The vice president tells veterans at the American Legion National Convention that the Bush administration will "sprint" to the end of its term.

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PHOENIX — Vice President Dick Cheney said Wednesday that he will travel to the Republic of Georgia next week as the United States works with allies to help ensure the independence of the embattled country.

"The Georgian people won their independence after years of tyranny, and they can count on the friendship of the United States," Cheney told veterans at an American Legion National Convention in Phoenix.

Russian troops attacked Georgia earlier this month after a simmering conflict over the breakaway region of South Ossetia boiled over into open conflict, and the Georgian army attempted to wrest control of the region from separatists.

"That young democracy has been subjected to an unjustified assault, and the international community is joined in condemning Russia's invasion of the sovereign democratic neighbor."

The vice president's appearance followed that of Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, who addressed the group of military veterans Tuesday.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama won't attend, but he sent a videotaped message that's expected to be played at the convention on Wednesday. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., also attended the convention.

Cheney told veterans that the Bush administration would "sprint to the finish line" of its second term. He praised Bush's budget proposals for increasing spending for veterans programs and defended CIA interrogations of suspected terrorists as "entirely legal and proper."

Cheney also credited the military "surge" in Iraq for making the region safer.

"We could have quit a year and a half ago, but today Iraq would be in chaos," Cheney said. "Al-Qaida would probably control most segments of the country. They probably would be a safe haven for terrorists, and its people would be suffering in ways we can scarcely imagine."