Sending A Message To Vladimir Paranoid?

As if his paranoia needs any stoking. But don't worry Putie, it's OK, paranoid people have enemies too, ya know.

U.S. Warship Visits Georgian Port
A U.S. Navy warship has arrived at the Georgian Black Sea port city of Poti on a three-day visit that is likely to anger Russia.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi said the "USS Barry" was not carrying humanitarian supplies, as a U.S. naval warship had done in the weeks following the most intense fighting between Georgian and Russian forces over Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Russian officials signaled anger over that visit.The U.S. Embassy spokesman said it was a routine visit and not connected to tensions in the region after the conflict.

Heh. Putie and his dutiful stooge will really shit if the Barry pays a courtesy call here.

AFP reported that the U.S. crew of the Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyer was greeted by local officials at the port as the Georgian and U.S. national anthems played.

Spain Seeks Closer EU-Georgia Ties

Meanwhile, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos said in Tbilisi that his country will press for closer ties between the European Union and Georgia.

Moratinos also spoke out strongly in support of Georgia's territorial integrity, a topic that is at the heart of Russian forces' continued presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and Moscow's recognition of those republic's declarations of independence from the rest of Georgia.

Moratinos, who met with President Mikheil Saakashvili on October 17, was expected to travel to Poti with a contingent of EU monitors observing the EU-brokered cease-fire between Russia and Georgia.

Internationally sponsored talks on the aftermath of the conflict collapsed at their opening session in Geneva on October 15 due to disagreements over procedural issues, and were adjourned until November 18.

Busy campaigning in one of the 57 states, the community organizer was unavailable for comment.

Via RFE/RL

Stoking Putin's Paranoia

Heh. This should cause some lefty pointy-heads to explode.

U.S. warship in Russian-patrolled Georgian port
POTI, Georgia (Reuters) - The flagship of the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet dropped anchor off Georgia's Black Sea port of Poti on Friday, where Russian troops have been patrolling since last month's war with Georgia.

The USS Mount Whitney, a sophisticated command warship based in Italy, is the third U.S. vessel to arrive on the Georgian coast with humanitarian aid for tens of thousands displaced by the conflict over Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia.

The oil and dry grain shipment port of Poti is patrolled by Russian troops, who Moscow says are carrying out peacekeeping duties. Georgia and its Western allies say their presence is part of an illegal occupation.

The USS McFaul and a U.S. Coast Guard vessel delivered aid last month at Batumi, Georgia's largest port south of Poti, prompting Russian accusations of a military buildup.

Russian forces say they will carry out regular checks of cargo coming in and out of Poti. They man at least two positions close to access roads on the outskirts of the town.

The delivery of humanitarian aid by a U.S. warship has angered Russia, which has its own Black Sea fleet based in the Ukrainain port of Sevastapol.

A U.S. Navy statement said Mount Whitney would deliver more than 17 tons of aid, including blankets, juice, powdered milk and hygiene products.

Given the vast amount of cargo that can be transported, it would be ironic - and quite fitting - if the Pentagon dispatched the USS Ronald Reagan to assist in the humanitarian mission in Georgia.

Via Reuters