By Whose Authority?

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) - Demonstrating Washington's commitment to beleaguered Georgia, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney flew in Thursday and condemned Russia for what he called an "illegitimate, unilateral attempt" to redraw Georgia's borders by force.

Note the article says "Washington's commitment", not America's commitment.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice:

The free world cannot allow the destiny of a small independent country to be determined by the aggression of a larger neighbor.

Like what the United States has been doing In Iraq? And she babbles on about the "free world". What other "free world" nation is confronting the Russians in this rapidly escalating and highly dangerous situation?

U.S. Vice President Cheney:

Now it is the responsibility of the free world to rally to the side of Georgia.

There's that "free world" crap again. Who decided that? Show me the treaties, approved by the United States Congress as required by law, that commits this nation and it's military forces to such a thing.

When was it cast in stone that the United States must now defend a small satellite state that the Russians consider as in their sphere of influence, one that they are willing to use military force to keep in line?

More importantly, who decided this... and why?