We are not going to do anything militarily in Georgia — Gates has already ruled that out. Besides, Turkey has sided with Russia, unsurprisingly.

Turkey has forbidden the USN to send any ships into the Black Sea. Turkey controls the Dardenelles and the Turkish government is solidly pro-Russian.

This is not an expression of pan-Slavic identity, to put it mildly, so much as an open alliance by Turkey’s Islamist government with Moscow. An alliance which is supported by the Turkish public, and the military (which is now infiltrated with hardcore Islamists).

If you draw an arc from Turkey, Georgia-Armenia-Azerbaijan, to Iran, that is the pro-Russian/Jihadi alliance. Add Pakistan to the mix as it slides into Taliban/AQ control. This is not an alliance of deep ideological allies, but formed out of basic opposition to the existence of the Western global economy and system. Each member has ambitions and desires.

Turkey probably sees the inherent weakness in Greece and the Balkans and figures it can gobble them up with Russian help. Russia of course has it’s own ambitions in the Balkans, and has it’s view as pan-Slavic/Orthodox protector. Iran and Turkey both have their conflicting desires to rule Central Asia by resurrecting their undead empires. Which in turn conflict with Pakistan’s Pushtun desires to construct THEIR empire.

What the US ought to do is encourage each party to over-reach and betray the other. Turkey to attack the Balkans and conquer at least, Greece, and force Russia’s hand. Iran and Turkey to fight each other over the Central Asian prize, even better if Russia’s in the mix.