Russia’s bloody adventurism in Georgia has left nerves on edge particularly in Warsaw and Prague and throughout the former Soviet world, where memories last a little longer than in other European capitals. Experts quickly noted the energy implications should a proRussian puppet replace the current Georgian government, as seems to be one goal. That the Caspian oil and gas would no longer have safe passage to the West via the Black Sea adds a wrinkle to Russia’s power play. Strange but true, these events doom Kyoto II.

After the initial incursion, political leaders from former satellite states gathered in Tbilisi in solidarity against Russia’s most recent threat to restore its lost power through energy. Recent attainment of freedom leads to a more sober perspective about ceding liberties in the name of comity, or anything else.

Western Europe is less protective of its individual liberties, and surely more amenable to sacrificing increments of sovereignty to one supranational group or another. Its leaders have long expressed dreams of using such vehicles in the name of “global warming” as “the first component of an authentic global governance” Jacques Chirac and “to level the playing field for businesses worldwide” Margot Wallstrom.

After Moscow again rattled its gassupply saber in 2005 – just as it had with Poland years before – “New Europe” stirred to the threat from a renewed Russian bear. Brussels berated its partners, insisting that while Central Europe may indeed have large coal deposits, Good Europeans should understand the “global warming” imperative of relying on Russian gas instead.

These two worldviews were certain to collide. Already, news reports confirm efforts to bring things to a head. For instance, on August 6 Agence FrancePress reported: “Poland, worried about the effects of binding global warming agreements on its developing economy, will reportedly seek alliances with other E.U. members to block proposed carbon emissions caps, a government insider told local press. ‘It’s possible to build a blocking minority, and we’re working on it,’ said Michal Boni, a senior aide to Prime Minister Donald Tusk.”

Here’s why. Europe has promised a collective cut of 20 percent below 1990 greenhouse gas emission levels by 2020. This would be meaningless and impossible to formally propose without internal agreement as to which countries bear what pain. The Burden Sharing Agreement B.S.A. distributes responsibility under Europe’s decision to collectivize its emissions.

But every E.U. country wants someone else to carry the burden. Nearly all got a free ride, or close to it, under their 200812 allocation, because the U.K.’s “dash to gas” and Germany’s reunification came after Kyoto’s 1990 baseline year. They like it that way, while the few who made the largest first commitments want others to carry some weight.

Europe’s scheme requires “consensus,” which for now translates into unanimity. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany addressed the problems facing a post2012 B.S.A. that would require actual widespread emission cuts. In March 2007 she said, “The compromise would be a tough task. The beauty is that each member state thinks they’re a special case. That makes us all equal.”

That may actually be the beauty of their system, but in a different way, because that mentality has ensured the stalemate. In practical terms, at least two Member States must agree to object to a post2012 agreement in order to withstand pressures and sweeteners from Brussels. The Czech Republic and Poland both have large coal reserves and rely heavily on them. Brussels prefers that these countries burn gas – most of which would come from Russia – and leave the coal in the ground. Not surprisingly, those states distrust that arrangement.

To the extent any doubt remained, Russia has just made clear the inanity of Europeans abandoning domestic coal for Russian gas. But Team Putin also crystallized the politics. Brussels is no match for the bear.

Christopher C. Horner is the author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming and Environmentalism, and the forthcoming Red Hot Lies.