President Bush was still in Beijing, having a great time. Between watching the swimming matches and doing his own mountain bike trek, the president gave an interview to NBC's Bob Costas, discussing his "constructive engagement" with China (over Sudan, Iran and religious freedom) and Russia (over its pounding of the independent country of Georgia).
Bush said he had talked to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, telling them the violence was "unacceptable" and seeking a cease-fire. He called it ironic that the Russian attacks occurred during a sporting event meant to "promote peace and harmony," and he said he hoped the two sides could get their differences "resolved peacefully."
Meanwhile, back in Washington, Vice President Dick Cheney sounded a lot more hawkish. He called Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Sunday afternoon, stating "The Russian aggression must not go unanswered" and warning that continued violence "would have serious consequences for its relations with the United States."
Cheney Press Secretary Lee Ann McBride told the Associated Press that the vice president expressed U.S. solidarity with the Georgian people and with the democratically elected government "in the face of this threat to Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Back in Beijing, Bush told Costas he was delivering many diplomatic messages. In fact, he told the Olympic audience, although he was sorry that the Chinese had revoked Joey Cheek's visa, "Joey Cheek has just got to know that I took the Sudanese message for him" and other athletes who had lobbied to increase awareness about Darfur.
Costas asked Bush whether it was difficult to press for reform with leaders from Russia and China while America was experiencing its own problems.
"I don't see America as having problems," Bush said. "I see America as a nation that is a world leader, that has got great values."
Poster Comment:
LOL