ok does anyone know what is going on here? Been following all day the conflict between Georgia and Ossetia but where do the Russians fit in here ? Peacekeeping or a little more involved than they are letting on ?

From what I can gather its almost an East meets West conflict. South Ossetia have tried to break away from Georgia and in the fighting a few Russian peace-keepers on the Ossetia side were killed. 75% of the population of Ossetia are Russian not Georgian passport holders so Russia has stepped in to 'protect' them. Also, for the last few years, Georgia has recieved nearly all of its weapons and finance from the USA. I think the Russians have been looking for an excuse to fight Georgia. They have probably been a little nervous watching the Georgians go from spending $30 million a year on their military budget to over $1 billion.

Ossetians are the descendants of the Alani of ancient times, one of the many Iranian speaking peoples of the Steppes who spread from the Hungarian Plain to the Fergana Valley.

But most, indeed 99% of those peoples, languages and cultures area now dead. The Ossetians are a relic a survival from then, the Caucasian mountians is probably the refuge of dozens of such peoples. Including the Avari, another people of the steppe.

Ossetians sit either side of the Daryl pass, in the center of the Caucasian mountain chain, the Dar y Alani (door of Alani).

Long ago they threw their lot in with Russia, and now Russia is using them to create the excuse it wants to crush Georgia.

Well that was unexpected, thanks for that.

Wonder how many of those groups will get wiped out.
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Hopefully none.