As I predicted previously, Russia was only waiting to pounce on the first republic to use its military. The lesson, as Moscow called it, was so severe as to prevent any possibility of a repeat action by Georgia or any other ex-soviet province. By the way, Stalin was from Georgia and he is much admired by Putin.

Meanwhile, the United States went through the usual protests that had absolutely no effect on the Russians’ plan. They stopped when they felt they accomplished their objective, knowing full well that America wasn’t about to engage them militarily. The EU was impotent and divided, mainly because it depends so heavily on Russian gas and oil. But lest we forget, Georgia initiated the hostilities, killing a few Russian citizens in the process. Would we have acted differently?