The situation in Georgia has an eerie similarity to Europe in 1938 at the time of Munich. France and England would not confront Hitler over Czechoslovakia. Even if willing, they would not have had the means. The geopolitical and military cards were stacked against France and England and they were not prepared to go to war over a nation they could not defend. France and England made overtures to the Soviet Union but Stalin refused to get involved unless the Baltic States and all the terirtory lost after WWI were returned to the Soviet Union.. Hitler and Stalin them made the infamous non-aggression treaty in in August 39, giving the green light for Hitler to atttack Poland. There are historians who wonder why France and England drew the line at Poland rather than waiting to see what Hitler would do next. Would Hitler have attack Norwway,, Sweden ,Denmark and France or moved to the East

Now NATO wants to expand into Russia's backyard and the U.S. wants to deploy an defensive anti-missile system in Poland. Are Poland, the Baltic States, Belarus and the rest able to defend themselves against a Russian invasion.? Will France, England and the U.S. be able to mount a military response. The geopolitical and military advantage of Russia this region are overwhelming. Are the NATO allies even capable of mounting a military response. Does anyone really think NATO will mount an invasion such as Germany did in WWI or Hitler in 1941.

It seems to me NATO is not only provoking Russia but also biting off far more than it can chew. Also If the US. took exception to Soviet "defensive missles" in Cuba, then why would , Russia not take the same position on "defensive missiles " in Poland.

If The Russian Bear wants to devour more of the food in its backyard, is NATO going to be the bear tamer with chair, whip,and gun. Why does NATO want to expand into a region it knows it will not and can't defend? Economic sanctions and tough talk by Bush and McCain are the only options.

I know I am challenging the wisdom of the Bush Administration( virtual Solomnos) and also the leadership of France , Germany and England., but I think Sarcozy is more interested in making love than war.

These are certainly interesting times.

Livy:

Also If the US. took exception to Soviet "defensive missles" in Cuba, then why would , Russia not take the same position on "defensive missiles " in Poland.

The Russian missles in Cuba were nuclear tipped missles that were aimed at U.S cities.

U.S SDI missles are non-nuke and are designed to intercept nuke missles.

if war had come over czechoslovakia the czechs and slovaks might have put an end to hitler. read your history. the germans were ill prepared to fight a war then. the real problem developed when the arrogant british stepped in acted as the legal agent for the czechloslovakians. in the case of georgia american is only shooting its mouth off, it has not usurped georgia's soveriegnty in the same manner.

the brisish didn't make any effort toward russia in 1938. indeed their position was that russia was the enemy. nor did russia trust the british empire as they had back the whites over the reds in russia's civil war.

hitler attack poland because he was a fool that believed in his own ideology much like the republicans. the limeys and frogs fought for once for honor, interesting. there was no indication that hitler was going anywhere but east, not north or west.

after that you get much better. georgia is to rob a phrase from ww ii, is a bridge too far.

Which is what ultimately Russia wound up with in Cuba...DEFENSIVE missiles, and for that, among other things, we have blockaded Cuba for decades, causing great suffering to the Cuban PEOPLE.

Cuba/Russia NEEDED those missiles, obviously, to keep the US off of Cuba (whether you like or dislike Castro, those are just the FACTS).

Bush does not NEED missiles for Iran placed in Georgian soil; at a bare minimum, Bush could wait, because Iran currently has NOTHING to even get there,

Facts need to be dispositive, you know, not just grabbed from the air.

I think Russia has had it...they have compromised and compromised, but when you start shooting them in the night, that's it. I think NATO of the European variety better think long and hard, because to stop that pipeline, all it takes is a little war of long duration.

One of the mysteries of history I have never been able to solve is why the Czechs did not make a stand against Hitler. They had a decent army and a natural defense line. France was an ally of the Czechs but was too far away and in a defensive posture behind the Maginot line. The Brits had no obligation to the Czechs but were involved because of the Treaty of Versailles. and Hitler's flagrant violations of the same.

Von Schusshnig in Austria at least made a symbolic opposition to Hitler by calling for a ;plebisicite on whether or not the Austrians wwanted Anschluss with Germany. Hitler took over before this could happen. The Czechs went quietly. We will never know what happened if they had fought.

Incidentally, the Poles annexed part of Czech territory.but became Hitler's next victim.