With the nation focused on the major parties' respective nominating conventions for the next two weeks, Americans should not lose sight of what the current president is doing.

Far from the limelights of Denver and Minneapolis, the stage is being set for a foreign policy disaster capable of overshadowing either John McCain or Barack Obama's entrance into the Oval Office.

We're referring, of course, to the brewing superpower showdown in the Caucasus country of Georgia. If the Bush administration is not careful, the United States and Russia are about to become the lead actors in "Cold War II."

The rehearsals have been taking place for years. The United States has recognized Georgia as an ally and worthy of supporting with military weaponry.

The tiny regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, while both within the boundaries of Georgia since it declared itself independent in 1991, have remained loyal to Moscow. These two regions have essentially ruled themselves since that time. Their citizens rely on Russia for government subsidies and pensions. In fact, most of the people carry Russian passports and consider themselves Russian citizens.

For reasons yet to be divulged, Georgia decided Aug. 7 to attack South Ossetia with military forces in an attempt to reign in the breakaway area. Russia countered -- with a lot more manpower. The Russians drove deep into Georgian territory, and have since pulled back to the two regions in question.

Tuesday, after a unanimous vote by Russia's parliament, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced his country's formal diplomatic recognition of both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"This is not an easy choice but this is the only chance to save people's lives," Medvedev said.

Washington's response has been frenzied, if not measured. The president authorized 34 tons of humanitarian aid for Georgia to be delivered on a Navy missile destroyer Sunday. Another Coast Guard cutter is on its way with more aid. Both sides report the buildup of warships, including almost two dozen NATO ones, in the Black Sea.

And the White House is dispatching none other than Vice President Dick Cheney, regarded as the administration's most ardent hawk, to the region next week. Not to Russia, but to Georgia.

"Georgia's territorial integrity and borders must command the same respect as every other nation's, including Russia's," President George W. Bush said.

We condone Russia's actions no more than we do Georgia's. But the United States needs to tread lightly in these waters. The world has changed dramatically since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

While America has gone about its business as the self-declared last superpower standing, Russia has retrenched itself, its economy and its military. So has China for that matter. The United States? It has kept its citizens busy worrying about a faltering economy while burying itself in debt and stretching its military forces to the breaking point.

Washington is hardly in a position of power to force its terms on the situation in Georgia. If there ever was a time when a coalition of the willing would be useful, this is it. Cheney should not be representing U.S. interests in the region. We don't really have any.

This should be a matter for either NATO or the U.N. to resolve. Any other solution Bush attempts to pursue likely will become the first order of business for either Obama or McCain.

Editorial by Patrick Lowry

plowry@dailynews.net