Strategically, I think you’re addressing the hard truth of this. Poopin is rolling out a new policy, and he either gets his hand cut off here, or he extends this treatment to other states as well. Seems to me this is when you make your stand.
We either make this ass-hat pay, or he’s going to do this again and again.
I think we can do so, particularly when we send those aircraft full of Georgian troops into Georgia. We warn the Russians, very directly that those aicraft are coming in with full escort and that the Russians better just stand back out of the way...and we say it forcefully and openly.
There should be a full and heavy escort of Raptors with them, and with supporting tankers and AWACS. That air armada should also include aircraft capable of ground support and wild weasel missions so if the Russians do try and attack the transports and give us the excuse, then we return on their heads what they are doing to the Gerogians and blunt their offensive.
The reason we would take such a risk is preciesly because of the ramifications you state.