Fears That Crimea Could Be Next Flashpoint For Conflict With Russia
Ukrainian fighter jets swooped low over the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and tanks and armored personnel carriers rumbled along the city's main Khreschatyk Boulevard on August 24 as part of the country's Independence Day celebrations. But amidst anxiety that Ukraine could be the next country to feel the might of a resurgent Russia, many in the crowds marking their country's 17th year as a sovereign state likely wondered if the jets and tanks might soon be headed into a real conflict.

Russian Lawmakers Call For Recognition Of Georgia’s Breakaway Regions
Lawmakers in the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, have unanimously adopted a resolution calling on President Dmitry Medvedev to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Just hours earlier, the same resolution sailed through the upper house, the Federation Council.

Former Premier Sharif Quits Pakistan’s Ruling Coalition
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has pulled his party out of Pakistan's governing coalition. At a news conference in the capital, Islamabad, Sharif blamed the main ruling party of Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistan People's Party, for the breakup of the five-month-old alliance.

U.S. Warship Delivers Humanitarian Aid to Georgia, While Russian Troops Remain
A U.S. warship carrying humanitarian aid has arrived in Georgia, as authorities assess the damage to the country's main east-west rail line after a fuel train hit a mine and exploded. The guided missile destroyer USS McFaul entered Georgia's Black Sea port of Batumi, carrying humanitarian goods such as blankets, hygiene kits, and baby food.

Scene At Russia-Georgia Border Hinted At Scripted Affair
Said Tsarnayev stumbled into a war. A Chechen freelance photographer with the Reuters news agency, Tsarnayev arrived in the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, during the day on August 7. "At the hotel we discovered that there were already 48 Russian journalists there. I was the only one representing a foreign news agency. The rest were from Russian media and they arrived three days before we did, as if they knew that something was going to happen." Late that night, armed conflict broke out between Russia and Georgia.

Biden’s Character Issues Reflect Poorly on Obama
TruthNews Commentary
Barack Obama has chosen Delaware Senator Joe Biden as his vice-presidential running mate. Obama probably thought that Biden, who's served in the Senate since 1969, would counter Obama's lack of experience. However, Biden's character issues may reinforce the troubling perception that the public is gaining of Obama as a slippery, not-always-truthful political hack.

Congress’ Failure to Act on Energy
George W. Bush
Good morning. Before they left Washington for their August recess, Congress failed to take action on an issue that is currently of great concern to Americans: high prices at the gas pump. The fundamental reason for high gasoline prices is that the supply of oil is not keeping pace with demand. To reduce pressure on prices, we need to increase the supply of oil, especially oil produced here at home.

Russia Digs In As Georgians, Others Dismiss Compliance Claim
Moscow has withdrawn its tanks, artillery, and troops from positions deep within Georgia, but Russian forces continue to hold the western port of Poti as well as checkpoints near the strategic town of Gori, in central Georgia. General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy head of the Russian General Staff, has announced that Russian forces will maintain control of Poti.

Hamas Vows "Jerusalem Will Be Returned By Jihad"
Speaking on the 39th anniversary of an arson attack on the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City, Hamas leader in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh declared on Wednesday that his group will not sign onto any peace deal that does not call for Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley to be returned to the Palestinians, as well as ensuring the right of return for Palestinian refugees to go back to Israel.

Israel Feeling Diplomatic Fallout From Russian Crisis With West
Russians officials assured on Thursday they will not take up President Bashar Assad’s offer to host Iskander missiles in Syria, but the growing Russian crisis with the West is now jeopardizing Israel’s indirect talks with Damascus as well as the six-nations’ discussions over tougher new sanctions on Iran.

Russia Declares It Has Complied With Georgia Cease-Fire
Russia's declaration that it has complied with the withdrawal terms of its cease-fire with Georgia has been dismissed by a senior Georgian official who says continued Russian checkpoints are in violation of the deal. "Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has reported to the Commander-in-Chief, [President] Dmitry Medvedev, on the completion of the order to pull out from Georgian territory Russian troops sent to reinforce peacekeepers," a statement issued by the Defense Ministry said.