Regarding Mr. Larison, as I note above, things have gotten significantly better for Georgia and the average Georgian during the past 4 years. I spoke to a taxi driver tonight who was enamored with him and what he has done for Georgia. Georgian democracy and Georgian prosperity is on the march.

Now, concerning Russia – I know that Russians did not spray the gas or pull out their rubber clubs on the street but if you look at the results of this situation — (1) NATO condeming Georgia and stating that it will affect their NATO membership (2) Russia sending 200 Chechnian fighters into Abkhazia while the rest of the world pays not attention because they are too busy taking Sakavshili to task for not being a Jeffersonian democrat — leads me to believe Russia is laughing all the way to the bank.

- Democracy is a process consisting of a combination of people and institutions, not an event. While it is fine to talk about building institutions – institutions do not make decisions, sign contracts or make speeches to the public. Therefore, we are forced to deal with people — and if people were angels…
- Gamsakurdia was a nationalist (racist to some) who governed through a civil war; Shevi (who had russian not us support against Gamsakurdia by the way) was a soviet who brought back stability; Saka was a western educated populist who brought reform, investment, gas and water and cut corruption. The democratic process in Georgia continues to incramentally improve. Maybe the opposition will win and it will continue to get better — lets hope. But I can guarantee that they will not be a panacea.
- The rose revolution here was a true peoples movement filled with optimism and hope and a tremendous amount of positive came from it even in 4 short years.
- I have seen amazing things that Soros has done throughout eastern europe and the former soviet union – benifiting millions – and i have also seen intended and unintended harm come from his good and not so good actions.
- Fox is not doing the US bidding here – it was a shrewd business decision both on the part of Badri and Rupert. During the horrible day last Wed, Imedi was instructing people where to protest and repetedly playing inflamitory clips that did harm the public interest – hardly fair and ballanced.
- Many people here are actually not angry that Saka called in the troops. In fact they say that if Gamsakurdia had, Georgia wouldnt have had three revolutions. They are angry with the isolated abuse of some officers. If Saka wanted to win favor again, he would seriously investigate the events that day and take action against individual officers and the interior minister. He would also come clean on the raid of the Imedi offices and reimburse them for the equipment ASAP and get them back on the air with a less inflamitory tone.

In short, the situation here is complicated and nuanced. There are no pure angels and no pure devils. Georgia will be fine and needs the continued support of the US and EU. I agree – long live the Georgian people.

Yet, he didn't make his support of the snotty militarist Saakashvily conditional to implementation of something better. Although Soros may not know anything better and doesn't want to know – try talking to him on available options and see how fast you'll be repelled/stonewalled by his handler(s).

Meanwhile, the other day we were drinking fabulous Georgean wine and were pondering the sorry fate of the previously happy and rich (by Soviet standards) Georgean people. Alas, there is little hope for any meaningful change for them.