[gruzia] slap on the wrist, nothing more ...yet

Don’t worry too much about this business. Gruzia tried a bit of sabre-rattling and Putin responded with sweeping economic sanctions on Tbilisi, cutting postal, air, road, rail and sea links, after earlier recalling its ambassador and evacuating some Russian personnel. It also cut military ties with Georgia on Tuesday and said it would only remain in contact on matters regarding the withdrawal of two Russian military bases there. "I would not advise anybody to speak to Russia in the future using the language of provocation and blackmail," Putin said at a meeting in the Kremlin with leaders of the parliamentary factions. Grist for the mill, the stuff for the troops. On one side - a nation of multi-billion dollar oil reserves and a dormant but still heavily armed military. On the other [look at the photo] a nation of orange exporters, damned good wine and poverty. It's all grist for the mill, this rhetoric, stuff to give the troops. If Gruzia pulls its head in, all will be fine again. If it pulls its head in, that is. The ball's in its court.