RICE ON WAY TO FRANCE, GEORGIA - BUSH DEMANDS RUSSIA PULL OUT

"The United States stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia and insists that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected," Bush said in a speech at 10:12 a.m. CDT today. Most Americans are still not fully aware of Russia's recent invasion of the sovereign republic of Georgia. This is a catastrophe for the region, and holds potential for serious conflict between the U.S. and Russia. The president announced that "to demonstrate our solidarity with the Georgian people" he was sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Paris to assist the West's diplomatic efforts on the crisis, and then on to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. [Bush] also announced a massive U.S. humanitarian effort that would involve American aircraft as well as naval forces. A U.S. C-17 military cargo plane loaded with supplies landed in Georgia on Wednesday, and Bush said that Russia must ensure that "all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, roads and airports," remain open to let deliveries and civilians through. MORE at Examiner.com... RELATED, CURRENT: NationMaster - Encyclopedia: History of Georgia Rice Warned Georgia on South Ossetia, Russia in July Russia rejects west's call to recognise Georgian sovereignty Russian soldiers looting Georgian houses Russia slams Ukraine decree on Black Sea Fleet as anti-Russian Editorial: Georgia faces poorer future