The point I was trying to make was that Russia did not simply attack Georgia out of the blue, as everyone seems to think. They were supporting an independent region (Ossetia, particularly South Ossetia), they encountered hostile force from a separate country (Georgia) while they were in that separate region, and reacted to that.

People keep acting like Russia just said "****, let's attack Georgia."

USA won't battle Russia because we're trying to restore broken relations with them, they have huge oil supplies (and natural gas...ahem...Europe), and they are a huge bargaining chip in our talks with Iran. If we piss them off, we're frustrating a lot of our international goals.

its all a plan for Putin to bring respect back to the Russian people.for years people have been saying Russia is broke. now we no that's not true.

Only speak not to drugs of my friend? What's that got to do with it?

никак не снадобья как раз факт

Georgia is a U.S. ally and Russia has been building up troops and ships in the region for months. This was preplanned.
I dont think its possible to spin this into a "good thing" for the U.S. This makes us look weak as hell.

I think our relations with Russia are pretty darned broke now

no usa wont attack russia. because hell usa cant even beat iraq.so usa is chicken

Comrade why don't you just go back to mother Russia...You wont be missed>>>

What happened when mother Russia invade Afghanistan? If you feel strongly for mother Russia, go back and quit being a coward hiding in the US

your really not even worth me replying to so i wont. but before i ignore you. have a good night. ok

The truth will set you free....

Yeah, there was a difference.

Saddam Hussein.

Bad guy.

Had people killed.

But for the record.

His sons were worse.

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/middle_east_current_affairs/101254

The Russian chauvinism in this thread is hilarious.

First off, 01time, if the Soviets were so intent on earning respect like you say, they would take a cue from their own history, as well as present day current affairs, as invading a country does not exactly make you any friends.

Now, comrade, your comparison of USA invading Iraq to that of Russia invading Georgia has no circumstantial similarities, except for the fact that both situations entail one country invading another. While both could certainly be classified as poor foreign policy decisions, the brutality of Comrade Putin's actions in Georgia have now gone from "disproportionate" to full-on barbaric. Not only has Georgia willingly offered a cease-fire, they have begged the Soviets to stop this genocidal mania, and the Soviet diplomats have snubbed them at every turn. The reality is that in a conventional war, the US could take on the Red Army with few strategic problems, but we won't because we happen to have a spineless goat for a leader.

Count your blessings, Comrade.

It's important to remember that the real base for all of this aggression is technically still murky. Russia is accusing Georgia of ethnic cleansing just as readily as Georgia is pointing the finger at Russia. Although Russia has obviously been licking its chops for a war, it may not be as barbaric as it seems. (Source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/11/georgia.russia.oakley/index.html)

And forgetting about whether or not we could defeat Russia (seriously, I don't know, so I don't want to argue that point), it would have DISASTROUS policy fallout if we tried. It's not because we have a spineless leader, it's because the mere attempt to do so would have ridiculously far reaching consequences, very few of which would be positive.

I honestly don't think that bipolarizing the current geopolitical face of the Earth would help much of anything, so the argument that there would be far reaching consequences seems kind of moot. There are just as bad far reaching consequences by not being proactive about this situation, and more so for Europe than the U.S.

It all comes down to money and politics...hence why it took us so long to comment on China.

Or Not.

A small correction. USA don't care about Russian oil and gas. As far as i know Russia does not sell a drop of its oil to USA.

But USA should care about Russian oil-bucks. This is a huge market for American goods. Russian can hate American government, they can say they hate American people, but they admire American goods. "Made in USA" is top of the world brand in Russia still. GM would have not to have give up with Hammer if they had had dealerships in Russia and had not had to pay fees at custom.

oh so russia dont sell oil to usa. i guess fox news was wrong.or is it your just smarter then all of us.