You can kiss the independant nation of Georgia goodbye


The Russians are sounding very chatty and cheerful on the radio today. They always are when their tanks are rolling. They've been expressing their "deep concern" about the "legitimate rights" of the Russians in the breakaway state of South Ossetia for quite a few months now. Which, given the behavior of the Georgian Government -- a close ally of the U.S. -- do have some validity. Mind you, so did the claims of the Chechnyans, who have effectively now been crushed.

They're talking about a "threat" to Russian peacekeeping forces. I strongly suspect that threat will be neutralized rather quickly. And, effectively. They are mentioning that John McCain -- who's pretty familiar with the Russians -- doesn't like what they're doing, and says that they must respect the territorial integrity of Georgia. Doesn't sound like they care too much, though. The Bush administration is so weak and helpless nobody really gives a damn about them anymore. Bush isn't even being mentioned.

The timing of all this during the Olympics does not appear to be entirely coincidental. Both on the part of Georgia and of Russia. The world is distracted. When the cat's away, the mice will play.

They are discussing the situation in some detail. They definitely ain't agonna let Georgia join NATO! That seems quite clear. Very calm, quiet, peaceful sounding. Sounds more like a discussion of negotiations, not of military conflict. No emphasis on attacks, violence, casualties. Very detached. Sounds like they mean business. Emphasis on rights, morality, justification. Comparisons to other separatist movements around the world. Businesslike, matter of fact. No passion. The Russians are cold killers. They're interested in how they're being perceived by other nations, of course, but the see themselves as being in the right here.