Fighting continues between Georgia and Russia

Fighting is continuing between Georgian and Russian forces over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Russian aircraft are said to have attacked Georgian positions and bases outside of South Ossetia, some of them deep in Georgia. The Russians have admitted to losing 2 aircraft, a TU-22M Backfire and a SU-25 Frogfoot. Meanwhile control of the Ossetian capital is said to have been lost by the Georgians and the town now held by Russian forces. Much of South Ossetia is still in Georgian hands with the Russian forces (not that many have been deployed yet) most concentrated on the capital Tshinvali and a road to it from the Russian border.



Georgia is now trying to withdraw the troops it has in Iraq to help bolster it's forces back home. The Georgian president Saakashvili appealed to the US for help, they are allies after all though surely even Saakashvili can't imagine the US will start World War 3 over Georgia? Georgian aims in all of this mess are interesting, i suspect they want to bring their long-running problems with Russia into the open and get the international community involved. Its a high risk game thats for sure.

But why not grant South Ossetia independance one might ask, if it's good enough for Kosovo it's good enough for them surely?