I don't particularly trust putin, but it is becoming increasingly clear to me that Sakashvilli's motivation is and has always been the subjugation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to unwelcome Georgian control.

I have a family member who worked in Abkhazia with the red cross in about 2001 and I remember him describing Georgian policy towards Abkhazia in pretty scathing terms.

The days of Shevrednadze are sadly long gone and have been replaced by yet another ambitious reckless nationalist in the form of Sakashvilli.

His foray into Chicken Valley was something he has been looking for an excuse to do for years.