U.S. And Russian Ships Meet

The USS Mount Whitney, the flagship of the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet, arrives at the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti September 5, 2008. The USS Mount Whitney, the third U.S. vessel to arrive on the Georgian coast with humanitarian aid for tens of thousands displaced by the conflict over Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia, dropped anchor off Poti on Friday, where Russian troops have been patrolling since last month's war with Georgia. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko (GEORGIA)

US Warship Carries Aid To Georgian Port Of Poti
-- Yahoo News/AP

POTI, Georgia - The flagship of the U.S. Navy's Mediterranean fleet anchored outside the key Georgian port of Poti on Friday, bringing in tons of humanitarian aid to a port still partially occupied by hundreds of Russian troops.

Although Russia has watched the arrival of the USS Mount Whitney and other U.S. ships in recent weeks with deep suspicion, a Foreign Ministry official said Russia does not plan any military action to the U.S. naval presence in the Black Sea.

The Whitney was the first Navy ship to travel to Poti since Georgia fought a short war with Russia last month. The ship anchored just offshore from the port, according to harbor master Vakhtang Tavberidze.

Two U.S. ships have already come and gone from Georgia carrying humanitarian aid in recent weeks, but they anchored at a smaller port, Batumi, to the south.

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More News On U.S. And Russian Ships Meeting
In The Georgian Post Of Poti

Russia angry at US ship, Cheney sees 'threat' from Moscow -- Yahoo News/AFP
U.S. Navy Docks In Key Georgian Port -- CBS News
US navy ship steams into port where Russian troops stationed -- Times Online
U.S. warship carries aid to Georgian port of Poti -- International Herald Tribune
U.S. military command ship may moor to Poti port -- Interfax
U.S. warship in Russian-patrolled Georgian port -- Yahoo News/Reuters
US Warship Carries Aid to Poti -- Time Magazine

My Comment: On a first read I had the impression that the Russians would be furious with a top of the line American warship in the Port of Poti. But I was surprised that the Russians were very quiet .... a character trait that has been opposite from their regular denunciations of the Georgian Government.

But when I read this quote .... "U.S. officials in Washington said Russia would be allowed to inspect the Mount Whitney's cargo" .... I then realized that the U.S. were going out of their way to placate Russian concerns. Hence .... Russian silence on the matter.