Georgia and the Sovereignty Principle (update 2)

So the Russians have continued to occupy Gori, and are saying they will recognize S. Ossetia and Abkhazia.

So far, the US and EU response has been firm but measured, which is probably what's appropriate.

We have to ask ourselves, though, what we're willing to accept as an outcome. If we insist that S. Ossetia and Abkhazia remain in play, I sincerely doubt we'll ever get Russian agreement. We can consider these two breakaway provinces to be, perhaps, the price of Kosovo's independence. But we can still protect Georgia's sovereignty without the two provinces, even if the Georgians themselves don't see it that way.