In a chess metaphos sense, I’d disagree, Putin would have taken the Knight if Tblisi had fallen and a Russian Puppet had been installed.
At the end of the day, a sadder and wiser Democratic Georgia survives with the right to elect whomever they will.
“In a chess metaphos sense, I’d disagree, Putin would have taken the Knight if Tblisi had fallen and a Russian Puppet had been installed.”
You are right. But Putin is not done with Georgia yet. I can guarantee you that. He’s only taken a pawn so far. Evaluating the West’s response before he makes his next move. There will be a next move. He has gotten the West to capitulate and accept Russian troops remaining on Georgian soil. Putin intends to reabsorb Georgia and it is only a matter of time and opportunity before he accomplishes this. Russia has been rebuilding and modernizing its military from all the petro dollars it is now taking in. The West talks big but carries a small stick.
Democratic Georgia survives with the right to elect whomever they will.
LOL! just like every other old soviet republic did while russian troops occupied their land at will.
This way, they've humiliated Georgia, reinststed the prewar status wquo - and likely firmed it up for ever. They have left the Georgians in a position where their nation will be a misery to run for the next few years as they try and rebuild and Russia doesn't have to worry abot any rebuilding. Compared to their blundering in Chechenya, this was excellently played by the Kremlin and poorly played by the Georgians. At the end of the day, a sadder and wiser Democratic Geor
Patience. The Germans didn't take over all of Czechoslovakia when they moved into the Sudetenland in October of '38 either. They did a few months later, but not right away, but waited a whole 5 months until March of '39. That would indicate that Georgia will be a Russian province about January. Maybe sooner though, things happen faster these days.