Poking The Bear's Eye Is Not The Smartest Thing!

I suspect that Russia, or at least its proxies in South Ossetia did something to provoke Saakashvili to take the action that he took. That said, Saakashvili was very unwise to go into South Ossetia with his tanks hoping that Russia would do nothing - perhaps he thought, mistakenly, that the US would then come to his aid. Big mistake. But Russia have to be careful now not to overplay their hand, they need at the very least to withdraw their forces back to the S. Ossetia and Abkazian borders. Then, with international monitors, Russia may well get what it seeks by having referendums in these two breakaway regions that will likely vote to join Russia. Bad leadership by Saakashvili - he has almost certainly lost the two provinces by his ill-considered actions.

When you put it that way, Russia did the smart, right, thing. So, there are two sides to everything.

Bush was even more stupid, if that is possible, than he usually is, in his hypocritical posturing about Russian aggression. Russia went in because Georgia had moved into South Ossetia and had committed atrocities. Bushes rhetoric is laughable. If, the West supported Georgia breaking away from Russia they should support the Ossetian people's struggle for independence. Instead Bush is just using it as an excuse to make trouble and try in typical American fashion to demonize Russia. Well, we in Europe should be crying for freedom for South Ossetia and telling Bush to keep his mouth shut, unless he can raise his thinking above that of the average window licker. But Georgia's democracy is no better than Americas own hardly deserving the name of democracy. Bush's posturing is laughable from a European perspective, when he spouts off about Russia, whilst heading a hugely aggressive stance elsewhere. Just because US supported the independence of Georgia, for their own ends, doesn't mean they are right. Nor does US hatred of Russia mean they are wrong. And to be honest, who trust America, they have proved themselves treacherous. Shooting a British newsman (Not a friendly fire accident but a war crime) and then refusing access to British Justice. Lets have an end to US moral stances till they clean up their act and put there own house in order. all the best urban

They could have done better by negotiating a peaceful separation. War is a last resort. I do not understand these politics, but there are peaceful means to get the same ends and that does not get the Russians mad at them. They do not have embassies and consulates or the art of diplomacy for nothing. Oh I have no idea whether Sasskashvili tried the diplomatic way at first If he did not, then it is his fault that Russia rose against Georgia.

In order for it to have been a coup, the regions would have to have been part of Russia. The internationally and U.N recognized borders put them as part of Georgia. It was probably more like Georgia trying to stop a coup, a rebellion and a cesesion.