[Wallace T.]

Putin can see that for all the American (and Israeli) bluster against Iran (a Russian ally), nothing has been done to stop the development of nuclear weapons. Furthermore, Georgia is less defensible for NATO or the U.S. than Poland was for Britain and France in 1939. Since Tsarist times, Southwest and Central Asia have been an area of conflict between Russia and the West, first Britain and now the United States. Putin is emulating the tactics of the Tsars and Lenin and Stalin to reassert Russian power over Georgia and the surrounding areas and protect its oil and natural gas interests against rival Western energy companies. When the Soviets/Russians sense Western weakness and the opportunity arises, they will strike. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was partially motivated by the weak American response to the overthrow of the Shah and the rise of the Muslim theocracy, including the hostage crisis. Our weakness in dealing with Iran is doubtlessly a reason for the invasion of Georgia.

[gleeaikin]

“Putis is emulating the tactics of [previous rulers] to reassert Russian power...and protect its oil and natural gas interests against rival Western energy companies.”

This certainly seems to be the case. They have forced BP out of the country. Georgia has a major pipeline to European markets. Last year they stuck it to the Ukranians on energy. Oil prices are coming down, but I would stock up on heating oil and storm windows early, because we have no idea what Russia may pull this winter that could push prices sky high again.