Georgia finds National Hero in John McCain

Saakashvili (L) presents a gold-plated pistol to McCain in Batumi.

The former US presidential candidate, John McCain has received Georgia's Order of the National Hero for his support of Tbilisi during its 2008 South Ossetia military conflict with Russia.

Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili gave the Republican senator the award in a ceremony on Monday in the southwestern Georgian resort of Batumi, RIA Novosti reported.

"The fact that a part of Georgia is free today is the achievement of our friends. It was the idea of freedom that stopped [Russian] tanks in Georgia," Saakashvili said.

The Arizona Senator repeatedly gave his backing to Georgia, as the Eastern European nation was involved in war with Russia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Following the declaration of a ceasefire which brought the five-day August 2008 war to an end, McCain told the Georgian president via phone that "Today we are all Georgians."

Senators John Barrasso and John Thune also accompanied McCain in his visit to Georgia.

The Republican Senator had already collected the US Georgian Association award for his backing of Tbilisi.

RB/HGH/MMN

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=115896&sectionid=351020606

These scumbags are just as bad as the Albanians.