The current crisis is the end of the spread of NATO into the region of the former Warsaw Pact. Neither Georgia nor Ukraine will join NATO. After NATO accepts that reality, much of this tension will relax.

In retrospect, the USA has been reckless in advocating NATO membership for Georgia, which has these persistent ethnic conflicts and which has Russian armed forces based inside Georgia. What were we thinking?

Ukraine can stir up the pot now, but the USA should back enough that we are not perceived to be instigating and provoking an escalation of tensions. We can maintain our support for Georgia and Ukraine while beginning to repair our relationship with Russia.

Dismissing the Russians’ protection of the Ossetians in Georgia as a bogus issue will not help. While we should support Georgia’s independence and borders, we should not whitewash Georgia discrimination and brutality. The USA should position itself as an honest reporter and broker in relation to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. With our own good example, should prod Russia to position itself likewise.