The key point here is the aggression was started by the Geogian Leader. This lead to the death of innocent civilians. Is the EU's response to support an aggressor first then the victims? Greg Canada (Moscow). Get with it guys! The US go half way around the world to start a war and they're supported?

Greg, Moscow, Russia

To Alex: Why no one in Russia is concerned about Georgia? Why TV and media do not present what Georgians think about this situation? You don't even ask that question, right?

mark, munich,

Russia this, Russia that. Blah-blah-blah. I'm glad cooler heads in EU prevailed.

Alex, Toronto, Canada

Ryan Cady-Unfortunately you get my comment wrong.I do think that everyone has a right to express their point of view,but it doesn't mean that I share their opinion.Personally,I do believe in SO and Ab independence and I'm surprised that USA and EU preserve borders which where defined by 'evil empire

Anna, Perm, Russia

Why everybody in US and Europe is so much concerned about Georgia people, but NOBODY cares about South ossetians? Why TV and media do not present what South ossetians think about this situation?

Alex, Seattle, USA

Russia's southern border has long been the High Caucusus mountains. They have no valid claim at all to lands to the south, such as S Ossetia. To think that they built a 4-mile tunnel through the mountains to give them access to SO tells a lot about their expansionist ambitions, at others' expense.

royzie, London, UK

It would be good both for EU and Russia to accept Russia in EU. Russia has big supply of resources which are necessary for Europe. But Eu needs to learn to respect Russia instead of concerning it as an enemy or just gas and oil supplier. And Russia must struggle with it's corruption and nationalism!

Sergey, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Anna; surely the historical reality is that much of Soviet 'Abkhazia ' - ie Western Mingrelia -was historically Georgian with a huge Georgian population until 1992. It's a complete myth that the Abkhazian secession was a mass popular uprising. Similar arguments apply to Samachablo/S. Ossetia.

George, Montrose, UK

One more time, the UK government do what America ask to do. When will we become a sovereign country again?

Mark, London, UK

to Ryan Cady, Manchester, USA
if you call for truth... S Osetia and Abkhazia vs Georgia have been in conflict since 1991. The war of 1991-92 ended with thousands killed on both sides & actual independance of SO and Ab, whose people don't want to live Georgia. That was Georgia that started war

Leonid, Moscow,

Does "standing up for Georgia" mean starting a war with Russia? That's what I get out of this article.

Remember that Saakashvili started the genocidal bombing of innocent civilians. Britain should not support genocide.

Finn, London, UK

Cold War never ended. M. Gorbachevs Glasnost & Perestroika requsted a gradual well organized redrawing of E European borders. The West ignored it & rushed on. Then started absorbing E Europe into NATO without even giving credit to Russia for starting the end of the Cold War. Bad political prognisis!

Tawapa, Oslo, Norway

This conflict is not isolated to the bombings that were (idiotically) started by Georgia. The conflict is older than I know, but I know Russia has been a provocateur in the situation. Why is Russia being allowed to hide behind "peacekeeper" status when they were war enablers? Both sides are lying.

Evan, Columbia, SC, USA

Anna, Perm, Russia...thanks for the party line. Georgia is not Russia's to have and use as Putin see's fit. And let the truth be told that it was Russian paid mercenaries who started the fighting on August 5th and the whole thing was planned. Germany is being held hostage over energy concerns.

Ryan Cady, Manchester, USA

Another journalist who use the expression "the West". A nebulous phrase that is meaningless.

Russia 140.7m faces EU 491m + USA 303.8 = 5.6 to 1.

Russia's weapon systems are old and possibly dysfuntional - their nuclear systems are as much a threat to themselves as their foes. This is reality

Richard, Bucharest,

Brilliant,invite countrues witha historical grusge into NATO,that wont end up in WW3. I suppose the idea of going to Russia,talking with the kremlin,and finding a common solution is simply to much common sense?

Chris, rochdale, GB

Ukrainian and Georgian non-memberships in NATO "gave Russia the green light to act as it did". What? Georgia started the conflict by bombing innocent civilians in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and Russia did exactly what it had to do and the author of this article is obviously angry about that.

Finn, London, UK

after 2 centuries under russia, which have been really hard times for Georgia, this little country with open minded-free sprited people, tries really hard to build a democratic-strong country. we don't see our future with Russia, we never did.. Georgia is free to choose to join NATO and be pro-west

ANA , Tbilisi, Georgia

Mr Swid, we are unhappy with another monster. USA continiously tried to geopardaze world security in the past 18 years, despite of their false proclamations. It's a pity, that US government has lost moral authority of its country in last 8 years. Your need changes..

All the best from Russia!

Nick, St.Petersburg, Russia

Anna, Perm, Russia
Ok then, Sochi, where your dearest president has a villa was part of Georgia even before the Marxism ideology was conceived, and as well as many other provinces and lands, what do you say about that?

Nika, Tbilisi, Georgia

The eu will do nothing, Germany is dependent on Russian fuel as are most of the eastern nations of the eu, as such they have no room to manouvre. This means that our unelected leaders on the eu commission will just carry on with implementing the massive power grab which is what the constitution is.

Barry Davies, Stafford, U. K.

Roberto,

The Russians don't go in for hangings, they prefer shooting people and burning down their houses. You are from portugal, so remember how the French behaved in your country. That is what the Russians are doing here. Russia has been killing civillians here since 1992.

Andrew Webb, Tbilisi, Georgia

Western countries think that Georgia is innocent. Western countries think that Russia shouldn't recognise Abkhazia and SO. Fine! But what I do not understand it is why western countries so preserve those borders of Georgia which have been defined by the Soviet Union contrary to historical realities

Anna, Perm, Russia

Well...who's the monster,or who feeds it...is a matter of serious discussions...as I never saw any hangings(for freedom...)in Russia invasions...as one that happened some time ago in Iraq...as it's a shame how a mad lunatic(chewing is tie)attracts so much pity after bombing innocent civilians...

Roberto, Funchal, Portugal

I am shocked by disingenuous character of Mr. Brown's remarks. Isn't odd that a country that, for centuries, was so opposed to territorial integrity of others has suddenly became a champion of the Georgia's borders. Perhaps someone should tell Mr Brown that Miss Britain is a girl with a past.

Sb, Vancouver, Canada

Putin is now riding a tiger. He cannot back off without looking weak and so will act agressively toward his neighbors. The EU will play it's part by shrinking from any act that may look like actual opposition. (look for lots of speeches)

JL Ronish, seattle, usa

Signing a mutual defense pact with a nation you cannot and will not defend, as would be the case with Georgia, is not only irresponsible, it's a betrayal. Our word is worth more than that. Let's save it for promises we intend to keep.

Stan Wright, Vancouver, Canada

Russia, under Putin's rule, has been a monster waiting to wake up. But the sad part is that the West Europe and the USA have been feeding that monster all along. Now we are trying to curb the monster with noise. I'm afraid it will take way more than that. The time for words have come and gone.

lukas swid, new york, usa