Quote Originally Posted by Vuk View Post
This 'petty sphere of influence' happens to be full of innocent lives, and America had made it its policy to stand behind them.
The world is full of innocent lives that America supposedly stands behind but very little is done about it. Georgia isn't the exception, it's the rule and when the US (or NATO or the EU) does intervene it is invariably because they have (or believe they have) something to gain - they don't do it for humanitarian reasons.

Should we be in the habit of breaking our word?
I'd argue the US has been in the habit of breaking its word for quite some time.

As for the original topic, no this isn't a gamechanger. I don't agree with some others statements about the poor quality of Russian forces, you are wildely underestimating them, but this is nothing new to NATO and it has been taken into account when making decisions regarding European armament.