[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Just a guess here, but I know Russia and Georgia have been close to war - I'm thinking Putin could use this as an excuse to pursue an agressive policy against Georgia. I sympathize to the utmost with what happened to the Russians but given Putin's history, I don't trust him to not use this to pursue a ruthless and agressive policy that has nothing to do with the current massacre.

[Shermy]

Just a guess here, but I know Russia and Georgia have been close to war - I'm thinking Putin could use this as an excuse to pursue an agressive policy against Georgia.

That's a good possibility too.

[Styria]

01 Sep 04
.
                   OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
                CIVIL MARITIME ANALYSIS DEPARTMENT
                   WORLDWIDE THREAT TO SHIPPING
                   MARINER WARNING INFORMATION
.

(...)

  F.  MEDITERRANEAN-BLACK SEA:  .
.
      1.  GEORGIA:  On 4 Aug Georgian press stated President 
Saakashvili issued an order to sink all ships attempting to enter 
Sukhumi port, Abkhazia, without Georgian government permission.
A 6 Aug announcement named the Bolivian flag, Russian-owned 1,408-
ton cargo ship (IZABELLA) as having been fired on.  Although other
ships have been detained for unloading cargoes in Sukhumi without 
Georgian clearance as long as two years prior to their detention,
 the current campaign seems primarily aimed at passenger craft 
carrying Russian tourists into Sukhumi.  As of 18 Aug authorities
report no further shooting despite continued tension, and Georgian
officials claim the illegal traffic has practically ceased, 
although one Russian vessel may have gotten through.  On 26 Aug
Georgian authorities asked Russian counterparts to warn shipping 
not to enter the waters off the coast of Abkhazia without 
coordination with Georgia (INFO).

http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/onit/onit_j_main.html