And so I believe we can, with a lot of hard work and direct dialogue, avoid confrontation and manage what will be an intense competition, particularly in the economic field.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

The drivers tried to downplay the confrontation after arriving in the desert this week, but it's been hard to avoid, with video of the scrap-and-dash being shown all over in promos for the race and replays.

NPR: Edwards Ends Long Drought At Phoenix

They are heading for confrontation, but this is only the first act - they are both stating a hard line, before the give and take of negotiations.

BBC: America's fiscal suicide pact

Yet the hard truth, for Georgians and others, is that pleas for military backing from the West in any confrontation with Russia are unlikely to be heeded.

ECONOMIST: The war in Georgia