Steven, I don't know of many sovereign states that consider it their right to obliterate by bombing the entire capital city of a breakaway enclave. What you are basically saying is that Georgia had the right to wipe out hundreds of South Ossetian lives, the lives of innocent civlians, in the interests of maintaining its so-called territorial integrity. All I can say is, it's no wonder that South Ossetians hate Georgia with a passion, and want to rejoin with North Ossetia, even if it means rejoining Russia in the process.
And can't you see, Steven, that letting Georgia join NATO might not be in the United States's best interests. In fact, it would no doubt run directly counter to our best interests. For a moment, let's talk realpolitik. Russia is still a great power, if no longer a superpower like the United States or China. Whereas Georgia is a minor blip on the radar screen of international politics. Given those particular circumstances, exactly with whom should we stay friendly? What is the point of continuing to expand NATO into Russia's natural sphere of influence, when it obviously gets Russia's dander up and makes even ordinary Russians, not to mention the Russian government, increasingly hostile toward the West? Do we really want another Cold War? Or for that matter, an actual war with Russia? Over Georgia and Abkhazia? Are you joking?
As for the U.S. and Western Europe "talking tough" to Russia - unfortunately all this is probably completely counterproductive. What do we want to do, exactly, alienate Russia completely? Inadvertently give power to all the Russian reactionary nationalist politicians out there who say that the West is determined to humiliate or even destroy their country? In other words, do we want to encourage democratization in Russia, or do we want to take a dubiously "moral" stand on behalf of Georgia and in doing so encourage the Russian government to become ever more authoritarian and belligerent, not only towards former Soviet republics that are now independent, but also towards the United States and the West in general?
I'm sorry to say this, but I think that both Obama and McCain are showing poor judgment and lack of foreign policy skills and experience regarding this latest crisis in Georgia. And it should also be noted in this context that McCain just happens to be a personal friend of the Georgian leader Saakashvili. Perhaps not surprisingly, McCain keeps threatening to throw Russia out of the G8. I tell you, if this happens, it will be an utter disaster for the West. We cannot afford to ignore or ostracize Russia. Russia is a fact of life. It is not going away. WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE RUSSIA. WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH RUSSIA. Otherwise matters will only get worse - a hundred times worse - in that particular corner of the world.