“As a diplomatic option, the United States needs a trans-Caucasus air corridor between Romania and Afghanistan.”

Looking at the map, I don’t see how Russia’s actions block that. The area in question is a relatively small block of territory centered on the northern border of Georgia. It doesn’t split the republic by any means.

And given the reports I’ve read of the last couple of days, indicating the Taliban is conducting bombings in Pakistan to get the government to stop their crackdown on the tribal areas, I’d stop rather short of saying that Pakistan has thrown in its lot with the Taliban or Al Qaeda.