NATO, divided over Russia sanctions, 'gave birth to a mouse'

NATO declared Tuesday that it cannot have normal relations with Russia while its troops occupy large parts of Georgia --- but alliance foreign ministers failed to terminate any cooperative programs.

The outcome of the emergency session called by the Bush administration indicated continuing divisions within the 26-nation organization even as Moscow has failed to withdraw its forces under a French-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Some European powers, like Germany, have been counseling restraint, anxious not to aggravate the crisis and jeopardize their energy supplies from Russia.

The United States and former Soviet-bloc governments have advocated a tougher stance, anxious to deter the Kremlin from believing it can reimpose its influence over its former empire...[snip]

Russia's representative to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, made light of the western alliance's indecision.

"The mountain gave birth to a mouse," he told reporters.

[Europe's moral bankruptcy is inviting further aggression, and not just Russia: what do you think China is learning from this vis-a-vis Taiwan {which the US is legally obligated to defend}? Worse than useless.]

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