Sorry to butt in.
I heard similar sentiments from Rice and I agree with you. I don’t think we know the extent of the possible and I am certain Rice and Bush have a plan in place to accomplish what needs to be done.
I also think they would not be making such straight out hard talk without the ability and will to back it up because if that happened, they'd be through--objects of ridicule forever.
The fact that the Germans broke the news that THEY are proposing NATO membership for Georgia PDQ after they were the drag before tells me that they KNOW what'll happen if this situation isn't resolved in the right way. The Wall wasn't so long ago and it was real life for them.
I hope the extent of the possible includes secret commitments of harsh action if absolutely necessary, but which might push brain-damaged thugs over the edge if advertised or crammed in their faces. (I'm a cram-it-in-their-faces person myself, but I understand why it's sometimes better not to.)
I think the fourflusher in this is Vlad and the poker player is calling his bluff. God, how I hope it is a bluff.