Cannoneer’s NRO Article, linked above says…

“The current response to the situation in Georgia does not bode well for U.S. influence in the region. The U.S. has failed to protect its friend and ally, an ally that had the third-largest troop presence in Iraq, after the U.S. and Britain, and is sending the message that our assurances and promises are meaningless. Russia is trying to show the world that it is the only meaningful power in the region, and the U.S. has done nothing to disprove that”.
—
On the contrary, the outspoken President has done the opposite, even exaggerating our efforts:

Rejuvenated Georgian President Cites U.S. Ties as ‘Turning Point’ in Conflict

By Wednesday he seemed an almost preternaturally reinvigorated man, once again raising the temperature in Georgia’s bitter disagreements with Russia, and invoking special ties with American democracy and freedom.

Moments after President Bush appeared at the Rose Garden to say that the Pentagon would begin a humanitarian aid mission to support Georgia, Mr. Saakashvili was on the phone with a Western reporter, talking fast. “This is a turning point,” he said. Soon he appeared on national television, his tousled hair combed back flat and wearing a freshly pressed suit, assuring his country that the worst had passed.

We already saw U.S. Air Force landing in Georgia despite Russians controlling the airspace,” he said, after a C-17 had touched down. “And we will see U.S. military ships entering Georgian ports despite Russians blocking it. That we will see.” He added, “These will be serious military ships.”

But the American military said that although the Navy had been ordered to assist in the humanitarian mission, it had not yet formed its plans and no ships were en route.