Russian Intentions and US Response

Barack Obama has taken a week off from his presidential campaign. From his vacation retreat in Hawaii, he has condemned Russia's aggressive actions and demanded that it withdraw ground forces and cease flights in Georgian airspace. Obama called for the US, the United Nations Security Council and others to try to make peace and said the conflict resulted in part from lack of a "neutral and effective peacekeeping force operating under an appropriate UN mandate." Campaigning hard, John McCain seized the issue by declaring "Russian actions in clear violation of international law have no place in 21st century Europe."