"I have consistently called for deepening relations between Georgia and transatlantic institutions, including a Membership Action Plan for NATO, and we must continue to press for that deeper relationship. "

and,

Barack Obama believes the process of NATO enlargement – which has helped countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe become more stable and democratic – should continue so long as new candidates for membership are democratic, peaceful, and willing to contribute to our common security.

Is this a good idea, given that both Russia and Georgia seem hell-bent on controlling both the Ossetian and Abkazian regions? If Georgia had already received NATO membership, as McCain's lobbyist minions were pushing for, we would now have a treaty obl;igation to defend the country from Russia, even though we have neither the national interest in Georgia nor the ability to interpose a meaningful force to secure that country's borders.