Maybe so. But Russian TV and websites are blaming the US, the Turks and just about everyone else they can think of for the "unprovoked" actions of the Georgians.
Talking smack about one of the most powerful nations in the world might be safe, given the circumstances. But then again it might not. What if the Turks, (and the Ukrainians who were also dissed by the Russian state controlled media) who do not take being insulted well, decide to join in? What then? What excuse will we have to not back up our NATO ally?
Turkey, as a NATO ally, is not—within the NATO charter—to enter into war without NATO. Of ocurse we’re talking the Turks who have NEVER given a hoot in Hell what others think or direct. BUT the Turks are not foolish enough to enter into even a limited war with Russia without NATO backing.
It depends, I suppose. Bismarck once said that Russia is never as strong, nor as weak, as she seems to be. Right now they're acting "strong," but I think they may have made a strategic error with respect to how their actions will be seen outside of Russia.
More interesting to me is the possibility that this action could possibly have been taken for internal -- Russian domestic -- reasons. (Along those lines, it is said that the Russo-Japanese war was in part an attempt by the Czar to generate nationalism in the face of increasing domestic unrest.)
With a series of such victories, Putin could no doubt cement his position as the "new Stalin," at least for a while. Up 'til now, I have to think his activities have generated a lot of unease among the Russian populace.