So far, so good as can be expected.
US/Western national interests end at the end of that pipeline[NOTE] and an unsplit friendly buffer govt in Tbilisi between Russia and Turkey which is connected to the black sea.
Sounds like Gates & Condi are keeping that line without getting Americans killed. As long as Tbilisi is not annexed, Russia still has the SAME political thorn in her side, and we don't have to defend/deal with a heavily militarized border between Russia and Turkey.
I don't see how forcing Osettians to submit immediately to a Georgian govt that has let them be 'autonomous' for a decade is in US national interests. Is it?
[NOTE] I think it's interesting that this pipeline which everyone says is SOOOO critical to Europe, etc, has been SHUT DOWN for weeks before this crisis due to some kind of turkish related terrorists. Regardless of who broke it, it's OBVIOUSLY not that damn critical if there's no oil running through it and the world oil market is still fat dumb and happy and dropping prices. ?????
Good point - oil has fallen to $112 per bbl even without that pipeline on line so there must be more to it than that pipeline.
Maybe something as simple as a line in the sand being crossed or some perceived slight.
So far, so good as can be expected. US/Western national interests end at the end of that pipeline[NOTE] and an unsplit friendly buffer govt in Tbilisi between Russia and Turkey which is connected to the black sea. Sounds like Gates & Condi are keeping that line without getting Americans killed. As long as Tbilisi is not annexed, Russia still has the SAME political thorn in her side, and we don't have to defend/deal with a heavily militarized border between Russia and Turkey. I don't see how forcing Osettians to submit immediately to a Georgian govt that has let them be 'autonomous' for a decade is in US national interests. Is it?
What disgusted me was the way AP/ABC made it sound like we were laying down and spreading and we're not.
Just a guess, but I wonder if the way we get them out is telling them you can keep your crap hole (already separate from Georgia) little enclaves IF you get out of the rest of Georgia NOW. Then you can claim victory and strut all over. OR you can hang on and lose EVERYTHING including your illusions.