Update: Sens. Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham will travel to Georgia to assess the situation, McCain says during a press conference.

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Update: Russia has issued an ultimatum to the United States. It says we either have to support Georgia or continue the partnership we have with Russia. Secretary of State responds that we will stand by the democratically-elected government of Georgia.

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President Bush announced this morning that the U.S. military will begin delivering humanitarian aid to the nation of Georgia. He also strongly warned the Russians not to interfere with its delivery. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will travel to France and then Georgia to find a more permanent solution to the conflict.

Mr. Bush said that a transport plane with medical supplies was already on its way to Georgia, and that American air and naval forces would carry out the aid mission. And he said pointedly that Russia must not interfere with aid arriving in Georgia by air, land or water…

However, minutes after Mr. Bush’s comments, President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia characterized the import of the American aid as “definitely an American military presence” and called it a “turning point.”…

“What I expected specifically from America was to secure our airport and to secure our seaports,” he went on, concluding that the American presence would do so. “The main thing now is that the Georgian Tbilisi airport will be permanently under control.”

While the Pentagon denies there’s a direct U.S. military response, I think it’ll have a similar effect. U.S. military will begin flying over the country, utilizing strategic airports and sea ports, and delivering aid. Russia has received a strong warning that it’s not to interfere with any of the operations.