This is a very curious development, and, if not a ploy by the Russians, very positive for us.

I think the Russians were expecting the Georgians to stand and fight and hold the cities. As crazy as it sounds, I think the Georgians pulled an Alexander I on the Russians, and the Russians, faced with their worst case scenario — all the reasons mentioned above — made the decision to quit while they were “ahead”.

At least, that’s what it looks like from here. As to the American role in all this, we must have been able to get across some subterranean signals that made Russia rethink its priorities. That’s encouraging if true; it means our real power — and our self-awareness of it — is much greater than I thought.