Israel-Georgia Connection?

The strategic value of Georgia, especially with regard to the oil pipeline seems pretty obvious. In addition, it was a "shot fired over the bow" to the Ukraine and other former Soviet territories.  It is possible to understand the strategic value of some of their targets and intimidating thrust toward the Georgian capitol, and it looked  as if they had succeeded in controlling the port.

ISRAEL?

Russia had earlier shot down some Israeli drones  And while Israelis ex-military officers had given strategic advice to the Georgian military (with US knowledge and approval), Israel had already knuckled under to the Russian objection to arms sales, blocking sensitive armaments to Georgia by private firms.

However, in private commercial matters, Israel was also playing a part.

DEBKAfile’s "geopolitical experts note that ...... the conflict has been sparked by the race for control over the pipelines carrying oil and gas out of the Caspian region.

......they draw a heavy line against [Georgian] plans and those of Western oil companies, including Israeli firms, to route the oil routes from Azerbaijan and the gas lines from Turkmenistan, which transit Georgia, through Turkey instead of hooking them up to Russian pipelines. 

"Jerusalem owns a strong interest in Caspian oil and gas pipelines reach the Turkish terminal port of Ceyhan, rather than the Russian network. Intense negotiations are afoot between Israel Turkey, Georgia, Turkmenistan and Azarbaijan for pipelines to reach Turkey and thence to Israel’s oil terminal at Ashkelon and on to its Red Sea port of Eilat. From there, supertankers can carry the gas and oil to the Far East through the Indian Ocean.

"Aware of Moscow’s sensitivity on the oil question, Israel offered Russia a stake in the project but was rejected." [Debkafiles]

Why would Russia agree to a small part when they intend to control it all?

"An Israeli paper had, last weekend, quoted an unnamed official warning that Israel needed "to be very careful and sensitive these days. The Russians are selling many arms to Iran and Syria, and there is no need to offer them an excuse to sell even more advanced weapons.

"Moscow expressed its annoyance over the pilotless drones supplied by an Israeli company to the Georgians, three of which were downed by Russian aircraft over South Ossetia in recent months. [The Times]

But what about the airfields? Through both the takeover and the following destructionof the military airfields Russia achieved strategic goals. A. Borchegrave of the UPI wrote in his commentary in the Middle-East Times on an obviously not-so-secret agreement between Georgia and Israel:

"In a secret agreement between Israel and Georgia, two military airfields in southern Georgia had been earmarked for the use of Israeli fighter-bombers in the event of pre-emptive attacks against Iranian nuclear installations. This would sharply reduce the distance Israeli fighter-bombers would have to fly to hit targets in Iran. And to reach Georgian airstrips, the Israeli air force would fly over Turkey.

The attack ordered by Saakashvili against South Ossetia the night of Aug. 7 provided the Russians the pretext for Moscow to order Special Forces to raid these Israeli facilities where some Israeli drones were reported captured." [Middle-East Times]

In any case, while the moral stance for Geogia and against the Russian bear may be strong, the US and Israel have effectively been chastised by the unwillingness of Europe to risk its oil and tenuous peace with Russia by allowing themselves and NATO to be drawn into the stuggle.

Meanwhile, Israel may be the biggest loser given the strategic ties between Iran,  Syria, Hizbollah, and Hamas. The Russian-built Iranian reactor in Bushehr is likely be operative early 2009 and Israel had the most to lose in the destruction of the Georgian bases. 

No matter the rhetoric by western leaders, the cold war has been renewed and Putin  doesn't intend to lose at any cost.

However, it is this writer's opinion that Russia will greatly regret the illusion that it can control Iran, the mullahs and the Islamic War for world-wide Caliphate once it has armed them with the ultimate weapon.