As Democratic Barack Obama vacationed in Hawaii, Republican John McCain flexed his foreign policy muscles today. He used a routine campaign stop in Erie, Pennsylvania to issue a lengthy statement about the Russian attacks on Georgia. He called on the Western world to unite in condemnation of Russia, saying the existence of the ancient Caucasus country and its democratic government were at stake.
McCain and Democratic opponent Barack Obama both have condemned the Russian military action that began after Georgian forces sought to retake control of South Ossetia. That region, like Abkhazia, another breakaway district inside Georgia, has become virtually autonomous in the 17 years since Georgia gained independence with the collapse of the Soviet Union.