You posted , " the Russians had better not actually do anything to defend themselves or everyone will just get mad at them and all of that sympathy for their victimhood will just be squandered".
ARE YOU SERIOUS? Do you really think the Russian people give a rat's behind about the world's opinion at a moment like this? Thank God Mr. Bush offered support to Russia. If France, Germany, and the U.N. don't like the Russian response then the hell with them.
No, John, I was not serious. Forgive me for having left off the sarcasm tag.