what is Russia's real motive?

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Lots of possible reasons to follow:
They want control of the oil pipline that runs through Georgia
They want to punish an ally to America and Georgia was the easiest victim
They want a buffer zone where they can get one
They want to gauge the reaction the west gives to their actions
They want to gauge the abilities of their military against a well trained, fairly modern military

The same, plus:

They want to show their force

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Control the oil pipeline and hold Europe over a barrel, so to speak.

Which should be unacceptable to the West.

It should be. But because we were stupid enough to invade Iraq, our military is now too over-stretched to start a third war. Even Russia is smart enough not to try and directly topple the Georgian government in a full invasion.

The West's military is over-stretched?  Having Europe over a barrel isn't just America's problem...believe it or not, it would be Europe's problem too.

I meant the US military was over-stretched. The EU doesn't do any military work besides peace-keeping in Kosovo.

In Europe, yes, maybe. But if we don't do more, it is that we just... can't! We are talking about EU, a big market of small countries with not a lot of power geopolitically speaking.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Sure, alone you're just individual sticks.  But together, you make a mighty f****t!

What did you say?!? Together?!? This word is not in the European vocabulary!

We are all small militarily speaking and the few we have is already occupied, and then see the line above...

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Sure, alone you're just individual sticks.  But together, you make a mighty f****t!

What did you say?!? Together?!? This word is not in the European vocabulary!

We are all small militarily speaking and the few we have is already occupied, and then see the line above...

Sorry.  It's a moderately obscure Simpsons joke.  A "f****t" is a tightly wound bundle of sticks.  link

Well, if it was pejorative, I tend to think you can...

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Well, if it was pejorative, I tend to think you can...

No, not at all.  Sorry to confuse.

And to personally explain my thought, I tend to think we can be pejorative concerning the fact that the European entity which is EU do not succeed in creating something which would seem to be some strategic geopolitical power to give an own strength to its voice, or just to can geopolitically act. But for sure to create this we have to know what EU wants to be, which is an other debate...