Robert. Russia fights not for resources anywhere in the world. You probably do not even know why your country fights in Iraq and Afganistene

igor, moskov, Russia

The West is not blameless in this policy fiasco. What did we think would happen when we cleaved Kosovo from Serbia. The Russians told us that this single act would destroy the international balance in Europe. Did the West think they were kidding? Guess not!

Martin Gray, Miami, USA

This, article as well as some others, are full of disrespect to the current President of Russia. I know that there is a kind of stereotype that Putin decides everything, but dear journalist, be respectfull to the current President as well. He IS elected by the majority of RF citizens.

Santeri, Petroskoi, Karjalan Tazavaldu, RF

Oleg, It is advantagious for the US to promote democracy. Open societies are much easier to deal with at all levels. This is better than relying on the whims of a dictator. This is why the US promotes democracy.

Holland, Alma, AR, USA

Russian naval buildup on Coast of Georgia's Azeria, just North of Turkey is a threat to reestablish a Russian Military base for total contro,l or cutoff of oil shipments from Azerbajan from Batumi. Half of Ajaria’s ethnically Georgian population professes Islam, other is Russians who want Moscow.

George Bohdan, New York,

Freedom in a democracy is a powerful state of being which most people of the world understand or at least try to. Creed has consumed and denied some from that place we call liberty. The media spins opinions and commentary to suit there own political ambitions while a few of us use forums like this.

Dalton Priddy, Santa Barbara, USA

Russia resorted to brute force because it has few means to achieve its strategic ends other than through oil and military blackmail. Europe and the US, however, have various non-military cards they can successfully play if the French and Germans would simply grow a spine and use them with the US.

Robert, El Segundo, USA

"everyone should drop the guns and walk home

You kidding? to "drop the guns" in such situation -especially in front of the maniac ruskies- equals to drop dead.

Sulivan Ramala, Montreal, Canada

When you children grow up and sober up perhaps you will realize this is Russian expansion - and perhaps seizing another pipeline. The fact that it is paid for using EU oil dollars says a lot about the moral high ground you all pretend to be on. Only Bush is doing the right thing.

Dave, Washington Dc, USA

Remember that you watched on TV. Probably the opening of the Olympics in China? In the same celebratory moment for the whole world Georgian army, under orders 12 hours Saakashvili artillery destroyed the city of peace and Ossetian villages. Elderly women were killed children peacekeepers.

igor, moskov, Russia

I am now trying to look at this from all angles. This is not black/white issue. Look at McCain's stance, then on search engine look up Rick Davis/Oleg Deripaska or McCain/Deripaska. Rick Davis is close to McCain and worked for Deripaska and 2004 pro- Kermlin candidate Viktor Yanukovych in Ukraine.

Mary, Suwanee, USA

Europe, stand up! Don't appease Russia. Haven't you seen this movie before? Are you really that forgetful of the past? This is a replay. EUROPE, STAND UP!

Linda Steinhauser, Rogersville, USA

everyone should drop the guns and walk home

jason palmer, london,

georgia being in nato is nothing like missiles in cuba. all nato is a promise of mutual defense. if you have any sort of short term memory, the russian warsaw pact countries came right up to western europe. in fact in berlin russian and american/british forces where literaly nose to nose for 50 yrs.

will, grimsby, uk

Richard - Do I get this right ? Georgia sends troops into territory that the world (ex-Russia and Serbia) recognizes as Georgia's.

The Russians invade not only those territories but Georgia itself. The US sends a small contingency of troops, et voila - it's the aggressor! How perceptive!!

David, London, UK

In 1939, German SS dressed in polish uniforms attacked ethnic germans on the Polish side of the border and the German Army invaded Poland within a day. WWII started. Today, Russian Spetznaz dressed as Georgians killed Russians in Georgian Ossetia. Nothing new under the sun. WWIII begins.

Jeff, Austin, US

Anthony in Chelmsford.
The Germans are wrong when they do go to war.
They are also wrong when they don't go to war.
What exactly is it that you want?
Like in Iraq( not being there) - they're not that stupid
Afghanistan (on holiday ) - again a lot less stupid than the Bush poodles of the UK

Douglas Maxwell, Richmond, Yorkshire

As an Indian born American, I say this to all - If we Americans could have carried the battle against terrorism without going into Iraq, we would have. There is, and was, no way to fight this fight against Islamic Fanaticism without starting into Iraq.

Parag, Stamford, Conn, USA

President Saakashvili has wrong footed the West twice, launching an assault on Ossetia without informing his prospective NATO Partners, and wrongly stating the US will be in control of Georgia's ports...this guy is willing to kick start WW3. Cheney and Bush actually stupid enough to take the bait

pete jefferies, London, United Kingdom

Most comments here are about how bad or good Russia or America are. No one seems to care about the Ossetians and their hatred of the Georgians after two carnages - in the early 1990s and now when every Ossetian family has suffered badly. How can Georgia come back there and resume its sovereignty?

Viacheslav, Moscow,

G.W. Bush has again shown total ignorance - both his personal and his republican administration. Who has sold huge amounts of modern weaponry to "democratic" Saakashvili's regime? Who financed this bloody regime? Who trained his professional army of mass murderers of ossetian civilians?

Ruslan (ossetian), Riga, Latvia

Extending NATO to Georgia is stupid action, similar to USSR sending missiles to Cuba. Please USA, stay home and let Hungarian born Sarkozy Nagy-Bocsa (French President) cope with Putin. He has more diplomatic approach, and better image than his friend Bush, who will retire soon. And he knows Russia.

Michel , Aix en Provence, France

Eugene, heidelberg, germany

yours is the german contribution. Like in Iraq (not being there) and Afghanistan (having a holiday there) as long as the Schroeder gas flows the germans forget who they owe their independence to

Anthony L, Chelmsford, UK

Before everybody starts jumping to conclusions, lets us first send in a neutral peace keeping force and investigating team to find out the real facts of the situation, before the Media,s on both sides have us at each others throats with their biased reporting.

David, Helsinki, Finland

It simply isn’t Cricket for the US and the 'coalition of the dummies' to circumvent the UN, declare an illegal immoral pre emptive war on Iraq, based on manufactured evidence. Yet scream like a scalded cat when Russia exercises its rights to protect its citizen after Georgia attacked/murdered them.

lydia, Brisbane, Australia

In recent years I thought that a new Russia could be part of Europe and its tradition of democracy. How wrong I was...

Peter, Brussels,

Lie and deceit in the USA! Your mass-media does not give you of a full picture! That that you see it that wants Washington! We have entered into Georgia only because of a genocide the osset! And no more!

Vitalis, Tyumen, Russia

''Sending US forces into Georgia, albeit to deliver humanitarian supplies, represents the most serious military escalation between Washington and Moscow since the end of the Cold War.'" Wrong! Sending Russian troops into democratic Georgia, the USA's closest ally in the region was.

Jon, Los Angeles, USA

The events in Georgia are not so definit as it may seem, esp. when you have one-sided information. It's almost the same as in Kosovo but with another casting. Russians are GREATLY distressed by the events in Georgia. The only way is to send UN peacemakers to the area and to legalize or not Ossetia

Nina, St. Petersburg, Russia

Perhaps this is Russia's Cuban missle crises - in the 60's good sense prevailed - now I despair - Bush will see any backing off as weakness and an affront to his macho place in history. God save us all.

HenryGB, Brampton, Cumbria

Russia under Putin will suffer the backlash from their invasion.They will be isolated like all the other terrorist states, and drown in their own oil.Blackmail will get them nothing.The USSR is dead and communism is in past,no democratic country will ever accept now.

Bill, Alexandria, USA

They should freeze the Tsar Putin's assets in Zurich (numbered bank accounts, gold deposits, etc etc.). That'll get his attention a damn sight quicker than mobilising the military.

Dmitry M., Moscow,

I just wonder why no one of you mentions 2000 civilians of South Ossetia killed by the Georgians? Why don't you mention that Ossetian children and old people were shot by the Georgians when they were trying to escape? Did your "free mass media" cover that, dear standard-bearers of freedom?!

Elena, Moscow, Russia

I believe this is a resumption of the Cold War. If Putin isn't slapped down hard, his adventure into Georgia will not end here. Ukraine and the Baltic States will be next. It's about time a united Europe stood up and started acting like the mature, established democracies they are and stop Putin.

Mike, Surrey, Canada

Joshua, Trenton says that if US and Britain got involved earlier this conflict would have been forgotten. British and American people won't have the appetite for yet another conflict thousands of miles away with hundres of young lives lost. This is of international concern, therefore a UN matter.

SHIRLEY T., LONDON, ENGLAND

please remember about actions in Hiroshima, Iraq, Afganistan. And then tell me please can Russian government, punish own citezens killers or not!

Alex, Riga, Latvia

I think it's high time time the US starts to worry about it's own problems, and stays out of every one else's.

Tyler, fargo, USA

Pure Americans! It's amazing to watch your screaming about Russian aggression. How dare you - nation which dropped nuclear bombs on Japan, started war in Vietman & Iraq using absolutely stupid reasons, broke down Yugoslavia, killed thousands civilians - still use democracy as cover of your crimes.

Vitaly, Moscow, Russia

Cold War has never gone. It just paused for a while because of soviet economic collapse, but it still exists in the heads of thousands of idiots on both sides of the Atlantic.

Ebenezer, St.Petersburg, Russia

This sounds more and more like interfering with a squabbling marriage. All right, the guy beats his wife. Maybe we should get involved. Wife-beating really should be an embarrassing thing of the past.

Eugene, heidelberg, germany

Nikolay,

Nobody is demanding that Russia be subservient. Nor will we
tolerate Russia's demand that satellite states once dominated by
the USSR be subservient to Russia. Get it? And spare the bluster for an army that Afghan militias defeated. Russia would be foolish to the confront the U.S.

Frank , Apex, USA

@ Jim
The US have never faught a war against a nation with an equally strong airforce. Plus russian radar systems are the only one able to spot "invisible" planes. Also the US and NATO have much less soldiers (and i am talking about factors > 2) than russia and china.

Alexei, Darmstadt, Germany

Putin had this planned well in advance,any military people will tell u it takes days and weeks to get the military at staging points to attack.They want to Punish Georgia for wanting in NATO and also they see a direct path to Black Sea Fleet if they control .Europe need to block all trade with.

Bill, Alexandria, USA

This goes to show, Russia has been lying all the time. As a former USAF Member, nothing would please me more, than to see USAF and USN AirPower kick some Russian Tails. I hope we send in 2 Carrier Groups, and a Squadron of F-22 Raptors and a lot of A-10's to watch them pick off those Russian Tanks.

Jim, Mesa, Arizona, The United States of America

Would anyone care to answer the question….do you really believe that objective of Bush administration in Georgia is defend democracy???

Oleg, Sao Paulo, Brasil

US escalates? Russia invades and it's the US that escalates? What are you an expert at?

Ed Altizer, Charleston, WV, USA

Yanni, Mexico City...Your 'spot on'...Putin had this 'war' of his planned along time ago...Europe will not get help from U S of A this time around....Get the U S of A out of the U N and the U N out of the USofA..Nato/Seato..et al...

Mr Tim, san marcos, U S of A

"you know the only reason the us isn't just going after Russia is because ... attacking Russia would be the start of a nuclear holocaust." I disagree; the US military is overstretched as is. There isn't an army available to intervene. Russia isn't stupid enough to commit global suicide.

Samuel, Osaka, Japan

you know the only reason the us isn't just going after Russia is because they have a HUGE stockpile of nukes because of the cold war. attacking Russia would be the start of a nuclear holocaust.

drake, scottsdale, United states

This conflict is not primarily about oil, in case you are uninformed about the issue. This is about rewriting the post-cold war geopolitical landscape in former Soviet republics. If Putin's scheme prevails, i.e. invading Georgia on the pretext of defending South Ossetia, then Ukraine will be next.

John, Detroit, USA

If America and Britain had gotten involved earlier, the conflict would have been brief and few lives lost. Not to mention russia would have tucked tail an returned home battered and bruised. This won't happen however, due to the fact that Europe and the west are dependant on Russian oil.

Joshua, Trenton, USA

I would think Russia sending troops into Georgia would represebnt the most serious escalation since the cold war. Why shelter the Ruskies from the consequence of their aggression?? What are your loyalties?

Gregg, Minneapolis, USA

Your assymetrical doctrine is imperialistic. South Ossettia does not belong to you and killing Georgian civilians there underscores your illegitimate claim. Yes, many Ossettians see themselves as Russians but that is a legacy of your communist past. No wonder the Czechs want a missile shield.

Jon, Nowra, Australia

Looks like the Russian bear is up for a kill. It isn't bad enough they kill their own on English soil, they have to re-establish their old empire to feel powerful. They compare what has happened to Iraqi, yet, I compare it more with Chechnya. A break away Republic that they crushed. Any difference?

Alex, Pocatello, USA

I hope the russians will not back down...US must take a lesson: by all the means they will not scare Russia.Hipocrisy of the US has no limits and sooner or later they will pay for.This war started only with the approval US.Since Bush and Rice world became much more dangerous than before.

Sergiu, Ottawa,

Mr. Beeston: Your commentary constantly refers to comments or proposed actions by individuals in power, as if influenced by PEOPLE only, as opposed to actual, unanticipated, constantly changing facts "on the ground". You think Rasputin is alive, bifurcated, influencing DC and Moscow simultaneously?

Graham, Durham, USA

To Nokilay:

Bring it on.

Russia doesn't need to be tamed. It need sto be civilized. Putin is testing the West. And we either respond forecfully enough to put him in his place, or we simply run right back into another Cold War.

Devin, Agoura Hills, USA

Mesmerized by the Bear. Russia has been and will continue to be ruled by lies and deception ,1 step back 2 steps forward in their long term goal of world domination...we in the west fall asleep too easily and forget the past too readily.

sean connor, Ontario, Canada

The only way to solve this is for the U.N to send in peacekeepers. If Russia is only looking out for their people then the peacekeepers would be able to protect the people and the Russian military could withdraw but if Russias plan it anything more then the peacekeepers could force them out.

Greg, Amarillo, USA

After U.S.adventurism and occupation of Iraq in violation of international law.the u.s. has very little clout morally, That is why its imperative to never fight elective wars,It gives other countries the right to do what it wants OIL in POTI oil in Bagdad
whats the difference,

brendan, vero beach, usa

Its clearer than ever now, both sides armed forces have engaged in killing civilians, a war should be fought between combatant countries military forces, not against civilians or civilian infrastucture. Both Georgian and Russian/Ossetians have engaged in ethnic cleansing.Two wrongs don make a right.

Mark, Edinburgh, Scotland

What the world does not need, is US politicians using this crisis for their own party political gain or to somehow, gild their already dull legacy. This is a worrying state of affairs.

Hattie, Mington, UK

The West hasn't learnt a simple truth. Russia will never be tamed. We are ready to talk. But our concerns must be taken and heeded seriously. Russia proclaimed assymetrical response doctrine, if pressed we'll respond assymetrically. We can't afford to be subservient to the West. We'll drown together

Nikolay, Moscow, Russia

There is already a global conflict: and Britain, Germany and France have decided they don't care if they lose. The West (except for America and Israel) has already decided they are ok with being enslaved (to Muslims, to Iran, to Russia, to China).

Yanni, Mexico City, Mexico