The war in Georgia is a tragedy. It could have been prevented. The West has been pushing Russia around too much in this century.

But now it is too late. The war is used by conservatives both in Russia and Washington D.C.. It resurrected the hawks in both places.

Now the fate will fulfill itself; tit for tat. Japan will follow the West, anyway.
Russia overestimated its power because of KGBnomics. They can never properly understand what the market economy is all about. They only see machination and politicians' intervention, in which, they say, they are no worse.

Their miscalculation will lead to a repetition of the fiasco after 1985. Things are so similar.
(more will come later. Now I have no time to elaborate.)

p.s.
And let us not forget that the larger part of the Russian people are our friends. Most of them are liberal and open. And they are frightened by Islamic fundamentalism as well.
In confronting the Russian politicians under the influence of KGBnomics, let us keep in mind not to antagonize the Russian people.
©Akio Kawato