Angela Merkel did more in one minute to raise Georgian spirits yesterday than George Bush and Condoleezza Rice did in a week.

Germany, as the ‘bad guy’ of the 20th century, has, since World War II, always stepped forward last in foreign affairs, and has been particularly respectful of Russian turf. If Russians fear Germans above all else, Germans - now a fraction of Russian power - fear the awesome retribution from Moscow, as the Russians would like any excuse to heap misery on their 20th century enemy.