Good first step to fly the Georgian troops back into the country using US planes. Get those planes in the air, and move a carrier group up close in support of the Georgian request. And get as many EU weinies involved in order to up the ante to the Russians. Get the usual UN stuff rolling right away and get a couple US or UN or EU peacekeepers in there right away. Protect the Georgian Government, and insist on Russian payments to rebuild any assets taken out in Georgia. Get some Jets over Georgia, as they have requested.
There is no way in hell Turkey is going to allow a Carrier Battle Group to transit the Bosporus Straits.
They will not get involved.
“Get some Jets over Georgia, as they have requested.”
That would be war. Take off from a carrier to carry out operations in support of the Georgians and it is a combatant.
Support Georgia from bases in Europe and that base is also a part of the conflict.
This is a very delicate situation we are in. Unless Europe is involve by self determined agreement we could make it a very rough time for all.
The question is what is their mood in the guts of their governments? Are they in the NATO mood like they were with the Balkans (and Clinton), or still in the anti-Iraq action mood?
Don't forget history always repeats itself. Always. Europe would not even defend Checkozlovocia or Poland before WWII.
They do not care to have to remember that, and will do all they think they can to avoid having to live up to what followed that.
The are still in denial. We tread lightly here.