Top House Democrats and Republicans on Tuesday jointly condemned the Russian invasion of Georgia.
In the rare display of bipartisanship, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) condemned in the strongest possible terms the Russian invasion and called on Russian President Dmitri Medvedev to immediately withdraw troops from the country.
We reject the Russian Foreign Ministers reported assertion that democratically-elected President Mikheil Saakashvili must go, the House leaders said in the statement. This deplorable outbreak of violence should serve as an opportunity for the world community to re-engage in negotiations to end the conflict.
Pelosi blasted Russian leaders for taking military action to intimidate Georgias freely-elected government and the governments of other democratic states on Russias borders as well. It must be made clear to Russian leaders that this kind of conduct is unacceptable.
Boehner called on the international community to speak with one voice in condemning the actions of Moscow and calling for the removal of Russian troops from Georgia.
I want to make it abundantly clear that the U.S. Congress stands ready to assist the people of Georgia and protect our nations strategic alliance, Blunt added.
