It may not be such a great idea for Poland to accept those US missiles on its territory after all. They're basically just telling Russia "attack me". On the other hand would Russia risk a war with NATO over this? Probably yes, as NATO probably wouldn't have any response to Russia's limited, pin-point strike other than some harsh words.

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Russia is currantly playing a very old political game of chicken. Hitler did this to in the 30's and it worked up until 39.

Russia has zero intentions of stopping, so unless we are finaly willing to use those troops we have had in Germany since the end of the last war, nothing will be done.

Securing Poland was a good idea, and I would draw the line their to prevent them from getting to far back into Europe. As for the rest, well not much we can do about that. Currantly we are tied up in the sandbox, and I don't see the Europeans rushing to mobilize.

We screwed poor Poland pretty good in the last century, we, the British, and the French do owe it to them to protect them this time around.

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John Bolton had a few choice words.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/georgia/2563260/John-Bolton-After-Russias-invasion-of-Georgia-what-now-for-the-West.html

I am the only one who cares whether our Secretary of State is credible? That seems unlikely to me.

So it is your contention that:

1. If Rice is not considered credible by your standards, Putin will tell her to take a jump and do what he wants

2. If Rice were replaced by say her counterpart from Australia, Putin will pay attention to what she says and does what she says?

You may be part of a group that cares about it but I doubt you are in a position where it matters. The people in those positions probably don't give a damn. If Rice or the guy standing at the corner of 5th and Main, shows up in Georgia with some soldiers ready to fight, Russia will take notice. If the most holy man you know of knocks on the Kremlin, he might get a bucket of water in his face. Russia and we know that what we say are words. Words are cheap. Action matters.

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That's just about what is happening, and it shouldn't come as a surprise.

But is it your contention that if we sent the person of your choice, Russia will back down because they will be morally shamed? My point is that morality will NOT persuade anyone. Like I said, Would they do any more if the PM of Australia or the King of Thailand went to see them and said the same moralistic crap? Send the pope if you want but unless they are backed by military action, nothing will be achieved. Morality has no place in such matters.

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That sounds reasonable to me. Basically I'd draw the line between the former USSR and the rest of the former satellite states. If Russia wants to re-create the Soviet Union, so be it, but I'd hate to see them control eastern Europe again.

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Russia will back down once they see the real Condi.

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Rice, The Barbarian or Rice, The Destroyer?

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I think the whole issue has been misplayed from the start. Bush should have cautioned the Georgian PM about the fallout from joining NATO and urged discretion. Instead, both made public statements about it. To me Russia acted predictably.

How do you know he didn't caution him from the start? Also, it is NOT Bush's responsibility to caution him. The Georgian PM should and probably did know what could happen. Still, both decided it was worth the risk. Hence, we are where we are now.

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Bush has been pushing NATO to admit Georgia for quite some time. It's hard to imagine Bush at the same time cautioning Georgia not to join.

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What DA said.

Where did you get that? I didn't say any of that.

My only point is that it would be better if we had a Secretary of State who was seen around the world as truthful and competent. I find it odd that you would disagree.Therefore it doesn't matter that our Secretary of State has no credibility? That's a surprising conclusion, to say the least.