U.S. still unsure how to proceed against Russia

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) — The United States on Sunday accused Russia of stalling its military pullback in Georgia, but the Bush administration is not rushing to repudiate Moscow for its actions.

The White House is struggling to figure out the best way to penalize Russia.

It doesn’t want to deeply damage existing cooperation on many fronts or discourage Moscow from further integrating itself into global economic and political institutions. At the same time, U.S. officials say Russia can’t be allowed to get away with invading its neighbor.

Fighting broke out after Georgia launched a massive barrage Aug. 7 to try to take control of the separatist province of South Ossetia, which is heavily influenced by Russia. The Russian army quickly overwhelmed Georgia’s forces, then drove deep into the country, bombed Georgian ports and military installations, and tied up an east-west highway through the nation.

“There’s no doubt there will be further consequences,” said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who briefed President Bush on the fast-changing crisis over the weekend at his Texas ranch.

She returned to Washington on Sunday and is flying to Europe on Monday to talk with NATO allies about what message the West should send to Russia.

Russia can’t use “disproportionate force” against its neighbor and still be welcomed into the halls of international institutions, Rice said.

“It’s not going to happen that way,” she said. “Russia will pay a price.”

But neither Rice nor Defense Secretary Robert Gates would be specific about what punitive actions the U.S. or the international community might take.