EU needs a russian friend. US wants a russian decline

Eduard Shevardnadze, Georgia's first president, after 11 years in power in late 2003 lost the election with 95% of the votes in favour of his opponent, in an interview in El Pais stated: "This is not the moment for criticism, but when Russian troops have gone, [Saakashvili] will have to give explanations. Anyone who has made mistakes will have to pay". Russia doesn't want to see its old lands as part of Nato. But ther USSR was also against  a membership of the united Germany in the aliance. Ignacio Sotelo wrote today a brilliant article explaining why EEUU is not so worried about russian anger. And why in Europe does matter.  

The essential thing is to be aware that in relations with Russia we see that interests of the United States and the European Union are not the same. The neighbourly relations with Russia, energy dependence and especially European investment in this vast country with enormous potential for trade development, make Europe more interested in stability and rapid growth of the Russian Federation. Instead, in trying to prevent regain its status of great regional power, the United States intends to replace it in the Caucasus and Central Asia, regions where it is battling the world hegemony. The EU has yet to learn that their vital interests do not always coincide with those of the United States.

Sotelo thinks that international law "could justify military intervention in Georgian South Ossetia, as part of its territory". But finds it more suprising that "with the Chechen conflict open in the region, Russia play with fire on this issue".