Clinton Vows to Support Russia's Neighbors

At the end of her five-day tour of Ukraine, Poland, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reaffirmed her commitment to those nations and asserted that they will not be forgotten as Washington seeks to deepen ties with Moscow. She told the people of Georgia: “We can walk and chew gum at the same time.” Late last week, Clinton warned against repressive governments worldwide—such as Russia, Zimbabwe, Congo, Ethiopia, Egypt, and China—stating that "we must be wary of the steel vise in which many governments are slowly crushing civil society and the human spirit," and adding that the U.S. will continue to financially support NGOs in the region and defend persecuted journalists. She also sharply rebuked Russia for its affront against Georgia.