The Caucauss Mountians serve as an almost impenetrable shield and bulwark to Georgia and the countries south of it from Russia.
Russia wants to exert control on those countries and their oil.
By gaining those two provinces as seperate, independent nations loyal to Russia, Russia gains direct access to the region. One through the tunneel the Soviets built for that very purpose through the mountains that exits the mountains less than a hundred miles from Tiblisi and allows the Russian to poise a dagger over Gerogia;s heart. The other provides uncontested access from the sea, allowing Russia to land troops there at will and cut the nation of Georgia in two denying it access from the sea.
Russia just showed how effective their strategy is in dicing up Georgia quickly.
IMHO, we need to secure and stabilize the situation now. The Russians are not likely to leave those two provinces. The UN is not likely to back US if the people of those provinces vote to go it themselvves...and with Russian forces there...they will.
So, we will end up having to work with the rest of Georgia to build up their military, modernizing it so it can inflice the maximum damage to any invading force, and then we need to see Gerogia a part opf NATO with NATO or US bases in Gerogia to augment their defenses and provide a major military trip-wire to any Russian intent...and OBTW, by providing., with both of those two measures, the capability to take out the tunnel and use missiles and aircraft to contest Russian landings on the caose should hostilities re-initiate.
Why don't you think that the reason was pure economic - to connect this part of the USSR with the others?
and then we need to see Gerogia a part opf NATO with NATO or US bases in Gerogia to augment their defenses and provide a major military trip-wire to any Russian intent...and OBTW, by providing., with both of those two measures, the capability to take out the tunnel and use missiles and aircraft to contest Russian landings on the caose should hostilities re-initiate.
What if Mr. Saakashvili attacks S.Ossetia again? He did it already he will do it again and effectively drag the USA into the war with Russia 'cause Russia will respond and the proper Georgia's territory will be shelled.
But, if the US guarantee it will restrain Saakashvili, I wouldn't mind.