Russia’s flexing imperialist petromuscles. It’s never been happy about the loss of its Soviet Empire, especially Georgia, through which Central Asia oil can pass without the Russians getting a piece of it; i.e., controlling it all. Putin has been strategically cunning: First, aid and abet the Russian majority in South Ossetia and whoever is in Abkhazia. Second, goad Georgia, which has a large number of troops in Iraq and not at home, into a war it’ll lose by facilitating secessionists. Third, reclaim South Ossetia from Georgia. Fourth, as Saakashvili’s government collapses and Georgians start to go crazy, Russia moves into the country “temporarily” to reintroduce stability (oh, and get that pipeline).

The US is fighting two wars and an election and Georgia is hard to reach; little or no meaningful support will come. The UN? Ha-ha. Islamifying neighbor Turkey helping Christian Georgia? The EU? Consider their callous indifference to/impotence regarding post-Yugoslavia slaughter, dependence on Russian resources. Central Asian nations using the pipeline running through Georgia might provide some form of aid, but they don’t want to be next on Russia’s hitlist (although they probably are but are looking to postpone the date).

Georgia’s going under, and nobody’s going to stop it; nobody can stop it, with the exception of the Russians, who aren’t historically known for charity or restraint.