Mike Sylwester,

By what reasoning do you automatically cede part of Georgia? Does this not encourage Russia to make a few relatively small military strikes to gain political advantage elsewhere?

As has been discussed by some, this seems to be at least partially about the stranglehold Russia has on the energy delivered to Europe. What would ceding S. Ossetia do the the pipeline?

If Russia withdraws, a massive influx of cash to support and augment the pipeline with redundant paths and systems might help on that front. If they remain, a secondary pipeline funded by the Europeans might be in order. Not a small or quick task, but it puts Russia politically on their heels in the oil/gas bag of tricks. I find it hard to believe that oil/gas are the only reasons for this. The number 1 reason, possibly. The only one? Not probable.

I keep coming back to Iran… That is where the global stage is focused. Russia has at least given tacit support to the mullahs. Why, in that context, does Russia open up a “2nd” front? The railroad is key, perhaps?