White House calls Russia's decision "shortsighted"

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) - The United States, Europe and their allies will make the case to Russia that its decision was "shortsighted" to recognize two rebel provinces of Georgia as independent, the White House said on Wednesday.

Asked whether he saw any signs that Russia was backing down, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said: "I'm not into looking for signs, I think we'll continue to make our case. Europe, the United States and other leaders around the world will make the case to Russia that this is a very shortsighted decision on their part."

Fratto told reporters traveling with President George W. Bush to Washington from Texas that Russia knows the position of the United States. "I think Russia has gotten the message, I'm not going to try to speculate as to when that message will influence their decision."

(Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky, Writing by Tabassum Zakaria; Editing by Kristin Roberts)