Anyone familiar with the history of CA could have predicted the results without too much imagination. I must admit that reading much of the tone of this article reminds one of any series of articles in the mid 19th century London Times. The allusion to the “West” as if it were an effective consortium with choices here, seems weak given international considerations outside the region that include Russia as a partner. Further, given the active foreign policy of the current administration one might argue the definition of “autocratic” also.

As so often happens in the Great Game, Georgia was obviously making assumptions that backing would appear for its move and none is forthcoming, other than the bluster that is also historically part and parcel to these events. As for realpolitik, one could only welcome such a move whose first step might be restoration of the the US diplomatic corps after almost two decades of neglect.