Not an analyst, but I just moved my perspective a little higher into space and saw something quite disturbing on my charts:

What if the Russian goal is not to “take” Georgia, but to go all the way through to Azerbaijan? From there, link up with Iran in order to help counter any impending air campaign against Iran.

Go all the way through Georgia, bluff/scare Azerbaijan and pick up air bases in that country from which to threaten or interdict the forces attacking in Iran.

Worse case? Using bases in Iran to air launch cruise missile attacks on US and allied capital ships and make any assault hugely painful.

Too off the wall? I know it is very risky, but Putin is KGB. Scares me to death and I’m fearless.

My sense is that we seem to be underestimating what Russia’s true intentions are as they continue their march and I fear we may not be thinking “big” enough. Just what is going on on the other side of the Caucasus?

Just a thought.