If Georgia were anything close to a functional democracy or if they were the least bit innocent in provoking the Bear I could agree that "this is different", but it isn't a functional democracy and the Georgians had a hand in provoking the hammer. To the Russians, this is no different than Iraq, Balkans and Lebanon.

Of course this is just an excuse on their part to push back against rising US influence so close to their borders. But whoever thought someone else would claim the same moral authority that we did?

You might want to check your map again, od. Afghanistan is land-locked.

The reason the Soviets invaded there was quite different: the so-called Brezhnev Doctrine—once communist, always communist. Basically, they wanted their puppet in place.

Oops, you're right of course. Not sure what I was thinking (or perhaps "if").

"Self-determination" for ethnic minorities on Russia's borders would be a great Putin Doctrine.

It keeps the neighbors fragmented and weak. Obviously, a Georgia can't defend itself. How much less a South Ossetia?

In many respects, this little war has been Russia's invasion of Grenada. Shows who's boss in the neighborhood, makes the Russian people feel tough again ...

It's "Morning in Russia."

Maybe there's some irony or sarcasm I'm missing.

Well, at the risk of taking Russia at their word, I would say that this is a punitive campaign for Georgia's attack on Russian troops in Ossetia. While there are troops in Georgia proper, for the time being they seem primarily there to prevent Georgian troops from engaging in the breakaway provinces. At present, they do not appear to be a force geared towards occupation.

Wow. Unlike you, I have trouble seeing this as a one-off. That Russia will get the territory it wants, the Georgian government will be deposed and then everything will just go back to normal.

But who said this was about occupation? I thought it was a heavily mailed fist smashing an convenient target as a warning that further dalliances with NATO and closer links to the West by will not be tolerated -- and this is just the first shot across the bow.

IMHO, the restoration of an empire is the goal. Note, not the empire, but an empire. Force comes in many forms, and they can achieve this goal without having to march into every former republic or independent nation. In fact, I think one can argue that the last thing they would want to do is spend resources occupying anything. Much easier to make a few examples and lay waste to some troublesome regions to cow everyone else. Hmmm..., maybe it isn't the old republics this is aimed at after all...

And, certainly, it’s clear that the West has no appetite for military confrontation with Russia over Georgia’s “territorial integrity.”

As Flashman put it re another war:

...I can tell you truthfully that the official view of the whole thing was:

"Well, here we are, the French and ouselves, at war with Russia in order to protect Turkey. Ve-ry good. What shall we do, then? Better attack Russia, eh? H'm, yes. (Pause) Big place, ain't it?"

While there are troops in Georgia proper, for the time being they seem primarily there to prevent Georgian troops from engaging in the breakaway provinces.

I would think that occupying Gori and Poti goes beyond what is necessary to protect Ossetia and Abkazia.

At this, I must break into song:

Heh, I can't believe I wasn't reminded of that before you posted it.

At this, I must break into song:

We don't want to fight but by Jingo if we do,
We've got the ships, we've got the men, we've got the money too,
We've fought the Bear before, and while we're Britons true,
The Russians shall not have Constantinople.

1) Does Russia have ambitions beyond Georgia?

Of course they do, every country does. The question is how far are they willing to pursue those ambitions.

2) Where are the West’s red lines?

Turkey, I would think. I don't expect Russia to make much of a westward push until they have a decent southern buffer. Poland is probably safe for a while. Now would be a good time for us to change our hostile stance on Iran.

3) Does the West have stomach even for significant economic and institutional responses, such as tossing Russia from the G8?

That takes stomach? Putting a blockade on Russian oil would take stomach, kicking them out of a club is petty bickering.

4) Does Russia care?

Of course they care, that's the whole reason they are doing this, they want to be recognized as a great nation again.