>>>>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4500362.ece
>>>>
>>>>As a Russian jet bombed fields around his village, Djimali Avago, a Georgian farmer, asked me: “Why won’t America and Nato help us? If they won’t help us now, why did we help them in Iraq?”
>>>>
>>>>A similar sense of betrayal coursed through the conversations of many Georgians here yesterday as their troops retreated under shellfire and the Russian Army pressed forward to take full control of South Ossetia.
>>>>
>>>>This whole thing is confusing. Some one who knows please correct me. Didn't this start because Georgia decided to retake the area that had won independence? Didn't Georgia start this mess and then Russia stepped in to help Ossetia (probably political)?
>>>
>>>Why do Russians care that South Ossetia seek independence from Georgia?
>>>Hint: Leader of Georgia is thought to be pro-American.
>>
>>Or, maybe because North Ossetia is part of Russia and North Ossetia and South Ossetia both want to be united as part of Russia. Oh, wait, can't be that, because then it wouldn't be about the U.S., and we all know that everything must be about the U.S. Sam, don't you ever stop?
>
>If Ossetia wants to be united with Russia, why did they declare independence and start the process for their statehood with a referendum and ask for international recognition as a separate state?

My understanding is that they want to be reunited with North Ossetia, but how will they even hope to accomplish that as long as they are part of Georgia? Step 1. Get away from Georgia.