cjm,

There is no doubt that long-term consequences of this adventures will be disastrous for Russia, least Putin’s regime. He might even get assassinated. However, the fact of US unwillingness to rescue a loyal ally remain, no matter how you spin it. Sure, the US will retaliate against Russia in the aftermath, but if Georgia is lost, it is a disgrace for US, and will make many of the not trust US one bit, and simply engage in real-politik, by playing both sides. Has there been a US president, who has made greater foreign policy blunders (as if this word is even appropriate to apply to what’s going in Georgia)?