Critical background comes rather late:

The Georgia's Defiant President Finds Support in Midst of War

TBILISI, Georgia, Aug. 12 -- On the first day of the war, as he spoke on television about his country's attempt to retake a breakaway territory, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili had a little smile on his face.

As the situation became more grave, so did he, and in the following days he seemed at turns stressed, tearful, defiant and solemn....

Georgia has always been the most theatrical of nations, and Saakashvili -- "Misha" to his people -- is the most theatrical of presidents. He swept into power four years ago as a revolutionary, promising to stamp out corruption and bring economic stability, and in some cases he delivered. But the issue of two breakaway regions was perhaps the most emotional -- and quixotic -- of his causes. It also came with the possibility for the most serious consequences.

"Music videos and flowery speeches are one thing, but the shelling of a city that you view as one of your heartland is not done lightly," said Jonathan Kulick, director of studies at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies in Tbilisi. "Clearly this is going to be a signal point in his legacy."

Russians accuse Saakashvili of genocide in launching his attack on South Ossetia last week. Supporters scoff at that, but as news accounts emerge of civilians killed by Georgian fire and towns ravaged, some are starting to question privately whether the president committed grave errors.

After all, I know that the tradmed haven't exactly been honest in their reporting but Obama is saying similar things to the US govt about talking, ceasefires and withdrawals, it's McCain that's out on a limb with his "take 'em out in a field and bomb the bastards" schtick.

And I wonder if America is just getting tired of being told that the answer to everything is to invade. It's not working in Afghanistan, it's not worked so well in Iraq and maybe talking sounds like a good idea cos I think a lot of America is kinda sick of going to funerals.

keep to the Fen Causeway