Der Parson's rant

U.S. to offer Georgia $1 billion in aid - International Herald Tribune

By Steven Lee Myers

BAKU, Azerbaijan: The Bush administration plans to announce a $1 billion package of aid to help rebuild Georgia after its rout by Russian forces last month, an administration official said on Wednesday, as Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in the region to signal support for Georgia and other countries neighboring Russia.

The aid - along with Cheney's visit - are sure to increase tensions with Russia, whose leaders have accused the United States of stoking the conflict with Georgia over its two separatist regions, by providing weapons and training to the Georgians. President Dmitri Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have also complained that humanitarian supplies delivered by the U.S. Navy and Air Force since Russian forces routed Georgian forces and occupied parts of the country were a disguise for delivering new weapons.