There is another aspect to this. The Pew Polls show McCain level with Obama and significantly, “the base is coming home for McCain. He’s getting the Republicans, white evangelical Protestants, and the white working class voters are coming onboard.” Putin may have cut the ground from under Barack “I will abolish all future Combat Systems” Obama. Just imagine how absolutely stupid Obama’s sophomoric speeches in front of rockstar crowds will start to sound with every passing day.

And to return to China: China will soon be virtually dependent on overseas energy to keep going, so it can keep its economy ramped up to sell to its biggest clients: the USA, Europe, Japan and South Korea. What does Russia buy from China? And China is going to give Russia the handle on the spigot its energy? Give Putin the ability to turn the lights out in Beijing? China is Russia’s rival from Central Asia; it is other big player in the Great Game.

Lastly, Russia slapped China across the face by timing this with the Beijing Olympics. That may not seem like much, but I think it is one more suggestion that Putin has a cheap KGB mind. Clever in his own way but strategically stupid.