The strongest naval power in the world is the US Navy. It is what makes us the world’s superpower because we can project power throughout the world.. Britain was the world superpower due to her naval superiority but they reduced their navy when they were seduced by socialism and domestic priorities. England’s wealth for centuries was based on the control of the seas and trade that came from the sea. When Britain turned its back on that they became a backwater nation with little threat to back them up.

Russia has for centuries strived for access to the worlds oceans since they were a landlocked nation; they finally got Murmansk in the north and the Black Sea in the south. Russia will never give up the Crimea. It is a strategic necessity to Russia. Ukraine is more in danger than Georgia is because of that fact, The natural geographical barriers of the Caucasus Mountains help protect Georgia and the Southern range is the reason Georgia has existed over a 1000 years.

Batumi was not attacked by the Russia because it is in the Turkish minority area and Turkey has a proprietarily interest in that region. Russia did travel by helicopters and road during their occupation but did not damage or obvious looting. According to US Navy the reason they anchored at Batumi was worries about the damage to port facilities at Poti and could not accommodate the McFaul. An Aegis missile destroyer is not a good ship for humanitarian purposes and it was first in the area. Turkey as anticipated had approved this transit since under the treaty it did not cover missiles that were not imagined when the Treaty of Montreaux was signed.

The withdrawal was done just as US Navy transited the Straits. That was not coincidence. The very minor blockade is a symbolic gesture by the Russians. Once aid shipments go through the blockade will fade away.

Russia did ship tanks and support trucks by navy ships in Abkhazia, which has some good ports and shoreline. The rail line from Abkhazia to Russia is intact and operable during the winter. Russia moves most of its army by rail so it has the equipment to clear snow and ice.

Until NATO units with the independent Swedish monitors approach Tskhinvali, the extra security measures that Russia used to expand the borders of S. Ossetia will not be pushed back. Abkhazia did not loot and rampage throughout Georgia and they expanded their borders to the Kodori Gorge. That is natural geographical barrier and will probably stand.

The real message is that NATO is real that is why a Spanish Aegis missile destroyer and a Polish ship is doing planned exercises in the Black Sea. I was surprised that we gave the Aegis missile technology to Spain. The message is that one little missile destroyer could probably take out the entire Black Sea Fleet. Russia is getting naval basing rights in Syria to be able project its naval power in the Mediterranean.

US also are doing a true reassurance to Romania and other Balkan nations that we can face down in Russia’s own private sea. This is actually more ballsy than US actions in the Cold War where we did not challenge Russia directly in their area except for the Turkish missiles we installed to check the Russia missiles in Cuba. That was the time when we had another missile destroyer transit into the Black Sea and Turkey rejected Russia complaints that it violated the Treaty of Montreaux because it did not have guns sized larger than allowed because it was a missile ship.

I noted that Russia air force disappeared when US C17 appeared and only helicopters were basically used. Some Russia planes over flew Poti and the western portion of Georgia. But we have chosen not to do flights over Georgia with fighters, as that cannot be excused as a humanitarian gesture.

Bush has played this out very delicately, in order to provide Russia a chance to make its point toward Georgia but back out and save face. I myself would have preferred a more robust response but I am maybe more rash than the President.