Bush says Georgia is an example of freedom to the world

[emad]

By Jennifer Loven
ASSOCIATED PRESS

TBILISI, Georgia – President Bush, before a cheering crowd of tens of thousands of people, said Tuesday that the former Soviet republic of Georgia is proving to the world that determined people can rise up and claim their freedom from oppressive rulers.

"Your courage is inspiring democratic reformers and sending a message that echoes across the world: Freedom will be the future of every nation and every people on Earth," Bush said in speech from the Freedom Square that symbolizes the city's democratic pursuits.

"You gathered here armed with nothing but roses and the power of your convictions and you claimed your liberty. And because you acted, Georgia is today both sovereign and free and a beacon of liberty for this region and the world."

In a line that appeared directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bush declined to support the bid of two separatist regions aligned with Moscow to gain independence from Georgia. "The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia must be respected ... by all nations," Bush said.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050510-0559-bush.html

[maxrandb]

1. See Even the Wee Cowboy Knows there is Hope for America

"determined people can rise up and claim their freedom from oppressive rulers"

Pitchfork time yet America?

[whistle]

2. How much oil is in the Georgia Republic....

<snip>

QUICK FACTS: Republic of Georgia


Country (long form)
none
Capital
T'bilisi
Total Area
26,911.32 sq mi
69,700.00 sq km
(slightly smaller than South Carolina)
Population
5,019,538 (July 2000 est.)
Estimated Population in 2050
4,547,526
Languages
Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
Literacy
99.0% total, 100.0% male, 98% female (1989 est.)
Religions
Georgian Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%
Life Expectancy
60.9 male, 68.23 female (2000 est.)
Government Type
republic
Currency
1 lari (GEL) = 100 tetri
GDP (per capita)
$2,300 (1999 est.)
Labor Force (by occupation)
industry and construction 20%, agriculture and forestry 40%, services 40% (1999 est.)
Industry
steel, aircraft, machine tools, electric locomotives, trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes, chemicals, wood products, wine
Agriculture
citrus, grapes, tea, vegetables, potatoes; livestock
Arable Land
9%
Exports
citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products; diverse types of machinery and metals; chemicals; fuel re-exports; textiles
Imports
fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and parts, transport equipment
Natural Resources
forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth
Current Environmental Issues
air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals
Telephones (main lines in use)
554,000 (1995)
Telephones (mobile cellular)
150 (1995)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
5 (1999)
(U.S. Government sources)

<link> http://www.mapquest.com/atlas/?region=georgrep

[dArKeR]

3. aWol said the say thing about the Philippines. What total lying crap

about the PI. Forty years under the US leadership and go look for yourselves in the PI. See the Child Whores next to Arroyo's Palace today. I dare you. Look at all the starving people from "Capitalism".

Go see the what the Marcos "American" Regime did. Killed more than Saddam but...
http://home.iprimus.com.au/korob/fdtcards/Asia-Pacific.html

Let's not forget aWol says nothing but it's a speech writer who comes up with the ideas and aWol reads a teleprompter.

[madhat]

4. That's because they hate Muslims as much as Bush

Why is nobody making this connection? We sent troops to fight the Chechen rebels (many of whom, I agree, are pretty awful). But the Georgian view is that they are ALL awful -- like those supporters of Israel who hate the Palestinians because of the suicide bombers.

[chelsea0011]

5. Georgia? Coalition of the Willing? How many troops have they in Iraq?

Let Bush con them into shedding blood in Iraq and see how quickly they will turn on him.

[cliss]

6. Wow. Imagine our Mentally Deficient

"representative" standing there, in front of tens of thousands....what a rush he must have gotten from that.....they're cheering! Wow, what a feeling that must have been.

Not like the US, where Bush is surrounded by a small army of security people, guns pointed at the population who "elected" him.

[Writer]

7. Scene: A bunch of rednecks in Macon

"Georgia is uh example of freedom? Hoo-wee, you betcha he's right! We got dem peaches 'n stuff. That's Amurkin."

[daleo]

8. Why can't these separatist regions be free?

After all, if Georgia's release from the Soviet Union (the proxy for Russia really) was such a good thing, wouldn't freedom for these breakaway regions of Georgia be a good thing too? I mean, this seems to be Bush's logic.

[Horse with no Name]

9. Well I think if he is willing to stand in front of the throngs of adoring

fans in Georgia who love their democracy, then he should go stand in the middle of Baghdad and let the folks there "show their love" for the democracy that Bush brought them.

[Megahurtz]

10. He certainly couldn't say that

his own country is an example of freedom to the world.:eyes:

[Ruby Romaine]

11. the PM died in Feb in an "accident" -sounds like dumbyas sorta place

http://www.turkishweekly.net/comments.php?id=719

The mysterious death of Georgia's Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania continues to worry many Georgians because the investigation has yet to fully clarify the circumstances. Zhvania was found dead on February 3 at the home of Raul Usupov, who was about to become deputy governor of Shida Kartli region (see EDM, February 3).

[Az_lefty]

12. Maybe some day the US of A can be just like Georgia.

one can only hope...

[triguy46]

13. But he is still confused

wondering if they can catch a Braves game.

[flordehinojos]

14. is that why he let his hair down there yesterday?

[Seabiscuit]

15. Georgia to Shrub: "Get lost and stick your version of freedom where the

sun don't shine!"

[true_notes]

16. I miss the days when

The United States was the ultimate symbol of Democracy. * has pushed the country so far in a pit, he has to sadly look to the third world for better versions of it.