[Centurion2000]

It is a world game. We have been sitting at the table for a hundred years, you don’t just pick up your chips and throw in your cards because you don’t like the game. I will never understand you head in the sand isolationist.

Yes, and the world game started with an assassination of an Archduke. The tangles of alliances proceeded to ignite the First World War.

Are you will to risk this over South Ossetia? The red dots are nuclear targets.

Think carefully before you answer. IMO we do not have a dog in this fight.

[dfwgator]

Just like we didn’t have a “dog in the fight” when Hitler marched into the Rhineland...and into Austria...and Czechoslovakia...

[BroJoeK]

"Yes, and the world game started with an assassination of an Archduke. The tangles of alliances proceeded to ignite the First World War."

"...IMO we do not have a dog in this fight."

It wasn't "tangles of alliances" which produced World War One. It was Germany's long standing plan to defeat Russia and France, SIMULTANEOUSLY, before they (especially Russia) grew too powerful to make that possible.

Germany had several opportunities before 1914 to launch their plans, and each time the Kaiser backed down. But by summer of 1914, the German government seriously believed, "it's now or never." They chose "now." Britain then came to the defense of her allies France, Russia and especially little neutral Belgium.

As to whose "dog" today is in this fight -- sadly, America's "dog," (our values) is at stake in almost every fight these days.

If America's values (our "dog") lose any serious fight, we can be certain they will be challenged again, sooner rather than later, and the next time FAR MORE SERIOUSLY.

Look around a map of the world -- do you see Taiwan, Israel... lots of small countries bordering on large aggressive neighbors.