioned government aid alloted for Katrina victims? Maybe they bought some more of those poisonous trailers....
This article has the usual mainstream media spin blaming Russia for "crushing" Georgia, but it has the basics of the story, so here it is.
Doesn't congress have to vote on this package to Georgia? Link to full article follows.
U.S. to announce over $1 billion in aid for Georgia
Wed Sep 3, 2008 12:49pm EDT
By Susan Cornwell
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration will announce on Wednesday an aid package of more than $1 billion to help Georgia rebuild after its war with Russia over the separatist enclave of South Ossetia last month, U.S. officials said.
The aid was to be unveiled as Vice President Dick Cheney began a trip to the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine designed to show U.S. support for its allies in the region despite Russia's military intervention.
Moscow sent tanks and troops into Georgia last month to crush the Georgian government's attempt to reassert control over South Ossetia.
Russia's action, and its subsequent recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway Georgian region, as independent states has drawn condemnation from the West but few tangible actions to punish Moscow.
Sources familiar with the U.S. aid package said it was expected to total about $1.07 billion for reconstruction, with $570 million to be disbursed this year and $500 million subsequently. None of the money is expected to go for military aid, a highly sensitive issue to Moscow, the sources said.
A significant proportion would be devoted to budget support as well as to rebuild housing, transportation and other infrastructure destroyed in the conflict, one source said.
....
The amount of the aid package appears to dovetail with a proposal by Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, who has called for Congress to approve $1 billion in aid to Georgia -- a proposal Obama has endorsed.
The Bush administration is also considering moves to punish Moscow for the Georgian intervention, such as possibly scrapping a lucrative civil nuclear deal, but has not announced any such sanctions....
www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN0246652720080903
This article has the usual mainstream media spin blaming Russia for "crushing" Georgia, but it has the basics of the story, so here it is.
Doesn't congress have to vote on this package to Georgia? Link to full article follows.
U.S. to announce over $1 billion in aid for Georgia
Wed Sep 3, 2008 12:49pm EDT
By Susan Cornwell
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration will announce on Wednesday an aid package of more than $1 billion to help Georgia rebuild after its war with Russia over the separatist enclave of South Ossetia last month, U.S. officials said.
The aid was to be unveiled as Vice President Dick Cheney began a trip to the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine designed to show U.S. support for its allies in the region despite Russia's military intervention.
Moscow sent tanks and troops into Georgia last month to crush the Georgian government's attempt to reassert control over South Ossetia.
Russia's action, and its subsequent recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway Georgian region, as independent states has drawn condemnation from the West but few tangible actions to punish Moscow.
Sources familiar with the U.S. aid package said it was expected to total about $1.07 billion for reconstruction, with $570 million to be disbursed this year and $500 million subsequently. None of the money is expected to go for military aid, a highly sensitive issue to Moscow, the sources said.
A significant proportion would be devoted to budget support as well as to rebuild housing, transportation and other infrastructure destroyed in the conflict, one source said.
....
The amount of the aid package appears to dovetail with a proposal by Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, who has called for Congress to approve $1 billion in aid to Georgia -- a proposal Obama has endorsed.
The Bush administration is also considering moves to punish Moscow for the Georgian intervention, such as possibly scrapping a lucrative civil nuclear deal, but has not announced any such sanctions....
www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN0246652720080903