You're first

The EU gets tough, and projects a powerful pout at Russia,

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French and current EU president who convened the summit, said Moscow's relations with the west were at stake in the Caucasus and that he would go to Moscow next week, along with the European commission president, José Manuel Barroso, and the EU foreign policy head, Javier Solana, to mediate over Georgia but also to gauge Russia's commitment to a values-based relationship with Europe.

"The question is what does Russia want," Sarkozy said of the Kremlin's decision to invade and partition Georgia. "It takes two to tango. The meeting [in Moscow] on September 8 will be crucial for relations between Russia and the EU."

The real question is not the fantasy of Sarkozy, but is that put by Putin: How far are you willing to go? Our national survival is being threatened, we have drawn a line in the sand. Are you stepping over? Our nuclear arsenal is aimed at all European cities, any attack on Russia will risk a counterattack that will utterly destroy you. You're first.

Europe's weakness, at least, makes them fit to understand the rules. It's our best hope.