"South Ossetians nearly unanimously approved a referendum on November 12, 2006 opting for independence from Georgia. The referendum was hugely popular, winning between 98 and 99 percent of the ballots, flag waving and celebration marked were seen across South Ossetia, but elsewhere observers were less enthusiastic. International critics claimed that the move could worsen regional tensions, and the Tblisi government thoroughly discounted the results."
So if Georgia had a right to split from Russia (which I agree that it did), then why doesn't S. Ossetia have the same right? It has apparently been an autonomous province for a long time, and the Ossetians even have their own language. They aren't "invaders" from somewhere else trying to steal territory, they are simply claiming the right to decide who they want to ally themselves with.
Everyone seems to forget that Georgia initiated this military action by attacking S. Ossetian civilians and peacekeepers in a region that had been peaceful for a number of years. As for why the Russians are "striking deep into the heart of Georgia", the answer is to teach Georgians a lesson. I may not like that lesson, but I understand it.
A better question would be: "Why did Georgia attack, given she knew that her odds were that she would fare badly in this fight against Russia?" To me, that is the $64,000 question. Did she think that the US or NATO would ride in on a white horse to save her?
The South Ossetians fired artillery at the Georgians from the safety of a city. The Georgians - not as copacetic in their own destruction as Olmert's Israel - fired back. Hence the talk of massacres and so forth, when in fact the Ossetians are wearing their own civilians as body armor.
This tactic - of firing from the midst of civilian concentrations - has been made infamous by Hamas, Hezbollah and so on. It's not surprising to see Russian agents using the same tactic - the KGB made Arafat, and the KGB (with no name change) are running South Ossetia today.
There’s only about 100,000 or so people who live in this province. Should part of North Dakota be allowed to break off from the U.S.? How about these Native Americans that want to break off in South Dakota? As Lech Walesa said when Kosovo broke off. Everyone should be allowed self determination within reason.
The real reason is not for them to become their own country. The eventual reason is to become part of Russia and for Russia to destablize Georgia because they want Georgia, Ukraine, Bellarus et al.. back...