ATTEMPTED COUP IN GEORGIA?

Details are sketchy, but the Georgian government claims that it has foiled a coup, and blames the event on Russia:

Georgia said Tuesday that it had foiled a Russian-backed plot against the government as tensions rose a day before the scheduled start of NATO military exercises.

Georgian forces surrounded a tank unit that was alleged to be involved in the plot and President Mikheil Saakashvili entered the base to negotiate the unit’s surrender. In a televised address, Mr. Saakashvili said the plot was an attempt by Russia to derail the planned exercises, which he called a “symbolic event.”

Pending further information, I would stress that virtually anything is possible at this point. The idea that Russia would attempt to incite friendly elements in the Georgian armed forces to stage a coup is entirely plausible; Georgia is believed to be shot through with Russian intelligence assets, and some within Georgia remain sympathetic to Russia's regional aspirations. It's also possible that Georgians without Russian assistance (or perhaps without prior Russian assistance) decided to launch a coup against Saakashvili. It's a bit less likely, although still possible, that the coup was manufactured by the Georgian government. At this point, I would guess on some combination of options 1 and 2. In any case, the situation will undoubtedly complicate both efforts to "reset" relations with Russia, and to "rein in" Saakashvili.

--Robert Farley