Can You Say BLOWBACK?

When Saakashvili ordered Georgian troops to fire on Tskhinvali, he initiated the next major evolutionary step in Russia's relationship with other countries.

The question is did anyone in the US government think ahead to what would be the likely outcome if they failed to pay attention to any of Russia's warnings about Kosovo, South Ossetia and Abkhazia?

This news report from Fox News highlights the ripple effect and it's not comforting news.

It does provide incontrovertible proof that we cannot afford to have as president someone who leaps into an aggressive posture without thinking through all the likely implications and outcomes.

The Guardian has a commentary by Jonathan Steele and a response by Robert Parsons which attempt to frame the Georgia - South Ossetia - Abkhazia - Russia discussion in pro-Russia vs. pro-Georgia viewpoints.

It seems evident that a more forthright narrative would include elements from both commentaries.and that it would acknowledge a lesson that we humans have had multiple examples from which to learn in the last 100 years. When ethnicity is revered above nationality in regions where national borders have been drawn without regard to ethnic groups and tribes, a fertile field for conflict develops.