Russia making a new move on Georgia?

[Weatherman]

AKHMAJI, Georgia (AP) — At a military checkpoint between Georgia and its breakaway region of South Ossetia, the word "Russia" is hand-painted in pink on a concrete security barrier.
"It will be Russia," said a Russian army lieutenant as the Ossetian soldiers under his command nodded.
"And Georgia used to be Russian, too," said the young freckle-faced lieutenant, who would give only his first name, Sergei. Three armored personnel carriers and a tank were dug in around the checkpoint.
Russia has troops just 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the Georgian capital, in violation of the European Union-brokered cease-fire that ended last year's brief war. And in recent weeks, it has put even more soldiers and armored vehicles within striking distance of the city ahead of street protests against Georgia's president.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jfCx1N9TFck0QbhRQt7fnFP_Da1gD97N2Q6O2

[Neil]

Why wouldn't they?  The EU can't sanction them, and Obama doesn't have the courage to say no to them.

[Berkut]

After all the furor over the first little escapade, the Western Consensus was that mewling "Oh, we CAN'T possibly do ANYTHING!" so why wouldn't Russia finish the job?

[Mikael Hakim]

After all the furor over the first little escapade, the Western Consensus was that mewling "Oh, we CAN'T possibly do ANYTHING!" so why wouldn't Russia finish the job?

I can think of several reasons.

[DisturbedPervert]

And in recent weeks, it has put even more soldiers and armored vehicles within striking distance of the city ahead of street protests against Georgia's president.

This might be fun.  A few Russian plants foment violence, Georgia cracks down on protesters to restore peace, and Russian forces roll in to liberate.     

[Berkut]

And in recent weeks, it has put even more soldiers and armored vehicles within striking distance of the city ahead of street protests against Georgia's president.

This might be fun.  A few Russian plants foment violence, Georgia cracks down on protesters to restore peace, and Russian forces roll in to liberate.    

It is all georgias fault. Russia is just there to protect her own citizens!

There is clear precedent for this, btw.

See: Austria, 1936. Poland, 1939.

Sometimes you just don't have any choice but to invade and conquer neighboring sovereign nations.

[Darth Wagtaros]

You forgot Grenada!

[Berkut]

You forgot Grenada!

Who did Grenada invade?

[derspiess]

Why wouldn't they?  The EU can't sanction them, and Obama doesn't have the courage to say no to them.

Yep.  Putvedev has to know that the time is pretty ripe to go ahead & do what they want in the region.  The US is pretty much guaranteed not to even make any symbolic efforts to oppose it.

[Berkut]

Would we need a new reset if something happens?

[derspiess]

Would we need a new reset if something happens?

Yeah, that's what the button is for.  Any time anything bad happens, push the button & we're back to good relations.  No harm, no foul.

[garbon]

Would we need a new reset if something happens?

Perhaps the reset button, resets things to right before the last Georgia crisis.

[Berkut]

Would we need a new reset if something happens?

Yeah, that's what the button is for.  Any time anything bad happens, push the button & we're back to good relations.  No harm, no foul.

I just hope he doesn't hit the escalate button by mistake. I think it looks a lot like the reset button.

IN hindsight, labeling all the buttons in Russian might have been a mistake.

[Habbaku]

Perhaps the reset button, resets things to right before the last Georgia crisis.

Groundhog Day 2 : Foreign Policy Adventures?

[garbon]

Groundhog Day 2 : Foreign Policy Adventures?

Perhaps in one the iterations, Pelosi will become President!