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Excellent point. Though I believe that ties into the parent posters point of Georgia trying to get into NATO. If they had been NATO the US would have been legal
by krschultz 16y ago
Excellent point. Though I believe that ties into the parent posters point of Georgia trying to get into NATO. If they had been NATO the US would have been legally obligated to help, which would have pushed Russian to avoid invading knowing it would start a much bigger war. Since Russia knew Georgia wasn't NATO, and it was up to the US to decide to engage or not, and the US would avoid having a war with Russia, Georgia was open for invasion.
- lucasjung 16y agoIt actually goes even deeper than that. Georgia pushed for "fast track" membership in NATO and got shut down, hard. The U.S. wanted it, but most of the other members were so set against it that the U.S. backed off and Georgia didn't get it. When NATO denied Georgia membership, they might as well have sent a letter to the Kremlin with the following text: "Dear Vladimir and Dmitri, We are absolutely unwilling to risk war in defense of Georgia. Sincerely, NATO." The great irony is that, by taking steps intended to stave off a Russian invasion, the Georgians instead opened the door for one. If they had instead played a slower and more cautious game, they might have maintained sufficient ambiguity and doubt to keep the Russians out. Maybe. Or not. I'm also playing Monday morning quarterback here, so I can't really blame them for trying.