Quote Originally Posted by nokhor View Post
it's interesting how our pre-existing viewpoints affect how we interpret the current war in the caucauses.
You make many good points.

However, I think we should base ourselves on facts on the ground and not on assumptions about the honesty of leaders. As I see it, Saakashvili overplayed his hand by starting an agressive campaign of ethnic cleansing and was severely punished for it. This threat is now contained, and any further Russian move against Tbilisi should be discouraged. As of now, the issue is strategic, no longer local.

A Nato presence is an excellent tool to discourage them. It would not unleash World War III, even if Nato forces would block the Russian armed column that is now on its way to Tbilisi. And if we have to incinerate that entire column, which Nato air and antitank forces can do within a quarter of an hour, we should do it to show them we mean business.