Before You Go to War Over Ossetia

It might be useful to read this article. I'll give you a few excerpts for the general idea.

People here blame the United States for providing military support to Georgia and emboldening Tbilisi to act against South Ossetia, and there is no ambivalence about the relationship with Moscow. Russia and Ossetia have been military allies since at least the 19th century. Moscow has traditionally relied on its fellow Christian Ossetians against the many Muslim nations in the Caucasus as well as against the independent-minded Georgians.

...Russia seems satisfied to exercise de facto control over South Ossetia. It has given Russian passports to South Ossetians—who can't travel on their South Ossetian passports—and now 96 percent of South Ossetians are Russian citizens.

The Georgians are not nice people--even though they are a "democracy." Remember that two well-known butchers came from Georgia: Messrs. Beria and Stalin.

There are a few folks who reflexively oppose anything the Russian Army does--just because it's the Russian Army.

That was then. This is now. It's better to be all high-minded for the time being.

IF the Russkis march into Georgia proper (beyond South Ossetia), then perhaps the US should make nasty noises.

HT: Grim