Rice Slams Russia, Says Georgia Actions 'Premeditated'

Rice, an expert in Russian relations who also served in President George H.W. Bush's White House as a Soviet expert in the waning days of the Cold War, concluded her remarks with a plea for the next president.

"I sincerely hope the next president and the next secretary of state will visit Russia, will take time to speak with Russian civil society and will give interviews to Russia's diminished but enduring independent media," she said.