"Saakashvili had acted rashly, he said, and had given Russia the grounds to invade. The invasion, he said, was chilling, disproportionate and brutal, and it was grounds for a strong censure. But the immediate question was how far Russia would go in putting Georgia back into what it sees as Georgia's place. There was no sign throughout the weekend of Kremlin willingness to negotiate. A national humiliation was under way."

• http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008104837_assess11.html