背 (back) 水 (water) 之 ('s) 陣 (troop formation)Where are the Russian-Georgian battlefronts? Two prominent natural features catch one's eye. The Greater Caucasus mountain range and the Black Sea. (The Lesser Caucasus is less conspicuous.)
Georgia-Russia Conflict Moves to the Black Sea
"Russia also sent naval vessels to patrol off Georgia's Black Sea coast, but denied today that the move was aimed at establishing a blockade." August 10, 2008
Russia cuts sea links with Georgia
"Sea links between Georgia's Black Sea port of Batumi and Russia's Sochi port have been cut, the deputy head of the Russian Black Sea port said on Monday." August 11, 2008Georgians are fighting for their lives. Is it a desperate, determined, dead-end 背水之陣 situation?
If we could combine the phrases "between a rock and a hard place" and "between the devil and the deep blue sea," we might have something close to a perfect equivalent.
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