Breaking: Bush Warns Russians to Back Off Or . . .

Russian Tanks

Updates I and II below.

Appearing at the White House, President Bush just condemned Russia for what he called a "dramatic and brutal" escalation of the fighting in Georgia, indicating that Putin has violated Russian assurances that they would not move beyond a certain point. He accused the Russians of planning to "depose" the Georgian government and undermine a democratic state.

Bush describe the Russian actions as "unacceptable" and has having "damaged Russia’s standing in the world," an apparent direct shot at Putin. Bush then said the Russians "must" immediately accept a ceasefire and withdraw to positions of last week. He did not mention or hint at any consequences for Russia if they refused to comply. The US is still pushing for a Security Council Resolution but expects the Russians to veto it. More from the NYT.

According to CNN’s Barbara Starr, what has Bush and the West "deeply concerned" are reports the Russians are planning to bomb the civilian airport near the Georgian capital, through which the West has been shuttling humanitarian supplies and diplomats seeking to diffuse the crisis.

Update I: Obama released a statement on Georgia and the need for Russia to cease its actions, withdraw from Georgia and accept international peacekeepers in the disputed provinces. Josh has the text at TPM.

Update II. McClatchy fills in the story of the "understanding" the Bush Administration claims it had with the Russians — that they wouldn’t move beyond South Ossettia — that the Russians violated. According to this report, the US knew a Russian move was likely and had warned Georgia to refrain from provoking it. But the US was also "blind" to Russian troop movements because surveillance was focused on Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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