After my post the other day, I felt the need to write something
that puts the war in Georgia in a bit more of a context. With the
situation changing by the hour, it makes more sense for me to
look at the roots of the conflict than try to beat the news media
to the punch on breaking information.

Perhaps the most ironic statement yet in the war of words over Russia's military intervention in Georgia was John McCain's assertion that "I'm interested in good relations between the United States and Russia, but in the 21st century, nations don't invade other nations." Too bad no one told the Bush administration that before it went into Iraq.

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Like many of you, I've been wracking my brain about what can be done about Russia's intervention in Georgia (and Georgia's prior intervention in South Ossetia), with no great answers. Perhaps a little humility is in order. Bearing this in mind, I was particularly struck by Fred Kaplan's piece in Slate, which begins by asserting that "It is impossible to think about the Russian assault on Georgia without feeling like a heartless bastard or a romantic fool." Even as it appears that Russia may be withdrawing (not confirmed as of this writing), Kaplan's analysis is worth reading for thinking about next steps.

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