Let's put it this way - the Korean War and the Cuban Missile Crisis pretty much forced these two powers to go toe-to-toe and we (as nations) are still alive.  Confrontation is the only way to be kept in check.  What I expect, at least, is more words from NATO and the US and Russian (Putin) defiance.  If any major course of action is to be taken that will force the Russians to make a critical move, it'll be a large NATO presence in the Black Sea (is that the right sea?)

USA preparing to attack Iran NOW:

THE FOLLOWING LINKS DO NOT WORK,

SO GO TO YOUTUBE AND SEARCH THEM OUT BY COPYING AND PASTING EACH TITLE IN TURN...

World War 3 Is Upon Us. "Operation Brimstone" US Naval Nuclear Strike Force Has Been Deployed to Iran

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biCXQHexflY&feature=related

"Massive US Naval Armada Heads For Iran"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4eaGbAYAKU&feature=rec-fresh

These are both about the Naval deployment to Iran.
The 2nd 1 is a recent washington military white paper.
Holy Cow!

"I will fight for your right to be wrong!" << S.G. Tallentyre
"I am a flexible centrist: not stuck on right-wing, not stuck on left-wing, and not stuck on centre...and I don't flip-flop either" <<< me
Fighting for peace is like stopping the raping of a virgin.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7578250.stm

So Russia lied, it will leave all sorts of troops in Georgia where ever it wants, as "peacekeepers".  Our reaction: waa.

"1) Georgia attacked Ossetia.
2) Ossetia called Russia for help.
3) Russia helped."

No, Russia promoted a terrorist war out of Ossetia, and provoked a Georgian reaction, and then tried to conquer Georgia. You know Ossetia is trying to ethnically cleanse all Georgians out of the Province? "There is nothing for them to come back to" says their top guy.  How slavic of him.

"4) Russia took a leaf from the Big Book of American Diplomacy and stomped on Georgia's."
No, it acted as Russia has since the days of the Tsars.

"5) Georgia cried, the world came running and shouted at Russia for doing what apparently is the right thing to do if you flag is made of red, white and blue."
How much US territory have we added through warfare since 1901? Ossetia is going to vote to join Russia, making this as much a war of conquest as Kuwait 1990

"6) The world orders Russia to go home.
7) Russia sulks.
8) Russia starts picking up its toys to go home."

No, Russia lies about not going into Georgia, lies about how far it will go into Georgia, and lies about leaving Georgia.

"9) America realises people are starting to see the hypocritical nature of the actions done by NATO and the US and makes the situation a million times worse in order to cause a distraction."
'A million times worse' by sending food and medicine.

"10) When this action also raises questions the Americans excuse is "They're not pulling out fast enough"
OMG we caused questions to be raised! how indelicate

"10a) America hopes nobody points at Iraq and says "You're not pulling out fast enough" in response."
Go ahead.  We failed Georgia by trying to work with the zombie corpse of international systems who are designed to deny there is any problem to consider.  We should have just killed Russians.  The only reliable principle in foriegn affairs is the American will to righteous force--and when that is gone, the 1945 system of "law" goes with it, as will any set of laws with no cops.

Yes.

"I will fight for your right to be wrong!" << S.G. Tallentyre
"I am a flexible centrist: not stuck on right-wing, not stuck on left-wing, and not stuck on centre...and I don't flip-flop either" <<< me
Fighting for peace is like stopping the raping of a virgin.

@Little Paul
I'm not ignoring you, it is just that it does not make sense to address your post and The Yell's when both counterpoints are so similar.

p.s. If I have misread and there are some counterpoints that you would like me to address feel free to repeat them.
__________

>So Russia lied, it will leave all sorts of troops in Georgia where ever it wants, as "peacekeepers".  Our reaction: waa.<

Leave it to Russia to take advantage of a technicality.
I will admit now, before I have addressed the rest of your post, that this one action makes me wonder if Russia has crossed the line it usually draws in the sand.

>"1) Georgia attacked Ossetia.
2) Ossetia called Russia for help.
3) Russia helped."

No, Russia promoted a terrorist war out of Ossetia, and provoked a Georgian reaction, and then tried to conquer Georgia. You know Ossetia is trying to ethnically cleanse all Georgians out of the Province? "There is nothing for them to come back to" says their top guy.  How slavic of him.<

First let me congratulate you (in an non-patronising way) for finally starting to understand the mind-set we are dealing with: Remember, they may be white like most of the west, but they think very differently.
And back to the point: I'm not sure if Russia promoted a terrorist war out of Ossetia, I suppose that depends on how you interpret the news (remember the IRA/US argument that kept happening during the 1980's?) but that, I think, is irrelevant considering the result which you so accurately drew attention to: Very Slavic indeed.

>"4) Russia took a leaf from the Big Book of American Diplomacy and stomped on Georgia's."
No, it acted as Russia has since the days of the Tsars.<

Tom(ay)to, tom(ah)to.
Maybe we should re-instate the Romanovs? I'd be all for that war, for the good of the motherland.

>"5) Georgia cried, the world came running and shouted at Russia for doing what apparently is the right thing to do if you flag is made of red, white and blue."
How much US territory have we added through warfare since 1901? Ossetia is going to vote to join Russia, making this as much a war of conquest as Kuwait 1990<

Fair point, my attitude was unjustfied on this one.

>"6) The world orders Russia to go home.
7) Russia sulks.
8) Russia starts picking up its toys to go home."

No, Russia lies about not going into Georgia, lies about how far it will go into Georgia, and lies about leaving Georgia.<

Russia is leaving, slowly yes, but they are leaving. Try as hard as you like but you cannot put a spin on this one.
Remember they're Russian, one cannot expect absolute compliance in the face of the old enemy, it is bad for politics.

>"9) America realises people are starting to see the hypocritical nature of the actions done by NATO and the US and makes the situation a million times worse in order to cause a distraction."
'A million times worse' by sending food and medicine.<

...To the wrong side.
If you wanted to do it that badly you should have proposed it in the UN Council on the grounds of humanitarian woo-woo, and when they umm'ed and ahh'ed THEN sent in the food and medicine and "equipment" independantly, under the approving eyes of the world.
You'd be amazed at what you can learn from the Duma, but in the end the point still stands: You (America) made the situation far worse than it needed to be; you could have waited a few more days and come out as the kind samaritan.

>"10) When this action also raises questions the Americans excuse is "They're not pulling out fast enough"
OMG we caused questions to be raised! how indelicate<

Damned straight you young colonial whippersnapper, there are procedures to be followed!

>"10a) America hopes nobody points at Iraq and says "You're not pulling out fast enough" in response."
Go ahead.  We failed Georgia by trying to work with the zombie corpse of international systems who are designed to deny there is any problem to consider.  We should have just killed Russians.  The only reliable principle in foriegn affairs is the American will to righteous force--and when that is gone, the 1945 system of "law" goes with it, as will any set of laws with no cops.<

You failed Georgia by letting a trained chimp and a bowl of token-brown rice try to deal with the situation knowing full-well that they did not have the necessary knowledge and understanding.
__________

But, despite all of my wonderful responses, I will admit that Putin has spoiled Russia's fair and equal reputation in this situation... prick.

> TheYell wrote:

> You may not like us, and if Obama wins, -I- might not like us, but Russia is acting like a lying thug on this one, Fokker<

Russia drew up it's plan of attack before you drew up your plan of absolute obedience. They followed through with their plan, and then followed your plan of obedience; just not as quickly as you would like.
Tough, positions reversed you would do the exact same thing, and when you can deny that truthfully I (and Russia) will listen and not before

>BTW how is the situation "far worse"... Russia is going to stay put? They already were.<

They were pulling out, now they are not. What happened in between? America happened.
You might not like it, you might not want to admit it, but that is the way it is and you cannot alter the order of events:
Russia was leaving Georgia.
America threw stuff at Georgia.
Russia stopped leaving Georgia.
2+2=Chair, you dig?

The U.S' stance on this issue is inconsistent. It financially and militarily supported separatists such as the Kosovo Liberation Army (practically a terrorist org btw) and the Tibetan clergy/nobility which sought to reimpose religious repression and feudal serfdom but now denies that Ossetians should be allowed their independence when it's less than convenient.

It's pretty clear that Georgia thought it could get away with shelling Ossetian civilians without international condemnation or reprisal based on their Western credentials and it seems to have succeeded at least partially. The Russians should stick around at least until the Georgian government gets deposed but U.S backing may be enough to keep them in power for quite awhile.

Crazy americans.
You do one thing, someone else does another which is 1/100 as bad and you complain at them? ... Crazy.

Um Einstein how many people have died cause of your invasion? And how many people have died from their attack?
Then say again what you just said...

Of course, hey, why don't you have the Russians inspect? And why don't you have them inspect it from Inside the USA? 

I think what goes on in georgia is at base about what happens in georgia, but I think I'd hear this argument if it were Peru or China or Catalan

There is a number of military hospital ships and cargo ships. Since they are essentially "not for profit" and "paid for already" they are the cheapest source of humanitarian aid in the whole world.

yeah paid by tax payers and very cheap to build :DDD

it is clear US wants to show its muscles in the region

I just dont understand what's the point ? russians could have removed Saakashvili if they wanted to, apparently they did not plan to. So US should not be worried about their puppet being removed.