Condi the Clown

Condi and Feckless Leader were almost competitive with each other in issuing demands to the Russians, as Saakashvili signed a ceasefire that approached total capitulation, with Condi looking on. Bush said Russia 'must withdraw from all Georgian territory', Condi says they must withdraw 'immediately', but the ceasefire expands Russia's role as 'peacekeeper' outside of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This agreement has been modified from that signed by Russia, saying that Russia will withdraw from populated areas in Georgia. Russia has yet to agree to the new terms, and has sent troops south from Gori, perhaps to remind Condi of that.

Saakashvili continues to talk like a total idiot, coming up with things like:

“There can be no negotiated capitulations and negotiated dismemberment of smaller countries by bigger ones,” Mr. Saakashvili said.

in front of Ms. Kosovo herself.

Condi seems totally unable to think of diplomacy as anything else but another photo op between shopping expeditions. Why not talk to the Russians, one might ask, if one were unfamiliar with the mindset of the leaders of the West. No, we let the French negotiate, pop in for the signing of a ceasefire, while ignoring the content of the agreement, and issuing demands that the Russians will totally ignore, as they well should.

The feckless one then headed off, mercifully, for two weeks in Crawford. I would think that Condi needs to resume her vacation as well, the shopping in Tbilisi is very haphazard, especially if the Russians approach.

UPDATE: Times Online has the best take I've read so far on what has actually happened. The title says it well, "Georgia forced to accept a Russian occupation", but read the whole thing.