Action In Georgia

As the New York Times reports today, one of the more perplexing and depressing aspects of the United States' governments' response to the crisis in Georgia is the year's worth of mixed signals sent to Georgia's government.

McCain has an advantage in that, being fluent with the region's politics and having the national stage all to himself this week, he can appear as tough as he wants. But let's rhetoric aside here. It tells us nothing.

 What would John McCain do differently? Or have done differently?

Would he promise Georgia's government military help if Russia (re)-crossed the border?

Would he have, as Condi Rice did, urged Georgia not to provoke Russia?

Would he say something in private and something else in public?

These questions can be asked of Barack Obama too....

Shouldn't both presidential candidates be telling us what obligations the United States has toward pro-Western former Soviet states?  Specific obligations?