I’m still of the opinion that Saakashvili attacked into S Ossetia because he knew the Russians were getting ready to move in on him first.

What the other reason would he have to make that move ?

The Russian wargames, the special railroad repairs, the naval landings,a nd the dis-info campaign all point to a long planned invasion, most likely timed to start after the initiation of hostilities with Iran, to give the Russians diplomatic cover.

This was no intelligence failure, this is a very deliberate, well planned spoiling action, and the Georgians are conducting themselves magnificently, with just a *little* help from their friends.

There are tremendous benefits to the West in preempting the Russians, an important one being that now it is the Allies who will have political and diplomatic cover when the move comes on Iran.

The benefits to the Georgians… not many, keep them in your prayers.