Along with a rapid military victory in Georgia, Vladimir Putin succeeded with another weapon in Russia's effort to divide and conquer Europe: energy.

Despite claims of unity on the crisis in the Caucasus, energy is a clear dividing line on the Continent. Countries that have long-term gas partnerships with Russia -- primarily the West Europeans -- chose the "both sides are to blame" approach to the war in Georgia. Countries that are more eager to diversify their sources of energy supply away from Russia -- most of the East...