This is, in part, why the Iraq War was such a bad idea. (The same reason I was, and remain, so hesitant about Kosovar independence: When will our administration[s] realize you cannot claim to defend all nations all over the world and get away with it forever?) Pick your battles. How about Russia against what is, for all intents and purposes, South Carolina with Georgia's name fighting over South Ossetia? All over South Ossetia and its citrus flag. (The wiki link has live updates.) Of course, it matters who provoked whom, but still, this is a bit absurd. We are more concerned about phantom conflicts than actual new powers throwing their weight around. (Not to mention what's up with all this Orthodox Christian on Orthodox Christian violence.)
When we fight wars we don't need to, we leave ourselves unable to face challenges and crises far more serious in consequence, for our European alliances (for the worldwide need for the development of Euro-American relations in a more assertive but also more truly democratic direction), for the progress of democracy and for the wherewithal to stand up to badly reformed former superpowers. Not hard to guess where my allegiances lie: Certainly not with the nation-state that pursued a policy of carpet bombing Chechnya into pacification after getting upset when a formerly conquered, recently ethnically cleansed and brutalized territory demanded independence.
Now we'll be exposed, I fear, for impotence: What, really, can America do to Russia in this egregious situation? Sorry, Georgia. Being America's ally, with the third-highest number of troops in Iraq, pays you... well, not much, really. Except withdrawing them and hoping their combat experience helps.
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