[Jeff Head]

The reality is that we will have to lead or no one will.

We too have interests in this...a staunbch ally who readily answered our call for military help, a strategic tie into the Caspian region and the Stan states, oil from those regions.

If we do not act, as I said, no one will, and we will also be the worse for it...and the opening move in Putins re-establishment of the block states will go un-opposed and he will proceed with his next moves emboldened.

[Arkinsaw]

The reality is that we will have to lead or no one will.

I don't mind that, never have. What I do mind is that the last time we tried to lead they did not just get out of the way, they actively stood in the way and took swings. The French led the charge on that and joined with Putin in criticizing us because both Russia and France wanted to knock us down a peg or two in search of "a multi-polar world".

That little episode is a lot different than us leading and them following.

If I were the Georgian President I would turn around to my left...grab that EU flag next to him on the podium and say "does this actually mean ANYTHING or not?".