And in the Crimea …

Differing takes on what’s been going on in Sevastopol. Russian Navy Blog has an account (translated from Russian) of street protests and harassment when the Coasties from the USCGS Dallas went ashore during their recent port visit. 
Meanwhile, the Kiev Post takes a look at the ethnic politics in the city, finds calm amongst the citizenry [...]

Treading on the Bear’s Turf

Thomas Barnett isn’t happy about the idea of quickly re-arming Georgia, or of allying the US with it:
This is Russia’s border we’re taking about here. Think carefully about the next steps and the “inviolable” U.S. strategic interests you’re casually picking up, because those can quickly get our people dead.

China’s Stake

Robert Farley:
Territorial integrity is a value that Russia really shouldn’t have expected China to have a sense of humor about.
Read the whole thing.

Putin: Americans Were in Combat Zone

Maybe. He says perhaps to influence the election to one candidate’s benefit. Take with a large grain of salt. Note also how he responds to the question late in this CNN interview about guaranteeing other border states against Russian attack.
UPDATE: See also this backgrounder from The Economist. Money quote:
After years of cultivating xenophobic sentiment and [...]

China Steps Up

Folks like Thomas Barnett who’ve been wondering when and whether the Chinese would take a stand for international order just got their answer:
China and several Central Asian nations rebuffed Russia’s hopes of international support for its actions in Georgia, issuing a statement Thursday denouncing the use of force and calling for the respect of every [...]

Naval Activity in the Black Sea

This is ominous:
Apparently after returning to port on August 23rd, the Moskva went back to sea today sailing from Sevastopol to Novorossiisk. Why? The article details some new events off the coast of Georgia.
What events?
Navy Times is reporting that the USS McFaul (DDG 74) has dropped anchor in the Georgian port of Batumi.
Hat to Galrahn at Information Dissemination. Keep [...]

Ivan, Meet Butch

Did the Russians blow up a train in Georgia this past Sunday?

Russian Air Force Oopsies

Apparently the Russians turned in a less-than-impressive performance in the air, despite the non-formidable opposition.

Experts Talking Past Each Other

Thomas Barnett turns in a less-than-stellar response to an Edward Luttwak op-ed on the long-term meaning of the Georgia/Russia conflict, reading Luttwak as advocating a rallying behind the former republics regardless of the practicalities. Needless to say, Barnett doesn’t agree:
Go ahead and let Georgia declare war between NATO and Russia. Now, any half-wit small-country leader [...]

Midasize It!

Someone needs a catalytic converter …