South Ossetia war

The history, events and factors that led to the current conflict between Russia and Georgia.

Vice President Dick Cheney said yesterday the U.S. has a ‘deep and abiding interest’ in keeping Georgia and other neighboring states free from Russian domination. This comes a day after the White House announced a billion-dollar aid package to help rebuild the country following its conflict last month with Russia.

President Bush is accusing Russia of ‘bullying and intimidation’ against Georgia, saying that the people in the former Soviet republic chose freedom and ‘we will not cast them aside.’

Attention today is focused on the diplomatic moves by American, German and Russian officials. Meanwhile, Russia is continuing to consolidate positions inside Georgia. The separatist region of South Ossetia is under full Russian control, where Moscow appears to be moving to make its presence permanent.

Guest: Yuri Shafarenko, communications delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross, speaking from North Ossetia