US opened the door for other countries to invade
powerless counties. Rusia was following the leader.

kizito, los angeles, usa

hope indian govt should learn out of it..!

deep, mumbai,

if it was the us they would do the same . russia did what it had to do .

j bodden, george town, grand cayman

this is a disturbing time both russia and the United states are going back to the cold war era I don't want to return to the 80s to the nuclear age again. It's time for peace conpromises both sides must talk come up with away to smooth relations. what's next star wars again for the united states?

k.c johnson, washington DC, Usa

I was in Russia for the last 7 years. I can understand the patience shown by the government each time Georgia was a pain in the back. As they say one can't be patient all the time...

Aslam, colombo, Srilanka

Alex, Russia's unfounded claims of '1,500+' civilians being killed by Georgian forces have been refuted by Human Rights Watch. They claim '44 bodies... since the fighting began, of both military and civilians'
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/08/13/russia19620.htm

David Doborjginidze, Manchester, UK

Think of Kosovo and Iraq before accusing Russia. And 1,500+ people killed over one night in SO.

Alex, Moscow, Russia

I think it is correct that Russia is making a statement to Georgia and Ukraine. That these two countries want to be part of the west is one thing but to include them into some form of security network with the west is another. That Russis finds this threatening is understandable.

Robert, Washington, DC, USA

I would like to know if the Georgian government, allies of the USA, informed the USA of thier intentions to launch a military attack on south ossetia, if not why? or as i suspect the americans knew what was about to happen.Looks like the USA has chosen confrontation with Russia

andrew, maryport uk,

FYI 98% of citizens of South Ossetia are Russians. That is the answer why Russia was so eager to keep the balance in that region and to get the situation settled as soon as the conflict arose.

Peter, St.Petersburg, Russia

Just like Georgia, with 4.5M people sharing borders with Russia, this is an important lesson for Norway. After years of cost reductions, it is a crystal clear message Norway needs to increase defense spendings. This proves to us there is less reasons than ever to trust Russia.

Jorn, Trondheim, Norway

Voice From Russia: we don't want to know what US think - cause it's always like new story from Monty Python. Something stupid and ridiculous.

Alex, Moscow City, Russia

I can no way see how Russia can be described as a super power. I like the description from one US commentator on New Night 'Saudi arabia with trees but with pretensions of being a great power'.

D Case, Newquay,

Reports suggest that the Georgian forces responded grossly disproportionately to the South Ossetian separitists' August 'initiatives', giving Russia the excuse it may have been waiting for. One has to say that Mr Saakashvili does not appear to be a very wise president of Georgia.

Chris Williams, Guildford, UK

"They behaved rather badly"? Let him say that to NATO soldiers who bombed Yugoslavia.
Take a look, a 12 y.o. girl is speaking about the war, and I dont think a kid would lie . Its on youtube.com, the link is too long, type " 12 Year Old Girl Tells the Truth about Georgia "

Natalia, Moscow, Russia

Let this be a lesson to future Presidents and the American public. For the 3rd time, the Russians have shown their aggression when the US military has deteriorated under a weak President. The Russians act when they know the US military is not in the position to engage them.

Philip Alexander, New York, USA

Relations strained? Russian interests were ignored on most issues anyway. Look at Kosovo, missile shield. At least now we can ignore US interests openly. Iran will be happy.

Ivan, Moscow, Russia

Mr Saakashvili had a superb opportunity to end Ossetia and Abkhazia conflict forever by genuinely putting out a hand of friendship to them when he seized power in 2003. He never did it but, rather, kept on the maniacal policy of his predecessors. Here we are, finita la comedia.

Dmitry Nikolin-Dolsky, Moscow, Russia

Iraq = 250.000 or so innocents people died for a lie.
How Can America blame any country for its behave?

Mark, london,

Georgia really has to decide now which camp it wants to be in ..NATO or the new USSR , this obviously applies to all the other former Soviet Satelites.The truth is the new USSR cannot tolerate proud independance in its own people or its neighbours.I wonder if georgia will be getting gas this winter?

Gordon Lonsdale , Northampton, UK

Relations? There are no adequate US-Russia relations 'for years'

Tony, Moscow, Russia

U.S. threats to foreclose Russia's entry into the WTO or calling for its removal from the G 8 is as laughable as Gates interpretation of Russia using the separatist enclaves to send a message to its former republics not to get too close to the West. Russia could give a damn. It's BACK!

Brian K. Doan, Washington , USA

Once again the Russians have shown their willingness to act when the US military is otherwise occupied. They did it in '68, in '79, and now in '08. Let's hope future US leaders understand what Reagan did - that the best way to check Russian aggression is for them to know we can respond with force.

Philip Alexander, New York, USA

"That was Georgia who started the conflict and Russian peacekeepers had no chance but to try to get the situation settled. "

Why was Russia preparing for the offensive long before-hand? Why were Georgian websites getting attacked before the move into South Ossetia?

Benson, USA, USA

"As they say in Russia: "matches are no toy for kids" ;)"

Georgia isn't a child and countries have a right to self-defense. It went beyond securing South Ossetia -- it invaded and pushed toward Georgia's capital.

Benson, USA, USA

Onestly, i so tired of all this Russia "is a bad guy" talk... I kinda miss tha USSR times when we lived in our country all alone and no informatuion from outside world could come through... and mainly we didn't care what they might say in that outside world...

Marina, Biysk, Russia

It is difficult to see how Russia will benefit from any major conflict. They will not regain territories previously held. They need to adapt, and make their own unique contribution to a new world order. Open democracy and less criminals in charge of businesses would be a good start!

Chris, London,

I can't undestand why USA and UK are supporting that insolent misrepresentation of what is now happening in South Ossetia. That was Georgia who started the conflict and Russian peacekeepers had no chance but to try to get the situation settled. Information about Russians attacking Gori is false.

Peter, St. Petersburg, Russia

US just shows its impotence with the statements like this. There are no US-Russia relations to speak of. US threw it all away with the support of little "colour revolutions". Russia tried to help US after 9/11 but US prefers dealings with scoundrels like Saakashvili to a dialog with Russia.

Oleg, Toronto, Canada

Sure Russians destroy every leftover Georgian military installation.
As they say in Russia: "matches are no toy for kids" ;)

Leo, Moscow, Russia