Russia's intervention in Georgia has effectively called the Western bluff in the Caucasus. As a practical matter, it is hard to imagine a scenario where we would deploy combat troops to defend Georgia. Humanitarian aid, perhaps coupled with overheated rhetoric, seems a more likely response.
The overheated rhetoric from the West is a classic example of imperial overstretch. In a time when large structural deficits limit the activities of the US, it is likely that other countries will see fit to call the West's bluff.
--SCC
