[mkjessup]

BTW, I meant early in the sense that this is the first move (the Georgia Operation) in a much larger chess game. If he is successful here, basically uncontested, I expect there are many other moves Putin has in store.

First of all Jeff, I admire your creative thinking about this. Just want to say that first.

Unfortunately, I do not see our President flying into Georgian air space under these or any future forseeable conditions. This military operation by the Russians is going to be wrapped up by the weekend, and while it is laudable for other former Soviet bloc nations to send their leaders into Georgia to show their solidarity, you can be sure that Putin's only reaction will be to advise his general staff that they are to be blessed with a 'target rich environment', bet on that.

And you are correct: Georgia IS the first move, and Putin has all but captured a knight using his pawns. Everyone knows about the skill of Russians when it comes to chess, and the question to be asked is:

When, in past years have we seen Putin make a fatal mistake, a move which resulted in him being checkmated?

Answer?

He hasn't. And he won't now. Every move he makes from this point forward has already been scoped out, and every possible response from the West has been planned for.

That too, you can bet on and I take no pleasure in saying that. This operation in Georgia was not a spur of the moment decision.

[Jeff Head]

But they haven't accounted for every response...nor could they. If they were that good, the Soviets would never have fallen, and yet they did, and precipitously.

I have faith that there are ways to defeat this tyrant..and with God's grace, we will find that way.