At first glance it appears that Russia used the opening of the Beijing Olympics to stage a full-blown military attack on Georgia. However, it can easily be construed the other way. Georgia started a surprise military attack on South Ossetia, shelling the capital Tskhinvali, to force the rebels to surrender. If Saakashvili counted on the Russians to accept some fait accompli, however, he miscalculated.
If Russia didn't start the conflict, it certainly took the opportunity. A full-scale invasion of South Ossetia, allegedly to defend its citizens and peacekeepers, is now underway. Georgia's pleas for a cease-fire is not impressing prime minister Putin. Georgia is now under naval blokade, and targets in the country are being attacked from the air. The US is allied to Georgia, but beyond military supplies and diplomatic missions the US is in no position to aid it. When the end to hostilities finally come, hopefully soon, it will be Russia's hand that is strengthened. And Russia cares less about South Ossetia. Its real target is the other breakaway region formally under Georgia: resource/rich Abkhazia. If the current conflict sees Georgia's Saakashvili seriously weakened, its claim to formally leave Georgia will be further strengthened.
The artificially extended borders of Georgia are a result of decisions long ago made by the country's most famous son: Stalin. Russia can indeed move with some level of legitimacy in this tragic conflict, but few doubt that reestablishing a zone of loyal buffer states among the former Soviet republics is a major strategic goal of modern Russia. Georgia just gave Putin a perfect excuse to move forward in this direction.
11:46:12 AM 
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