The West Feeds Georgia to the Russian Bear

As President Bush enjoys the Olympics, a US ally is being fed to the hungry Russian bear and thousands lay dying in the streets. Russia is intent on delivering a strong message to all of its former Republics and former satellite nations that no matter how cozy they get with the West, the West will not provide them with the protection they dream of, and will fold and run like a paper tiger at the slightest sign of trouble.

Make no mistake: This is meant as a Russian lesson/threat to Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, the Chezh Republic, Azerbaijan and all the many other former Soviet Republics and satellite countries. Like these countries, the Georgians were under the mistaken impression that they could depend on their growing alliance with Western powers to deter the Russian bear. They even sent thousands of troops to support our efforts in Iraq. Today they learn a hard truth. Israel should also take note, that at the end of the day, they can only depend on themselves.

As much as I have been supportive of President Bush, images of the President enjoying Women's Beach Volleyball at the Olympics as an ally is overran and blood is flowing through the streets, is well, unsettling. He has clearly been sand-bagged by Putin on this one. The short and long term consequences of this may be very serious.