Thanks both of you for a brief history lesson.
My only other question is, did the Russians attack South Ossetia to help them secure independence from Georgia, or because Russia wants to annex South Ossetia themselves?
Russia had attacked the Georgian troops, but Georgians had invaded South Ossetia earlier.
Russia had its peace troops all along in the region, since when South Ossetia had declared independance in 1992.
If Russia is attacking South Ossetia, then there is no sense of supporting their cause of independence. And i don't think Russia is to annex South Ossetia.
By the way all this scenario with South Ossetia does not make Russia an angel, the same rule applies to it when it comes to Chechenya etc.