The inability to foresee this sort of outbreak is a characteristic of our Occidental way of looking at the world. Westerners are suffering from a myopia, where they only see the escalating (resource) wars over the past several decades as a war engaged by the west. We forget that both Russia and China have their own aspirations and vested interests to secure dwindling oil and other natural resource reserves on behalf of their own states and citizens, in perpetuation of their own national sovereignties.

The range of support Russia has given to the development of geographically strategic breakaway republics within Georgian territory, most notably South Ossetia, is significant as it has made it easier to launch the current onslaught of attacks against Georgia. The Georgian government's fear of a full-scale invasion and possible eventual absorption of Georgia within the bosom of an enlarged 'mother Russia', are not unfounded.

Georgia is a wealthy, strategically important nation, which explains why the west pumped so many billions into pro-democracy outfits and other US led projects to promulgate the velvet revolution that saw control prised from the grasp of the former Soviet Union in the early 1990's. Russian control of the oil pipeline which crosses into Georgia from Azerbaijan, gives Russia control of a pipeline that runs from one of the world's largest oil reserves. The other big two, are Iran/Iraq and the Arctic.

The on-going invasion of pro-US Georgia by Russia, potentially pits two nuclear states against the other. It's a frightening reminder of how easily and quickly these conflagrations can emerge and potentially escalate.

It is a salient reminder too of how important it is that we work towards peace and turning these destructive, Dr Strangelove swords which are stockpiled around the world into ploughshares. For the benefit of earth, humanity and all living things.

It is now more important than ever before that we pray for peace and unity at this difficult time. And that the earth's scarce resources are secured and utilised in an atmosphere of mutual co-operation, instead of tribal territorialism.