TBILISI, Georgia (The Independent) - After a six-day war that left scores dead, a resurgent Russia has crushed an unruly neighbour, humbled the US and Europe, and demonstrated once again that it is a force to be feared.

"The aim of the operation has been achieved," said Mr Medvedev. "The aggressor has been punished and has suffered very considerable losses." [Russian media highlight the humanitarian disaster in S Ossetia today and the plight of refugees - Oui]

Mr Medvedev pinned the blame for the conflict squarely at the door of the Georgian leader. He called Mr Saakashvili a "lunatic" and explained the Russian action in language that his mentor Vladimir Putin would be proud of. "The difference between lunatics and other people is that when they smell blood it is very difficult to stop them. So you have to use surgery," said Mr Medvedev. He also accused Mr Saakashvili of lying about a proposed Georgian ceasefire.

In Tbilisi, emotions were also running high as thousands gathered for a rally in support of Mr Saakashvili and government ministers made speeches promising to take back Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Despite the bellicose rhetoric, the Georgian army was nowhere to be seen on the road out of Tbilisi after Monday night's retreat and the few cars on the road were the stragglers in the great escape westwards, away from a Russian army that the Georgians have claimed is intent on a full invasion.

U.S. Army Brigadier General W. Garrett speaks to Georgian President Saakashvili during U.S.-Georgian military training exercise at Vaziani base outside Tbilisi, Georgia, on July 21, 2008.

Georgia's ambassador to Nato, Revaz Beshidze, said the alliance's "mistake" of not offering Georgia a Membership Action Plan earlier this year had given Russia a "green light" to attack. The Nato secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said that Georgia was still on course for Nato membership.

In another sign that the clouds of war had not yet fully cleared, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said if Georgia failed to sign a legally binding treaty ruling out the use of force, Russia would be forced to take "other measures".

Bush: Why don't you shut up?