Wretchard,

I couldn’t disagree more. Tactically, Russian objective is to replace Georgian government. Whether it be by force, or by dealing enough damage to the Georgia so that Saakashvili govt would fall in the aftermath and a more friendly govt can be installed by KGB. However, the strategic objective is to show US as helpless or unwilling to assist Georgia analogues in the region Ukraine, Poland, etc. While, what you suggest would be effective against Russian tactical goal, it would do almost nothing against the strategic one. US has to do a bold and public move, while also maximizing its options for deescalation (not burning any bridges). Things that are done covertly do not exert much influence on public opinion in relevant countries.