I’ve been searching for an authoritative review of U.S. options in the Russia-Georgia Crisis, but so far I’ve not found one. The blogosphere is filled with wild speculation and suggestions from both the left and the right, and I share the dismay voiced by Michael Cohen of Democracy Arsenal, that commentators seem quick to offer pronouncements on the crisis even if they appear to have little credibility for doing so (No Good Answers):
A couple of people have asked me why I haven't written anything on Russia/Georgia war: the bottom line is that I’m a bit out of my element here. I am not an expert on Georgia or Russia and, as is often the case, I’m constantly amazed by the assuredness by which some bloggers have made pronouncements about how the United States should respond; as if this crisis lends itself to a simple black and white analysis. Even if you buy the notion that the Georgians are the white hats and the Russians the black hats (a persuasive argument indeed) that barely illuminates the situation or offers a road map going forward.
He goes on to note several broad U.S. response themes he has picked up on, including rearming Georgia, reaffirming Georgia's sovereignty, and restarting the Cold War tradition of U.S.-Russian summits.
For now, it appears that the U.S. is still in the consultative phase, we are meeting with our allies and seeking to forge a consensus on how to respond to this crisis. Secretary Rice met today with NATO foreign ministers, and the official statement reveals the tension between the cautious older NATO members (who have vital energy interests at stake) and the newest members eager to safeguard their new autonomy from Russia. NATO foreign ministers agreed to:
This is, I think, a thoroughly bureaucratic response, though it has the virtue of at least buying time to see what the Russians will do next. After the NATO meeting Secretary Rice departs for Poland to sign the new missile defense deal. It may be that as this day ends, it has been the U.S. and not NATO that has offered the most direct strategic response to an expansionist Russia.
