Bush, Obama and McCain Comment on Georgia

Amy Chozick reports on the presidential race. President Bush pressed Moscow for a cease-fire on Monday, as John McCain and Barack Obama touted their own plans for putting an end to the escalating violence in the former Soviet republic of Georgia. “I just met with my national security team to discuss the situation in Georgia. I am deeply concerned by reports that Russian troops have moved beyond the zone of conflict, attacked the Georgian town of Gori and are threatening the Georgian capital, Tblisi,” Bush said in a statement. Shortly before the president made his latest statement, presumptive Democratic nominee Obama delivered a statement while vacationing in Hawaii. He said he has spoken to President Saakashvili and “conveyed my deep regret over the loss of life and suffering of the people in Georgia.” Obama has called for increased diplomacy in the region while his Republican rival has taken a harder stance coming down on Russia for what he calls a “path of violent aggression.”  ... (link)