I believe Mikhail Gorbachev's column ("Western meddling made war between Russia, Georgia thinkable," Monitor Forum, Aug. 13) accurately assesses the basis for the current shooting war between the former Soviet republics of Russia and Georgia.

Gorbachev wrote: "Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was expecting unconditional support from the West, and the West had given him reason to think he would have it." Further on: "By declaring the Caucasus, a region thousands of miles from the American continent, a sphere of its 'national interest', the United States made a serious blunder. Of course, peace in the Caucasus is in everyone's interest. But it is simply common sense to recognize that Russia is rooted there by common geography and centuries of history." 

What would be our government's response if Russia provided arms and resources to Mexico or Panama? (Remember the Cuban missile crisis?)Once again, the current administration has seriously erred. Sure we'd like to see western style democracy implanted around the world, but it is not necessarily appropriate for all.

It's not likely that Georgia will get unconditional support from the United States. Our "super power" is already spread too thinly in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we're not likely to risk direct confrontation with Russia. And they know it! That's why Russia will be able to completely crush the Georgian nation, while the United States protests in vain.

JACK WEEKS

Concord