Obama Chats With Saakashvili
EmailDILLONVALE, Ohio — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., spent some of his afternoon talking to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, aides said today.
The Georgian ambassador to the U.S. called the Obama campaign over the weekend, letting them know that Saakashvili wanted to speak to the Democratic presidential nominee.
On his drive today from a town hall meeting in New Philadelphia, Ohio, to a family farm barbecue in Dillonvale, Ohio, Obama managed to call and reach Saakashvili in Georgia, despite the less-than-stellar cell reception in this part of East Ohio.
Mark Lippert, a foreign policy adviser to the senator, told ABC News that the two men discussed three items.
First, Saakashvili thanked Obama for mentioning Georgia in his Democratic nomination acceptance speech.
Obama, in criticizing President Bush’s foreign policy, said, "You can’t truly stand up for Georgia when you’ve strained our oldest alliances. If John McCain wants to follow George Bush with more tough talk and bad strategy, that is his choice, but that is not the change that America needs."
Second, Obama and Saakashvili discussed the $1 billion in aid the U.S. government today announced it is sending Georgia, "pursuant to the Biden-Obama billion dollars they proposed a couple weeks ago," Lippert said. "The administration signed onto that."
Third, Obama received a briefing on the current state of affairs in Georgia.
The whole conversation lasted somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes.
Lippert noted that, last Thursday, four members of a Georgian delegation to the U.S., here as part of the National Democracy Institute, met with Obama and, separately, Sen. Joe Biden. It was the only foreign policy meeting Obama participated in at the Democratic convention. Lippert and Mike McFaul, a Stanford University professor who advises Obama on Russian issues, participated in that meeting.
- jp
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So let’s see.
Obama’s recommendatoins for timetables were adopted by Bush.
Obama’s recommendation for diplomacy with Iran was adopted by Bush.
Now Obama’s recommendation for $1 billion to Georgia has been adopted by Bush.
Not ready to lead? HE’S ALREADY LEADING.
Posted by: Patricia in SF | September 3, 2008, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
Obama,the ultimate multi-tasker.
I trust you at the helm Commander and Chief
Posted by: mynextpresident | September 3, 2008, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm
Its worth mentioning that Mark Lippert has not been paid hundreds of thousands of dollars as a registered foreign agent lobbying on the behalf of Georgia.
Posted by: Ryan C | September 3, 2008, 6:22 pm 6:22 pm
You got it Patricia!
McCain does photo ops using up police resources.
Obama leads!
Posted by: Ryan C | September 3, 2008, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
1 billion dollars as a reward for attacking Russian citizens while Americans continue to lose homes and go hungry. What a crock. Obama, Bush, and McCain all suck. Ron Paul save us.
Posted by: Huh | September 3, 2008, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
Yes, Obama recommended the Iraq timeline, but not one Bush adopted, thank God… otherwise Iraq would be Al Qaeda capital of the world.
And, Obama suggested he would personally talk to Iran, which of course is stupid, and Bush has suggested much more tactical channels of communication.
Re Georgia, Obama thought he was calling somebody in HotLanta… not the Russian continent, LOL!
Posted by: Joe Strephaloupolous | September 3, 2008, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
1 billion dollars? That’s $1000 for 1 million US college students. You partisan jackasses are arguing over McCain and Obama who both support this. Our government officials have lost their minds.
Posted by: Ben Straub | September 3, 2008, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
Thanks Patricia and Ryan. We’ve got it. Obama has the goods to lead our nations to heights unseen given the chance. Taking a look at his leadership in the Ill statehouse, US Senate, Obama ’08 campaign and policy proposals on the campaign trail… I think we have a winner.
Posted by: Bryn | September 3, 2008, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm
A ten minute conversation with some guy from Georgia. Boy, he is up to date with a foreign agent. A billion dollar pay-off. GEEEEEEZZZZZZZ.
Posted by: Mary | September 3, 2008, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
The Repub’s are sinking fast and how funny is that. hahahahahahah…….
Posted by: Gomer Pyle USMC | September 3, 2008, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
And you say that electing BHO won’t be another Bush Term! They are already thinking alike! Scary stuff! We should all be thankful that BHO did not cause an international incident – the man knows nothing about foreign policy. It is all foreign to him!
Posted by: Beckie | September 3, 2008, 7:24 pm 7:24 pm
I had high hopes that Obama cared about US citizens’ welfare more than McCain & Bush Admin. While we suffer, he comes up with monies (lots of it) to help out Georgia who’s government actually attacked Russia prompted by USA, by a man (Saakashvili) educated and primed for government in another country (does the word PUPPET mean anything?) and Obama follows his predecessor’s (Bush Admin) cues? How many PUPPETS and Political Fido’s —who will roll over on command— does Bush have scattered around…and is Obama one of them??? I wanted him to win so badly…now I don’t think there is anyone in this 2008 elections worth trusting!!!!
Posted by: doloresn | September 3, 2008, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
1 billion for Georgia?! the whole population of Georgia is what, 4 million? Maybe it would be cheaper just hire all of them as US Navy employees?? How about some help to New Jersey? My son’s school looks like a barrack, half of population can’t afford decent health insurance, pollution, horrible commute… Incredible
Posted by: Ostap | September 3, 2008, 7:39 pm 7:39 pm
I love the rightwingers.
Obama is for giving a billion dollars in aid to someone John McCain called an important ally.
Full throated fury at his wasting money.
Meanwhile McCain wants to give 5 billion to oil companies, give tax breaks to corporations and continue the Iraq War at ten billion a month.
From the right wing we get whistling past the graveyard
Posted by: Ryan C | September 3, 2008, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
1 Bill. is not paid just because US is too generous, it’s all about location and energy.
Unfortunately EU made very unwise step not to admitted Georgia as a NATO member. Now they will have more problems dealing with Russia. No money can buy what did they lost. they had chance for alternative energy supply, bypassing Russia. Not anymore, Georgia is occupied and all other Russian neighbors are intimidated by them. what kind of politicians can miss Russians such transformation. are they sleeping with deep deep sleep or they are so corrupted that they don’t care EU security and unity anymore.
Posted by: Laura | September 3, 2008, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
Obama is the only one with good sound judgment to restore our reputation around the world and ALL the world leaders know this,
McCain proved his poor judgment, he has caved into the Rove/Bush right wing uts, he can’t even run his own campaign they run it for him
His new slogan is
POLITICS FIRST and COUNTRY LAST
Posted by: McCain/Palin = Bush/Rove | September 3, 2008, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm
Three more years of either of these two poor choices (albeit it is one more choice than communist China) and the good ole US will be caput.
Posted by: finito | September 4, 2008, 1:22 am 1:22 am
“Georgia is already drawing up lists of options, including restoring the military to its prewar strength or making it a much larger force with more modern equipment, like air-defense systems, modern antiarmor rockets and night-vision devices.” We give Georgia a billion dollars and they spend it buying American and Israeli weaponry. We’re nuts if we give Georgia any money. We can use it here!
Posted by: Wm. McCall | September 4, 2008, 1:58 am 1:58 am
People whining about $1 billion for Georgia. Better think about $700+ billion spent every year on US military budget. Why is all this money being wasted when US couldn’t even help an ally against a dilapidated Russian army?
And Ben Straub, $700 billion a year is $700,000 for 1 million US college students. Whine about that. Oh, and about $10 billion a month spent in Iraq.
Posted by: George Z | September 4, 2008, 2:20 am 2:20 am
The Russians went through the mercenary and Georgian forces equipped with American tech like a hot knife through butter.
Why did the Georgian leader attack South Osettia .
America better stay away from the Russian border or the dilapidated Russians might decide to toss a few 400 mega ton nukes at America.
In fact America should get out of Iraq and spend some money on Americans for a change not sending it to trouble makers in Georgia.
Posted by: dave | September 4, 2008, 8:00 am 8:00 am
Good comment Bryn, these idiots who think there is a difference between the Dems.& the other party have been sniffing too much TV.
It’s a damn smoke and mirrors show, don’t you people get it? Your vote means nothing. This nation and the world for that matter are run by people with more money, power and secrecy than you can ever fathom. It is they who select leaders of nations, it is they who cause political events for their amusement. Why? Because they can. There are solutions for everything, yet none will be accepted by this small group unless they can use it to further their goals.
Posted by: DocReality | September 4, 2008, 10:14 am 10:14 am
Remember Obama’s Foreign tour the Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Jordan,Israel and Europe?
On that occasion all of the Leaders of the countries agreed wholehardedly with Obama’s plan! Saakashvili is another Leader who respects Obama’s decesions on foreign policies issues. Even President adopted Obama’s recommendations on Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan. He has implemented all of Obama’s recommendations except sending additional troops to Afghanistan, only because the additional troops must come from Iraq due to the overstrectched resources of the US military.
I have every confidence that Obama has the intellect and judgement and the will to better America makes him without question the best for the Country!
Posted by: Elitist | September 4, 2008, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
Laura writes: From the right wing we get whistling past the graveyard
We get that from the left wing too. Didn’t the American people put the Democrats in control of Congress in 2006 to end the war and did it make any difference?
I guess the moral of the story is: we’re not as empowered as we’d like to think.
Posted by: Jeff S. Dickson | September 4, 2008, 11:58 pm 11:58 pm