The EU ducks

EU foreign ministers rebuffed Poland, the Baltic countries and the UK, and agreed with France and Germany to avoid any recriminations of Russia that would harm the EU's status as mediator, as described here. As French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner sees the goal, it is "to involve the EU in the practical resolution of the conflict." The EU will support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but refrain from criticizing Russia.

So how will the EU respond to Russia's call to haul Georgian President Saakashvili before a Russian or international tribunal for war crimes, thus getting rid of a democratically elected president? Or what will the EU do when the Russian troops refuse to leave Georgian soil, especially when it has already yielded to Russia's refusal to allow any Western peacekeepers in Georgia? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

In my opinion, the EU lost an important opportunity to stand up and be counted. The Georgians made their share of errors - but that's not the point. If Russia feels it has succeeded in Georgia, it will try similar operations elsewhere.