Deadly Chess

Deadly Chess? Is the West up for the game? The Western Nations, but most pointedly, the U.S., tends to play its game straightforward. Not so Russia. Long a practitioner of Communist double-speak, Russia blatantly announces pullback and withdrawal as it advances and sinks it's bear-like claws deeper into Georgia, all the while watching warily it's adversaries moves, or stillness. If Russia does not suffer for it's actions, it will only become emboldened, and engage in worse activity with it's other border states and former vassals in Eastern Europe. France and Germany will play a large role in determining Russia's next steps. If those two nations bend their knees to Russia's energy sword, Russia will only increase its belligerence. It expects adversarial action from the US and the UK, but the real balance factor will be the two Continental powers. Russia clearly understands the awkward and off-balance position of the US due to our military positions in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the added difficulty of managing through the last months of the Bush Presidency and our election cycle. At this point it appears that the West has blinked. NATO's pronouncements have been rote and non-alarming. Its statements indicate it is providing civilian aid - not military. For a military defense organization, it seems to be avoiding any aspect of military perspective. Russia is a very wary chess-playing cat, with highly sensitive whiskers. It seems to have sensed it's quary is just where it wants it for now. The pawns are lined up, the Kings and Queens are facing off. Will it become a game of Fool's mate, or Stalemate? Does the West have a chess master? US, allies urge swift UN action on Georgia crisis The Associated Press Russia warns Ukraine not to interfere at navy base Georgia: the Reckoning