Of course we are capable of demolishing them. We were always capable of that. Wonder why that didn’t happen?
If you read my post in its entirety, I mentioned Europe (most of Europe depends on Russia for energy). That wasn’t the position in the past. Europe will not support full military action, imo. I don’t throw any option out, I’m not Neville Chamberlain.
In today’s “global” world, there may be other solutions.
I didn’t say Georgia was wrong...but what would a good solution be, in your opinion?
Thank goodness for that since we've been there and done that and know how THAT one works out.
The best solution IMO would be all of Europe letting Russia know that if forced to choose, they will choose Georgia.
Gas and oil are fungible and Russia can NOT afford not to sell her gas and oil. If they refuse it to Europe, they'll have to sell it somewhere else and Europe can buy their supply from the other sources whose customers Russia sold to instead.
I understand that's a lot less convenient than the already set up systems, but it's doable unless Russia simply hoards their supplies. Their only other source of funding is weaponry and weapons related items and they've just recently been humiliated by at least one spectacular failure in Syria.
I suppose Putin and the other KGB/mafiya looters could pump some of their billions back into Russia to tide her over for a while, but I don't think they're going to do that.
Keep in mind that most Germans alive now remember The Wall and the horrible lives East Germans had under the Russians/Soviets. I think it's significant that Germany was the main one to put the brakes on Georgia and Ukraine joining NATO and now they've announced that they want it to happen.
NATO itself just spoke strongly but threatened nothing. Rice said the comments around the table were very strong. That MAY not be as weak as it sounds. That sounds like they realize this cannot be let go, but don't want to get Russia any tighter into the corner Russia has painted herself into.
Frankly I'd prefer that they'd just send in heavy duty bombers to take out every Russian tank (do they even still have any planes there?) and every R. ship in Georgian ports and say, "That's it. GTF out or die.", but I do understand that if they can get them out without that simply by letting the invaders prance around and pretend they got everything they wanted and then go home--well, obviously that's a lot better than risking the huge escalation. IF they GTF out without attacking Tbilisi or getting their hands on the pipeline (their real goal).
The other good solution would be IF as many have suggested, Putin/Medvedev have rivals who don't like the isolated position that P/M have left Russia in, the rivals arrest, kill or dispose of P/M in whatever way they like and simply announce that Russia is under new management and will pull out of Georgia PDQ. Obviously that possibility is not under our control, but it might be open to certain encouragements.
There are probably other good scenarios, but I'm about to fall asleep right now so I'm going to bed, but it's obvious that Russia is not in the catbird seat she wants us to think she is. If you've monitored foreign press, you already know that the world is NOT buying the BS Russia is putting out, and however scared they may be, they don't like it. Russia was apparently shocked to find out that many of her former vassals have united together against Russia and want in to NATO and want our missile shields.
Bottom line is that the choice is NOT necessarily grovel before Russia or get nuked. Those thug dictators have salted away BILLIONS looted from the people. I believe they want to enjoy them rather that starting a nuke war that will destroy them.