History suggests that the most foolish possible thing the Russians can do is to continue occupying parts of Georgia. Let me count the ways:

1. It inspires the Georgians to mount a permanent Chechen-style guerrilla campaign against them.

2. It advertises to the world the traditional excesses, laziness, and corruption of Russian garrison troops, who swiftly turn allies into enemies.

3. It militarizes its neighbors.

4. It destroys its moral authority in the region and sanctions US counter-moves.

From the viewpoint of future US foreign policy, nothing could possibly be more helpful than a series of ‘mini-Afghanistans’ for Russia.