Monday Newsbreak: 8/11

--The country of Georgia, under its president Mikhail Saakashvili, decided to invade its secessionist province of South Ossetia, prompting a Russian counterattack and offensive against Georgia. The volatile Saakashvili apparently instigated this outbreak of hostilities with South Ossetia, but now the danger is in his small nation being overrun. Georgia has been one of the United States’ biggest allies in the region, even having sent soldiers to Iraq. But their president is unstable and provocative. The population of South Ossetia is more pro-Russian and favorable to the idea of union with its neighboring giant. This war is very dangerous and could ignite into a broader conflict. Will cooler heads prevail? Georgia has announced that it has withdrawn its forces from South Ossetia and is proposing a cease-fire. Now it remains to be seen how restrained the Russians will be in their response. So far, they seem intent on crushing their small neighbor.

--Tragedy has marred the Beijing Summer Olympics, with a Chinese man stabbing the parents of the U.S. volleyball coach at a historic tower before jumping to his death. The father died while the mother is in critical condition. The attack seemed to be completely random and unprovoked.

--It’s not fashionable to say this, but I believe that the Chinese and the Russians have a great deal more to fear from terrorism than does the United States. Although seen as dangerous rivals by some, even enemies, American leaders need to express their willingness to support these two nations as they try to legitimately protect their own people. I read something recently about how stringent China’s Olympic security measures were. But they weren’t any more severe than those taken by Greece for their Olympics four years earlier. But then again, China is way too touchy with its sensitivity to criticism by others (noting their refusal to admit an American former Olympic athlete for supporting Darfur human rights).

--Ellen Nakashima reports for the Washington Post that a vast database of Americans’ prescriptions records has led to the formation of “health credit reports” that determine how much health and life insurance companies charge prospective customers. The two biggest health “big brother” data collecting companies are Ingenix and Milliman. This is completely outrageous! How much more abuse by the health care and insurance industries are we going to put up with before we dump this horrendous system in favor of publicly-funded universal health care?

--The Miami Dolphins began their preseason schedule by losing to Tampa Bay 17-6. Touted as a new-look team, rebuilding from last year’s pathetic 1-15 version, the Dolphins’ one bright spot was the performance of veteran running back, marijuana enthusiast, and former retiree Ricky Williams. When I read that Williams played, I was astonished. I thought the Dolphins had gotten rid of him a long time ago!