The Georgian authorities wanted to acknowledge with gratitude the arrival of George W. Bush and his large delegation of over a hundred people. Wide coverage of the event on national television, the creation of a dedicated Internet site (www.georgiawelcomesusa.com) and the complete renovation of the road and buildings that lead from Tbilisi airport to the city centre, in a country where road infrastructure is still very poor, marked the occasion.

Tens of thousands of people gathered on 10 May in Liberty Square to hear Bush speak of “the spread of freedom and democracy" in the former Soviet republics and "the pioneering role of Georgia for the United States. Generous with his words, the U.S. President described Georgia as a "role model for freedom in the world and a marvellous example for other nations. Hope has finally returned to Baghdad, Beirut and Bishkek.”

On the domestic scene however, while the U.S. president mentioned the need to reform several institutions in the country, whether this is achieved or not will largely depend on the resolution of frozen conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "A peaceful resolution" added Bush so as not to upset the Kremlin, before offering his services as a mediator between Tbilisi and Moscow, the political and economic pillar of separatism in Georgia.

This offer could seem like a decoy, as the real aim, in the short-term, of the U.S. government is undoubtedly the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia. Such a withdrawal could allow the US to plan the quick establishment of NATO troops in Georgia, who recently signed partnership agreements. This Atlanticist presence will also complement the strategy of closing in on Russia.

Added to this is the fact that the opposition groups of former Soviet republics are today falling over each other in the rush to take advantage of the new-found enthusiasm by Georgia, which is receiving strong support from Washington. Anatomy Lebedko, the leader of the Belarusian opposition was, by request, invited to Tbilisi by Mikhael Machavariani, vice-president of the Georgian Parliament to meet the U.S. president who would have very much liked to see Belarus fall during his office. It should not be forgotten that the Kyrgyz opposition at the time, and which is now in power, was requested to take part in the success of the Rose Revolution.

As the King’s joker, Saakashvili has done everything possible to provide as much support as possible for US policy in the post-Soviet bloc. The Georgian diplomatic machine has started too. With the exception of the invitation of Anatoly Lebedko to Tbilisi, the Georgian parliament unanimously voted in on 20 April a declaration condemning the violation of human rights by the Belarusian authorities.

Despite Georgia’s rise as a role model, the country still remains fragile on all levels. The U.S. president, however, has balanced his optimism by carefully avoiding reiterating his declaration made on 6 May, to a Latvia that has been subject to several disagreements with its Russian neighbours: "We remain at Latvia’s side should a larger country try to intimidate the Latvian people".