“Western policy should have three dimensions: countering Russian aggression, enhancing regional deterrence, and strengthening recovery and governance in Georgia. All will raise the cost of future aggression.”

Enhancing regional deterrence? This is diplomatic for “rearming Saakashvili's military”. Some people never learn. They are still thinking that, perhaps, if Georgia had more tanks or anti-aircraft weapons, it could have defeated or at least deterred the Russians. This line of thinking is what got Saakashvili and his Washington masters in trouble in the first place. Courtney and Yalowitz propose more of the same. Insanity, they say, is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.

Here's another pearl or strategic thinking:

“The Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and Georgia's South Caucasus neighbors -- Azerbaijan and Armenia -- have shared interests in secure, unimpeded energy and overland transport to Georgia's Black Sea ports and Turkey.”

“Russia won a tactical victory in Georgia over an outgunned and much smaller force. Ultimately, however, the attack is likely to put in motion forces that will diminish Moscow's ability to treat neighbors with impunity. Deterring future aggression is the best response -- and starts with strengthening the countries in that region.”