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I don’t believe the US and Russia will go to war. I think Russia will pull back.

I seriously hope you are correct, but the noises that Russia are making in the media sets alarm bells ringing for me.

Incidentally, I don't think Europeans (people that is, not leaders) would be as concerned if Bush had a longer period of Presidency to address this, but with the US seemingly doomed to a future of extreme liberalism, and with Obama waiting in the wings, seemingly hoodwinking the the naive aspect of the American populous, this very real threat from Russia is even more dangerous, not only for the US, but for the whole world.

Imagine a scenario of Russia antagonizing the US into a spit-spat war, then pulling back with innocent rhetoric, playing the human-rights-America-World-police-interfering-in-Russia-is-peaceful-and-democratic-and-wants-partnership-with-America , in order to bolster American moderates to voting Obama in the hope of a new world coalition.

I know the majority of Americans will have Russia's card marked, and will remember how their strategics work from the days of the cold war period, but what about the college bred Liberals, or the moderates who are just sick of foreign wars?

All FReepers will see the hardline, Communist Russian streak of proud Imperialism oozing from Putin, couple that with the new found extreme wealth and energy monopoly that Russia has a vise grip on, and you have a very dangerous set of variables in play.
With that in mind, would any American want to try and and deal with Putin, 12 months down the road, when you have President Obama, and a group of ultra left, common purpose sympathizers as his aides?
Personally, I find that a scary, scary concept. Maybe that's just because we Europeans have lived this Liberal type of crisis management for a couple of decades now, and absolutely know full well, that mindset is completely ill equipped to deal with people like Putin, Countries like Russia, Iran or any aspect of extreme terrorism.
Our European leaders have already shown that they'll sell our heritage, culture and religious views, and open our borders in exchange for favorable energy supplies, they'd do the same thing should Russia start turning those gas taps down.

I'd love to see Russia pull back, but if/when they do, the political noises they make after will be of much interest to me personally.
I've voiced my opinion on different threads about Putin, in addition to his extreme Communist views, he's well known as an excellent strategist, is an excellent chess player, and there's no way he invaded a sovereign European state in the glare of the whole world just to get a few shells off, in order to show petulant anger towards his former USSR bloc Countries for jumping ship from Mother Russia.
Things are afoot here, there's subterfuge by the cartload.

Bush' foreign policy is in direct conflict with Sarkozy's, Merkel's and most other European leaders long term energy plans, why do you think they voice such resounding support for Obama? They want the Liberal in, then he will leave Countries like Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia alone to spread their own version of religious or imperial ideologies as long as they leave the gas and oil pumps switched on.
Just this morning on TV, Merkel and Sarkozy are saying that "Georgia can join NATO if they wish", are they hedging their stake in the surety that Obama will get into power, and pull America back from the frontline to calm Russia for immediate future?

Maybe there is no conspiracy at all, and the EU are going to stand tall and oppose Russia?
The next few weeks are going to be interesting.