The Chinese understand that a united Korea would be aligned with the US and could put such missiles on their border.

And the purpose of that would be?

How about Real Politik? You know, that long-standing philosophy of international relations that even Republicans from Kennan through Scowcroft have adhered to. That theory would say that Russia absolutely would have invaded its adjacent neighbor even if Georgia were in Nato to maintain a buffer around its country and prevent the US from installing missiles on its border–do you really think we’d let the Mexicans put Soviet missiles 5 miles from El Paso or are you completely unaware of the Cuban Missile Crisis?? The Russian foreign minister two weeks ago stated dryly that the US rhetoric about supporting democracies in the Caucusus is merely that, because they know that the US is not prepared to go to war over it; however, Russia is. Proximity matters, as military strategists since Clauswitz and Sun Tzu have known for centuries. I think you are being naive, with all due respect.

As for my logic, I think that there are foolish Americans and foolish foreigners. I am not passing judgment but merely running through the game theoretic results that will flow from our taking a stand in a country that we are not prepared to lose many more lives than the Iraq War has taken, and the Russians, who know this, will not be deterred. That is why I said the policy is foolish.

The reason I took a shot at Cheney is because there are lots of other aspiring democracies to support, but we seem to only give legitimacy to the aspirations of those with oil assets. Now, I actually do not have a problem with this policy, since it is what Realpolitik would prescribe—except in the case of Georgia because the stakes are too high even factoring in the pipeline. But I would really appreciate a little more honesty. Straussians, as you may know, do not like honesty, because they believe the masses should remain in the dark, deluded by the patriotic rhetoric and propaganda of their governments. But I’m not a Straussians nor even a neo-con, and I find the double-speak on supporting young democracies highly hypocritical.

That is my story. And, hopefully, you can see that it isn’t the simple, liberal caricature that conservatives feel so comfortable attacking. Straw men, straw men, everywhere…too easy to be taken seriously. Sorry.

This is not new, by the way – Russia has been doing this for hundreds of years.

“But, of course, there is a gas pipeline hanging in the balance, not to mention big contracts to Halliburton, so maybe it is a little more rational (albeit still treasonous) of a policy than meets the eye. No wonder Cheney is in favor also…”

- so, let me get this straight. It is OK for Russia to invade Georgia to get control of the pipeline because, at least this way, Cheney Darth Vader and Halliburton won’t get big contracts. Uh-huh!

So, in your world view, Russia is motivated by legitimate concerns about self-defense, while the Georgians and Americans are motivated by greed. You either have no idea of how the world works or, at some point in your life, you felt a need to start hating your country and people by projecting your worst motives on us while projecting your own ideals and best intentions onto those who are “not us”.

You’re not alone, by the way. I knew many people like you in the expat community when I lived overseas. There, though, I could attribute it to a Stockholm Syndrome – they were falling all over themselves to be accepted and liked by seeking the approval of their host countries. What’s your story?

over 25K people in a tiny republic that no one has heard of.

Population of South Ossetia is 70,000.

On 30 August 2008, Tarzan Kokoity, the Deputy Speaker of South Ossetia’s parliament, announced that the region would “soon” be absorbed into Russia, so that South and North Ossetians could live together in “one united Russian state”.[5] Russian and South Ossetian forces began giving residents in Akhalgori, the biggest town in the predominantly Georgian eastern part of South Ossetia, the choice of accepting Russian citizenship or leaving

No one, including Bush, whose policies Rice represents (not her own) is contemplating military action. The EU has already balked at sanctions, since winter is approaching and they receive gas from Russia.

We are also talking about Abkhezti, with a population of 200,000, which is next on Russia’s radar. This is more about what signal this sends to the rest of the former satellite states bordering Russia than the pipeline.

Now I don’t. I’ve been very disappointed in her. Certainly 10 -20 years down the road may reveal information that shows that she really has been extremely capable, but I really have not seen that as being the case.