The Guardian of London is reporting that the U.S. is now offering to help pay for Russia to withdraw from its two remaining military bases in the former Soviet republic of Georgia. Russia has agreed to a request by the new Georgian government to leave but said a full exit may take 11 years. The Guardian reports Washington has been slowly increasing its presence in Georgia. On Tuesday US deputy assistant secretary of state, Lynn Pascoe, also offered Georgia about $3 million in new aid to train Georigan troops. 77 heavily armoured vehicles also arrived to help in the trainings.

Feeney: U.S. Has Moral Authority to Control Space
President Bush is expected to ask today for a $1 billion boost to NASA’s budget over the next five years to fund the start of a new campaign in space to put a permanent base on the moon within 20 years and for American astronauts to land on Mars sometime after 2030. Meanwhile Republican Congressman Tom Feeney of Florida has publicly said United States has the “moral capability and authority to” take control of space. Feeney said on the cable news show “Scarborough Country ” Whoever is able to dominate space will be able to control the destiny of the entire Earth. And I think America is the only country with the moral capability and authority to” [do so].