Georgia woes batter Russia's economy

Indeed, Russia has got to find its way. In so far they have proved that they are taking security concerns seriously. When Georgia attacked - the Russians had the guts to defend their peace-keeper mandate AND minorities entrusted to them for defense (granted by OSCE and UN in 1992). In so far Russia has cultivated great economic and partnership relationship with Finland...the country that has troubled past with Russia but has put it behind. Finland never entered NATO and enjoyed steady and growing economic bliss with Russia. This should be the model of dealing with Russia. Europe needs to recognize that price for gas and oil it pays only gets higher with wars on Russian borders. Russia is legitimate trading partner. Russia does not have ambitions beyond its supply routs. That has to be respected. Why? Whats wrong with this logic? You want an all out war?

The parrelles between now and the build up to WWII are scary, and the world situtation is moving closer to 1938 all the time.

Jefferson - Right on bro! The Georgian attack into Russia was deep and broad. Moscow barely survived the seige and millions of Russians perished in the intense fighting between the Russion tank batallions and the 20 Georgian tanks that nearly overran the entire country. The Georgian Blitzkrieg was not only a masterfully planned military manouever but took the whole world by complete surprise. It was all over so quickly that the media did not have time to snap a single photo of the victorious Georgians as they overran Russia or record the unconditional surrender of the entire Russian Army to the platoon of Georgian soldiers that followed their 20 tanks across the vast Russian plains. The Russian psyche will never be the same. First Napoleon. Then Hitler. And now Saskhvili and his band of 30 men and 20 tanks. How many more times will the Russians be at the mercy of world conquerers?

The Russians planned the invasion of Georgia months before their August "defense". Get serious, the massing of 20,000 ground troops, air strike plans, an amphibious landing and a naval blockade of Georgia did not take any "guts". The Russians showed their disregard for the sovereignty of former Soviet republics. They also showed their willingness to use oil and natural gas as an economic weapon against the EU.