Is Russia to blame for the current conflict, or are they right to try to curb Eastern Europe's disintigration?

Maybe Russia's attempt to re-integrate the Osettia region of Georgia is heavy handed, but the disintegration of every tiny principality will only lead to further conflicts in the future. Isn't it the same annexation policy that the EU is currently pursuing?
Who exactly sent troops into the Osettia region first... Russia or Georgia?
Don't forget, Russia views the majority of the citizens in the region as Russian. A bit like the UK did with the Falklands back in the 80's, yet everyone backed the UK's actions.

Russia have used an internal feud within Georgia to do some good old fashioned land grabbing, much like the USA and the UK have done in Iraq and various other oil rich nations.

russia have always been heavy handed when entering any conflict,somehow i don't think they know what the diplomatic table is for

This topic cannot be answered here, in my opinion. Peoples opinions get in the way, and facts are left behind. My loose understanding of the conflict is that Georgia was planning on holding the republic South Ossetia in an iron grip. They had planned ops, but Russia moved in to halt Georgias ambitions. South Ossetia wants independence from Georgia, and to re-unify with Russia.

The real issue is that many Western powers are, for several reasons, backing Georgia - a position I'm not comfortable with. The majority of South Ossetians want to break away from Georgia - Kosovo was given independence, why should S. Ossetia not have the same rights. It's Western politics that interfere with the people.

I'm definetly not an expert in this - read around. And expect Russia to be portrayed as the baddies in this conflict. The facts will present themselves, however. May I suggest you not use the BBC - I cannot believe the ish they get away with.

It doesn't help - with the US encouraging Georgia to join NATO.
How would US feel if Canada joined Warsaw Pact?

Thank God Georgia hadn't yet joined NATO - we'd have been obliged to take sides - which could have quickly escalated into something horrific.

After this episode, I think US will abandon the idea of allowing them to join NATO - would lead to too many problems.

James L has given a good answer - he's got a good grasp of what's going on. As he says - watch much of the media try to paint Russia in a bad light. But if you look at the facts, Russia had little choice but to send in troops& tanks "to protect Russians." USA used exactly the same reason in Panama "to protect US citizens." That was Bush senior that time.

There were small troops af both Georgia and Russia. Russian peacekeepers were there.
Georgia was the one who started the conflict with invasion to Southern Ossetia nad shelling of Tshinvali.
The conflict between Georfia and Ossetia is very similar to situation in Kosovo. S.O. doesn't want to be of Georgia no more.And the majority of small ossetians nation live in Russia in Norther Ossetia.
After the war of 92-94 ossetians are scared with georgian brutality and view Russia as an only protector.
90% of Southern Ossetians gained Russian passports and its troops have to ptotect its citizens.


Ossetia is Christian, another breakaway Georgian province Abkhazia is Muslim.

Your information here is all wrong.

Ossetia was given freedom to be independent by the RUSSIANS. The Georgians are backed by westerners and NATO and want to re-seize that land and make it theirs (essentially Russian too) again.

The Georgian president acted against the advice of NATO (with his own agenda) and sought out to reclaim it----essentially just killing women and children once again as it did in the past.

This war is a deja-vu repeat of 10 years ago.

Maybe you should read my answer to this question rather than my explain it again here.

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080810083921AAHsqqj&r=w#QcInCDe.BDl5sN LzEh0R_J_BQB3Tlq8bLaLOzzhP4JoC14jmRCWB

Stop talking like that about Russia!!! Over there in America they show only good side of Georgia. Do you know why?! Because US invested a lot of money in Georgia and their president. They bought those elections they had over there.
Osettia simply wanted to be closer to Russia but Georgia did not let it happen. Georgia sent troops first! I know it for sure!

Really?..How can that be if Russia admitted that S.Osettia belonged to Georgia?..

Georgia has been killing people in S Ossetia for some time. Georgia sent in troops first and essentially destroyed the capital. Russia went in to protect Russians.