Some sympathy for the Russians here, to be honest. The Georgians are loco, and the Russians are giving us back the Kosovo lesson [‘dangerous to change sovereign borders’] in spades.

Bush made a mistake encouraging the Georgians to kick up sand in a rough neighborhood, esp. with an oil pipeline nearby.

That said, Russian lessons tend to avoid subtlety… best they call it victory and leave Georgia proper.

(You’re right that the outer provinces won’t be back. Kosovo payback. Locals hated the Georgians, if it’s any consolation…)