Russia's Gain

Drums sums up the conflict in Georgia:

Russia basically got what it wanted: control of the two disputed provinces, a military humiliation for Georgia, and a successfully executed shot across the bow that proves they can still play in the big leagues. It wasn't cost free Europe has been pretty consistent in its condemnation of the invasion, and all the former Soviet satellites are now even more united in their loathing of Russia than before but it was close. From Russia's point of view, it was a nice, surgical operation that pretty much accomplished everything it was supposed to.