DoD: The U.S. does not seek a new Cold War

Russia’s actions “will not be tolerated,” testified Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman during a hearing about the current military conflict in Georgia before Senate Armed Services Committee. “The United States does not seek a new Cold War,” he said, challenging Russia to “define its relationship with the international community.”

Defending the U.S. rush to side with Georgia, Edelman pointed out that “20 percent of [Georgia's] active duty forces were in Iraq” at the time their country was infiltrated. These troops were flown back to their base outside of Tblisi by the United States, shortly after the crisis broke out. Edelman called Georgia a partner in the war on terror. Edelman announced that the NATO alliance has decided to further the discussion of Georgia’s membership by forming a commission to bring Georgia closer to membership.

Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried claimed The United States was taking steps to back already by working with NATO to establish Georgia’s “military needs.”