Bobal, read your article.
“The empire of the czars hasn’t produced such a frightening genius since Stalin.”
Like I said, at the end of the day, he can keep Ossetia, he can keep his soldiers there, etc., etc. Except that now he has the pesky problem of American “advisors”, and “humanitarian convoys” surrounding the prize plum both Russia and the US wanted- The oil pipeline. THAT is the real prize that the US could have never dreamed of approaching on their own, but now Putin has delivered to their feet. He is, indeed, a “frightening” genius.
The Russians will now piss on the carpet, hurl a few obscenities, squat on the porch, etc, but I doubt they will come inside to beat up the US guest and steal the family jewels.