The fighting between Russia and Georgia has as one important element the issue of energy. That region has become a central focus for Western countries looking for more secure energy sources. The Russia-Georgian conflict is another setback for Europe’s planned Nabucco pipeline, all in an effort to cut back reliance on Gazprom. However, this political goal is quickly shifting to a pragmatic one: Nabucco authorities are now talking about Russian involvement as a supplier, showing how important the natural resource is and how it trumps other concerns, even warfare. Georgia-Russia Conflict Shows EU’s Energy Vulnerability (By Jeffrey White | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
from the August 15, 2008 edition).