It is important to recall a few things about the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Afgh. in 1979 and the US response back then:

1) The US Prez was a DOVISH DEMOCRAT, and even he quickly signed off on a large-scale proxy war against the Reds. Oh, and he had 12 months to get it off the ground, not 4.

2) The entire Dem. Party (representing US doves) was solidly in favor of the proxy war against the Reds.

3) Afgh. had not been under Russian domination for 67 of the previous 84 years–Georgia has.

The points I am trying to make are:

1–There is not nearly as much strong, unbreakable US consensus in favor of confronting Putin in Georgia as there was for confornting Breshnev in Afgh. What is surprising is even the “hawkish” Repubs are being rather mealy-mouthed. The Dems, incl Obama, are predictably “pro-restraint” [paralysis]. So, us educated engaged folks here at the Belmont Club are effectively freaks, outta touch w/the media-numbed Joe Dokes who are against “Bush war-mongering.”

2–Russia is likely to bully back more nastily at “interference” in Georgia thand they cd for interference in Afgh.

The good news difference is that, back in 1979, Soviet military power was really peaking and in many ways on a parity or even stronger than ours. Today there is no comparison, and, as some have noted, our forces and infrastructure in Iraq and provide unique opportunities for force projection in the not-too-distant Caucusus.

BTW, I totally agree w/those who suggest this long-planned operation by Putin was designed as (1) an oil grab, and (2) a sabotage of any planned US move against Iran.