South Ossetia and Abkhazia ought to be permitted independence from both Russia and Georgia, if that's what the majority of the people living therein want.

...and the CSA should have been peacefully recognized by the USA.

Is it true that Russia wants to subsume South Ossetia?

@Chron: I don't doubt that they would subsume Georgia if the thought they could get away with it. I don't see any reason why South Ossetia would be exempt.

Russia has been issuing Russian passports to South Ossetians so they could claim the be defending their own citizens from the evil Georgians. I think Russia's motivation is that if they can't have South Ossetia outright, at least they can give them the military backing to be a huge thorn in Georgia's side. By keeping Georgia tied up in petty skirmishes, perhaps they can make Georgia look more like a militaristic thugocracy than a successful democracy, and so keep them from being invited into NATO.

Attacking Georgia seems like a pretty dumb move for Russia, but I think it was at least equally dumb for Georgia to invade South Ossetia.

(Note: I don't have any particular insight into Russian politics, I'm just going off of things I've heard from NPR and read in the news.)

@Bruce Stockwell: CSA? I don't know that acronym.

Confederate States of America. They once wanted independence from the United States of America. One could assume it's what the majority of people wanted. The United States didn't give it to them. Some Americans will judge Russia without acknowledging our own history.

I was going to disagree because I have a higher standard. It also needs to be in their best self-interests. More specifically, all things being equal, independence! However, if by doing so the quality of the lives there vastly depreciated then perhaps they should not be quick to leap before looking, despite what the majority wants. However, he solution is "permission, preparation, implementation" - so ultimately, I do agree.