Georgia, the Olympics, the US armada and Iran

[Robert]

Just an aside here about the Georgian forces that were pulled out of Iraq to go back to fight in Georgia.

Local Iraqis were happy to see the Georgians leave. They complained that the Georgians, most of who could speak little English or Arabic, were rude and disrespectful.

Every dark cloud has a silver lining I guess.

Imagine the mock outrage if Russia airlifted troops and weapons to fight against the USA?

 

[Robert]

Just an aside here about the Georgian forces that were pulled out of Iraq to go back to fight in Georgia.

Local Iraqis were happy to see the Georgians leave. They complained that the Georgians, most of who could speak little English or Arabic, were rude and disrespectful.

Every dark cloud has a silver lining I guess.

Imagine the mock outrage if Russia airlifted troops and weapons to fight against the USA?

 

[Glaucus]

That may also turn out to be true. It does get US troops out of their back yard so it's definitely worth doing but it's even better if the other guy starts it and with US still in country and presumably still having a say in what the Georgian troops do it would have been crazy to let this happen unless some huge miscalculation was made.

Miscalculation? If it was a CIA plan, everyone involved with that plan should be fired. Nah, I doubt that. The idea that Georgia could somehow get involved in a prolonged conflict with Russia is absurd. Georgia relies on a very small military for defense and they lack the religious fundamentalist nutcases that exist in Chechnya (and in fact, Georgians have fought against the Chechens as well, so there's fat chance they'd even get support from them). Russia would wipe them out in days and Georgia would find it difficult to mount an effective guerrilla resistance. Georgia's quick withdraw and pleas for negotiations are not the actions I'd expect from a nation attempting to escalate or widen the conflict. Hezbollah did what you suggested to Israel, and it was obvious because they had a strategy. Georgia looks confused and surprised. Don't you find it odd that Russia managed to deploy a military force ten times greater then all of Georgia's military in a matter of only a day or two? It took Georgia longer to redeploy it's own troops from Iraq. Are the Russians always on a state of readiness to invade a neighboring country? Maybe so, but if so, then Georgia and it's backer the US would know this and set a better trap.

The end result here is that Russia looks like the good guy to the international audience and the strong guy to it's domestic audience, while the US and Georgia both look dumb and weak. I think we can agree that for Russia this is payback for Kosovo. The US got it up the ass here, and I see no reason to believe that's a good thing.

- Mike

 

[Glaucus]

That may also turn out to be true. It does get US troops out of their back yard so it's definitely worth doing but it's even better if the other guy starts it and with US still in country and presumably still having a say in what the Georgian troops do it would have been crazy to let this happen unless some huge miscalculation was made.

Miscalculation? If it was a CIA plan, everyone involved with that plan should be fired. Nah, I doubt that. The idea that Georgia could somehow get involved in a prolonged conflict with Russia is absurd. Georgia relies on a very small military for defense and they lack the religious fundamentalist nutcases that exist in Chechnya (and in fact, Georgians have fought against the Chechens as well, so there's fat chance they'd even get support from them). Russia would wipe them out in days and Georgia would find it difficult to mount an effective guerrilla resistance. Georgia's quick withdraw and pleas for negotiations are not the actions I'd expect from a nation attempting to escalate or widen the conflict. Hezbollah did what you suggested to Israel, and it was obvious because they had a strategy. Georgia looks confused and surprised. Don't you find it odd that Russia managed to deploy a military force ten times greater then all of Georgia's military in a matter of only a day or two? It took Georgia longer to redeploy it's own troops from Iraq. Are the Russians always on a state of readiness to invade a neighboring country? Maybe so, but if so, then Georgia and it's backer the US would know this and set a better trap.

The end result here is that Russia looks like the good guy to the international audience and the strong guy to it's domestic audience, while the US and Georgia both look dumb and weak. I think we can agree that for Russia this is payback for Kosovo. The US got it up the ass here, and I see no reason to believe that's a good thing.

- Mike

 

[Glaucus]

That may also turn out to be true. It does get US troops out of their back yard so it's definitely worth doing but it's even better if the other guy starts it and with US still in country and presumably still having a say in what the Georgian troops do it would have been crazy to let this happen unless some huge miscalculation was made.

Miscalculation? If it was a CIA plan, everyone involved with that plan should be fired. Nah, I doubt that. The idea that Georgia could somehow get involved in a prolonged conflict with Russia is absurd. Georgia relies on a very small military for defense and they lack the religious fundamentalist nutcases that exist in Chechnya (and in fact, Georgians have fought against the Chechens as well, so there's fat chance they'd even get support from them). Russia would wipe them out in days and Georgia would find it difficult to mount an effective guerrilla resistance. Georgia's quick withdraw and pleas for negotiations are not the actions I'd expect from a nation attempting to escalate or widen the conflict. Hezbollah did what you suggested to Israel, and it was obvious because they had a strategy. Georgia looks confused and surprised. Don't you find it odd that Russia managed to deploy a military force ten times greater then all of Georgia's military in a matter of only a day or two? It took Georgia longer to redeploy it's own troops from Iraq. Are the Russians always on a state of readiness to invade a neighboring country? Maybe so, but if so, then Georgia and it's backer the US would know this and set a better trap.

The end result here is that Russia looks like the good guy to the international audience and the strong guy to it's domestic audience, while the US and Georgia both look dumb and weak. I think we can agree that for Russia this is payback for Kosovo. The US got it up the ass here, and I see no reason to believe that's a good thing.

- Mike

 

[Glaucus]

That may also turn out to be true. It does get US troops out of their back yard so it's definitely worth doing but it's even better if the other guy starts it and with US still in country and presumably still having a say in what the Georgian troops do it would have been crazy to let this happen unless some huge miscalculation was made.

Miscalculation? If it was a CIA plan, everyone involved with that plan should be fired. Nah, I doubt that. The idea that Georgia could somehow get involved in a prolonged conflict with Russia is absurd. Georgia relies on a very small military for defense and they lack the religious fundamentalist nutcases that exist in Chechnya (and in fact, Georgians have fought against the Chechens as well, so there's fat chance they'd even get support from them). Russia would wipe them out in days and Georgia would find it difficult to mount an effective guerrilla resistance. Georgia's quick withdraw and pleas for negotiations are not the actions I'd expect from a nation attempting to escalate or widen the conflict. Hezbollah did what you suggested to Israel, and it was obvious because they had a strategy. Georgia looks confused and surprised. Don't you find it odd that Russia managed to deploy a military force ten times greater then all of Georgia's military in a matter of only a day or two? It took Georgia longer to redeploy it's own troops from Iraq. Are the Russians always on a state of readiness to invade a neighboring country? Maybe so, but if so, then Georgia and it's backer the US would know this and set a better trap.

The end result here is that Russia looks like the good guy to the international audience and the strong guy to it's domestic audience, while the US and Georgia both look dumb and weak. I think we can agree that for Russia this is payback for Kosovo. The US got it up the ass here, and I see no reason to believe that's a good thing.

- Mike

 

[Glaucus]

That may also turn out to be true. It does get US troops out of their back yard so it's definitely worth doing but it's even better if the other guy starts it and with US still in country and presumably still having a say in what the Georgian troops do it would have been crazy to let this happen unless some huge miscalculation was made.

Miscalculation? If it was a CIA plan, everyone involved with that plan should be fired. Nah, I doubt that. The idea that Georgia could somehow get involved in a prolonged conflict with Russia is absurd. Georgia relies on a very small military for defense and they lack the religious fundamentalist nutcases that exist in Chechnya (and in fact, Georgians have fought against the Chechens as well, so there's fat chance they'd even get support from them). Russia would wipe them out in days and Georgia would find it difficult to mount an effective guerrilla resistance. Georgia's quick withdraw and pleas for negotiations are not the actions I'd expect from a nation attempting to escalate or widen the conflict. Hezbollah did what you suggested to Israel, and it was obvious because they had a strategy. Georgia looks confused and surprised. Don't you find it odd that Russia managed to deploy a military force ten times greater then all of Georgia's military in a matter of only a day or two? It took Georgia longer to redeploy it's own troops from Iraq. Are the Russians always on a state of readiness to invade a neighboring country? Maybe so, but if so, then Georgia and it's backer the US would know this and set a better trap.

The end result here is that Russia looks like the good guy to the international audience and the strong guy to it's domestic audience, while the US and Georgia both look dumb and weak. I think we can agree that for Russia this is payback for Kosovo. The US got it up the ass here, and I see no reason to believe that's a good thing.

- Mike

 

[Glaucus]

That may also turn out to be true. It does get US troops out of their back yard so it's definitely worth doing but it's even better if the other guy starts it and with US still in country and presumably still having a say in what the Georgian troops do it would have been crazy to let this happen unless some huge miscalculation was made.

Miscalculation? If it was a CIA plan, everyone involved with that plan should be fired. Nah, I doubt that. The idea that Georgia could somehow get involved in a prolonged conflict with Russia is absurd. Georgia relies on a very small military for defense and they lack the religious fundamentalist nutcases that exist in Chechnya (and in fact, Georgians have fought against the Chechens as well, so there's fat chance they'd even get support from them). Russia would wipe them out in days and Georgia would find it difficult to mount an effective guerrilla resistance. Georgia's quick withdraw and pleas for negotiations are not the actions I'd expect from a nation attempting to escalate or widen the conflict. Hezbollah did what you suggested to Israel, and it was obvious because they had a strategy. Georgia looks confused and surprised. Don't you find it odd that Russia managed to deploy a military force ten times greater then all of Georgia's military in a matter of only a day or two? It took Georgia longer to redeploy it's own troops from Iraq. Are the Russians always on a state of readiness to invade a neighboring country? Maybe so, but if so, then Georgia and it's backer the US would know this and set a better trap.

The end result here is that Russia looks like the good guy to the international audience and the strong guy to it's domestic audience, while the US and Georgia both look dumb and weak. I think we can agree that for Russia this is payback for Kosovo. The US got it up the ass here, and I see no reason to believe that's a good thing.

- Mike

 

[Glaucus]

First? Your own logic applies both ways here, Mike: South Ossetians were sitting around with nothing better to do and just dreamed up this idea to shell the crap out of Georgia? I believe there's more to it than that. ;-)

True, however, Russia has more control over S. Ossetia then the US has over Georgia. Over 90% of S. Ossetia is loyal to Moscow. The idea that Moscow would "suggest" that they start making noise to draw the Georgians in is hardly outrageous. All the Russians needed was a small spark to make a fire.

Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. I really don't see how any of us can be so sure what happened. As far as I can tell, neither side is blameless.

You're right. From that part of the world, hardly anything is as it seems. As you know I'm skeptical of US foreign policy, but I'm equally (if not more) skeptical of Russian foreign (and domestic) policies. Europeans especially need to be extra cautious here. I just look at who has gained and who has lost, and try to make sense of that. To me it seems Russia is the winner while Georgia and it's allies are the losers.

 

[Glaucus]

First? Your own logic applies both ways here, Mike: South Ossetians were sitting around with nothing better to do and just dreamed up this idea to shell the crap out of Georgia? I believe there's more to it than that. ;-)

True, however, Russia has more control over S. Ossetia then the US has over Georgia. Over 90% of S. Ossetia is loyal to Moscow. The idea that Moscow would "suggest" that they start making noise to draw the Georgians in is hardly outrageous. All the Russians needed was a small spark to make a fire.

Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. I really don't see how any of us can be so sure what happened. As far as I can tell, neither side is blameless.

You're right. From that part of the world, hardly anything is as it seems. As you know I'm skeptical of US foreign policy, but I'm equally (if not more) skeptical of Russian foreign (and domestic) policies. Europeans especially need to be extra cautious here. I just look at who has gained and who has lost, and try to make sense of that. To me it seems Russia is the winner while Georgia and it's allies are the losers.

 

[Glaucus]

First? Your own logic applies both ways here, Mike: South Ossetians were sitting around with nothing better to do and just dreamed up this idea to shell the crap out of Georgia? I believe there's more to it than that. ;-)

True, however, Russia has more control over S. Ossetia then the US has over Georgia. Over 90% of S. Ossetia is loyal to Moscow. The idea that Moscow would "suggest" that they start making noise to draw the Georgians in is hardly outrageous. All the Russians needed was a small spark to make a fire.

Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. I really don't see how any of us can be so sure what happened. As far as I can tell, neither side is blameless.

You're right. From that part of the world, hardly anything is as it seems. As you know I'm skeptical of US foreign policy, but I'm equally (if not more) skeptical of Russian foreign (and domestic) policies. Europeans especially need to be extra cautious here. I just look at who has gained and who has lost, and try to make sense of that. To me it seems Russia is the winner while Georgia and it's allies are the losers.

 

[Glaucus]

First? Your own logic applies both ways here, Mike: South Ossetians were sitting around with nothing better to do and just dreamed up this idea to shell the crap out of Georgia? I believe there's more to it than that. ;-)

True, however, Russia has more control over S. Ossetia then the US has over Georgia. Over 90% of S. Ossetia is loyal to Moscow. The idea that Moscow would "suggest" that they start making noise to draw the Georgians in is hardly outrageous. All the Russians needed was a small spark to make a fire.

Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. I really don't see how any of us can be so sure what happened. As far as I can tell, neither side is blameless.

You're right. From that part of the world, hardly anything is as it seems. As you know I'm skeptical of US foreign policy, but I'm equally (if not more) skeptical of Russian foreign (and domestic) policies. Europeans especially need to be extra cautious here. I just look at who has gained and who has lost, and try to make sense of that. To me it seems Russia is the winner while Georgia and it's allies are the losers.

 

[Glaucus]

First? Your own logic applies both ways here, Mike: South Ossetians were sitting around with nothing better to do and just dreamed up this idea to shell the crap out of Georgia? I believe there's more to it than that. ;-)

True, however, Russia has more control over S. Ossetia then the US has over Georgia. Over 90% of S. Ossetia is loyal to Moscow. The idea that Moscow would "suggest" that they start making noise to draw the Georgians in is hardly outrageous. All the Russians needed was a small spark to make a fire.

Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. I really don't see how any of us can be so sure what happened. As far as I can tell, neither side is blameless.

You're right. From that part of the world, hardly anything is as it seems. As you know I'm skeptical of US foreign policy, but I'm equally (if not more) skeptical of Russian foreign (and domestic) policies. Europeans especially need to be extra cautious here. I just look at who has gained and who has lost, and try to make sense of that. To me it seems Russia is the winner while Georgia and it's allies are the losers.

 

[Glaucus]

First? Your own logic applies both ways here, Mike: South Ossetians were sitting around with nothing better to do and just dreamed up this idea to shell the crap out of Georgia? I believe there's more to it than that. ;-)

True, however, Russia has more control over S. Ossetia then the US has over Georgia. Over 90% of S. Ossetia is loyal to Moscow. The idea that Moscow would "suggest" that they start making noise to draw the Georgians in is hardly outrageous. All the Russians needed was a small spark to make a fire.

Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. I really don't see how any of us can be so sure what happened. As far as I can tell, neither side is blameless.

You're right. From that part of the world, hardly anything is as it seems. As you know I'm skeptical of US foreign policy, but I'm equally (if not more) skeptical of Russian foreign (and domestic) policies. Europeans especially need to be extra cautious here. I just look at who has gained and who has lost, and try to make sense of that. To me it seems Russia is the winner while Georgia and it's allies are the losers.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Miscalculation? If it was a CIA plan, everyone involved with that plan should be fired. Nah, I doubt that.

I wouldn't think that the CIA would be in on that. More likely one of the neo-con controlled pentagon cells. As for miscalculation, just think about who we are dealing with. Have the neo-cons miscalculated anything else?

If the Georgians hadn't fled and collapsed there might have been a few more news cycles out of it and some more : "hey - why isn't America helping Georgia" articles.

It wouldn't be in Georgia's interest to get into a bigger war, and I don't think anyone ever said it would be, but having an excuse to airlift massive US military support right between Russia and Iran while the blockade squeezes Iran from the Gulf and captured territories Afghanistan and Iraq bracket Iran east and west with all other bordering territories being pretty much US allies? Come on. Cut Iran off from Russia? That would be a "bad thing" in neo-con eyes?

Georgia's quick withdraw and pleas for negotiations are not the actions I'd expect from a nation attempting to escalate or widen the conflict.

Or maybe that's the sort of reaction you'd see from someone who thought they'd get more backing, or maybe the retreat was a way of trying to suck Russia in to occupy some Georgian land - giving an excuse for western military buildup.
As it is, the US is moving equipment into the area and who knows what is coming in with those airlifts of Georgians from Iraq.

Don't you find it odd that Russia managed to deploy a military force ten times greater then all of Georgia's military in a matter of only a day or two?

Nope, because they were already there as I think has been mentioned now in this thread three times already.

The end result here is that Russia looks like the good guy to the international audience and the strong guy to it's domestic audience, while the US and Georgia both look dumb and weak. I think we can agree that for Russia this is payback for Kosovo. The US got it up the ass here, and I see no reason to believe that's a good thing.

- Mike

This is nothing so petty as payback. The strategic importance is far more immediate. Look at a map.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Miscalculation? If it was a CIA plan, everyone involved with that plan should be fired. Nah, I doubt that.

I wouldn't think that the CIA would be in on that. More likely one of the neo-con controlled pentagon cells. As for miscalculation, just think about who we are dealing with. Have the neo-cons miscalculated anything else?

If the Georgians hadn't fled and collapsed there might have been a few more news cycles out of it and some more : "hey - why isn't America helping Georgia" articles.

It wouldn't be in Georgia's interest to get into a bigger war, and I don't think anyone ever said it would be, but having an excuse to airlift massive US military support right between Russia and Iran while the blockade squeezes Iran from the Gulf and captured territories Afghanistan and Iraq bracket Iran east and west with all other bordering territories being pretty much US allies? Come on. Cut Iran off from Russia? That would be a "bad thing" in neo-con eyes?

Georgia's quick withdraw and pleas for negotiations are not the actions I'd expect from a nation attempting to escalate or widen the conflict.

Or maybe that's the sort of reaction you'd see from someone who thought they'd get more backing, or maybe the retreat was a way of trying to suck Russia in to occupy some Georgian land - giving an excuse for western military buildup.
As it is, the US is moving equipment into the area and who knows what is coming in with those airlifts of Georgians from Iraq.

Don't you find it odd that Russia managed to deploy a military force ten times greater then all of Georgia's military in a matter of only a day or two?

Nope, because they were already there as I think has been mentioned now in this thread three times already.

The end result here is that Russia looks like the good guy to the international audience and the strong guy to it's domestic audience, while the US and Georgia both look dumb and weak. I think we can agree that for Russia this is payback for Kosovo. The US got it up the ass here, and I see no reason to believe that's a good thing.

- Mike

This is nothing so petty as payback. The strategic importance is far more immediate. Look at a map.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Miscalculation? If it was a CIA plan, everyone involved with that plan should be fired. Nah, I doubt that.

I wouldn't think that the CIA would be in on that. More likely one of the neo-con controlled pentagon cells. As for miscalculation, just think about who we are dealing with. Have the neo-cons miscalculated anything else?

If the Georgians hadn't fled and collapsed there might have been a few more news cycles out of it and some more : "hey - why isn't America helping Georgia" articles.

It wouldn't be in Georgia's interest to get into a bigger war, and I don't think anyone ever said it would be, but having an excuse to airlift massive US military support right between Russia and Iran while the blockade squeezes Iran from the Gulf and captured territories Afghanistan and Iraq bracket Iran east and west with all other bordering territories being pretty much US allies? Come on. Cut Iran off from Russia? That would be a "bad thing" in neo-con eyes?

Georgia's quick withdraw and pleas for negotiations are not the actions I'd expect from a nation attempting to escalate or widen the conflict.

Or maybe that's the sort of reaction you'd see from someone who thought they'd get more backing, or maybe the retreat was a way of trying to suck Russia in to occupy some Georgian land - giving an excuse for western military buildup.
As it is, the US is moving equipment into the area and who knows what is coming in with those airlifts of Georgians from Iraq.

Don't you find it odd that Russia managed to deploy a military force ten times greater then all of Georgia's military in a matter of only a day or two?

Nope, because they were already there as I think has been mentioned now in this thread three times already.

The end result here is that Russia looks like the good guy to the international audience and the strong guy to it's domestic audience, while the US and Georgia both look dumb and weak. I think we can agree that for Russia this is payback for Kosovo. The US got it up the ass here, and I see no reason to believe that's a good thing.

- Mike

This is nothing so petty as payback. The strategic importance is far more immediate. Look at a map.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Miscalculation? If it was a CIA plan, everyone involved with that plan should be fired. Nah, I doubt that.

I wouldn't think that the CIA would be in on that. More likely one of the neo-con controlled pentagon cells. As for miscalculation, just think about who we are dealing with. Have the neo-cons miscalculated anything else?

If the Georgians hadn't fled and collapsed there might have been a few more news cycles out of it and some more : "hey - why isn't America helping Georgia" articles.

It wouldn't be in Georgia's interest to get into a bigger war, and I don't think anyone ever said it would be, but having an excuse to airlift massive US military support right between Russia and Iran while the blockade squeezes Iran from the Gulf and captured territories Afghanistan and Iraq bracket Iran east and west with all other bordering territories being pretty much US allies? Come on. Cut Iran off from Russia? That would be a "bad thing" in neo-con eyes?

Georgia's quick withdraw and pleas for negotiations are not the actions I'd expect from a nation attempting to escalate or widen the conflict.

Or maybe that's the sort of reaction you'd see from someone who thought they'd get more backing, or maybe the retreat was a way of trying to suck Russia in to occupy some Georgian land - giving an excuse for western military buildup.
As it is, the US is moving equipment into the area and who knows what is coming in with those airlifts of Georgians from Iraq.

Don't you find it odd that Russia managed to deploy a military force ten times greater then all of Georgia's military in a matter of only a day or two?

Nope, because they were already there as I think has been mentioned now in this thread three times already.

The end result here is that Russia looks like the good guy to the international audience and the strong guy to it's domestic audience, while the US and Georgia both look dumb and weak. I think we can agree that for Russia this is payback for Kosovo. The US got it up the ass here, and I see no reason to believe that's a good thing.

- Mike

This is nothing so petty as payback. The strategic importance is far more immediate. Look at a map.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Miscalculation? If it was a CIA plan, everyone involved with that plan should be fired. Nah, I doubt that.

I wouldn't think that the CIA would be in on that. More likely one of the neo-con controlled pentagon cells. As for miscalculation, just think about who we are dealing with. Have the neo-cons miscalculated anything else?

If the Georgians hadn't fled and collapsed there might have been a few more news cycles out of it and some more : "hey - why isn't America helping Georgia" articles.

It wouldn't be in Georgia's interest to get into a bigger war, and I don't think anyone ever said it would be, but having an excuse to airlift massive US military support right between Russia and Iran while the blockade squeezes Iran from the Gulf and captured territories Afghanistan and Iraq bracket Iran east and west with all other bordering territories being pretty much US allies? Come on. Cut Iran off from Russia? That would be a "bad thing" in neo-con eyes?

Georgia's quick withdraw and pleas for negotiations are not the actions I'd expect from a nation attempting to escalate or widen the conflict.

Or maybe that's the sort of reaction you'd see from someone who thought they'd get more backing, or maybe the retreat was a way of trying to suck Russia in to occupy some Georgian land - giving an excuse for western military buildup.
As it is, the US is moving equipment into the area and who knows what is coming in with those airlifts of Georgians from Iraq.

Don't you find it odd that Russia managed to deploy a military force ten times greater then all of Georgia's military in a matter of only a day or two?

Nope, because they were already there as I think has been mentioned now in this thread three times already.

The end result here is that Russia looks like the good guy to the international audience and the strong guy to it's domestic audience, while the US and Georgia both look dumb and weak. I think we can agree that for Russia this is payback for Kosovo. The US got it up the ass here, and I see no reason to believe that's a good thing.

- Mike

This is nothing so petty as payback. The strategic importance is far more immediate. Look at a map.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Miscalculation? If it was a CIA plan, everyone involved with that plan should be fired. Nah, I doubt that.

I wouldn't think that the CIA would be in on that. More likely one of the neo-con controlled pentagon cells. As for miscalculation, just think about who we are dealing with. Have the neo-cons miscalculated anything else?

If the Georgians hadn't fled and collapsed there might have been a few more news cycles out of it and some more : "hey - why isn't America helping Georgia" articles.

It wouldn't be in Georgia's interest to get into a bigger war, and I don't think anyone ever said it would be, but having an excuse to airlift massive US military support right between Russia and Iran while the blockade squeezes Iran from the Gulf and captured territories Afghanistan and Iraq bracket Iran east and west with all other bordering territories being pretty much US allies? Come on. Cut Iran off from Russia? That would be a "bad thing" in neo-con eyes?

Georgia's quick withdraw and pleas for negotiations are not the actions I'd expect from a nation attempting to escalate or widen the conflict.

Or maybe that's the sort of reaction you'd see from someone who thought they'd get more backing, or maybe the retreat was a way of trying to suck Russia in to occupy some Georgian land - giving an excuse for western military buildup.
As it is, the US is moving equipment into the area and who knows what is coming in with those airlifts of Georgians from Iraq.

Don't you find it odd that Russia managed to deploy a military force ten times greater then all of Georgia's military in a matter of only a day or two?

Nope, because they were already there as I think has been mentioned now in this thread three times already.

The end result here is that Russia looks like the good guy to the international audience and the strong guy to it's domestic audience, while the US and Georgia both look dumb and weak. I think we can agree that for Russia this is payback for Kosovo. The US got it up the ass here, and I see no reason to believe that's a good thing.

- Mike

This is nothing so petty as payback. The strategic importance is far more immediate. Look at a map.