Russia invades Georgia

I just read on the BBC and CNN websites that Russian tanks, with fighter jet air cover, are invading the S. Ossetia province of Georgia, and that Georgia has shot down two Russian fighter planes, reports of heavy fighting and mass refugee exodus. Russia and Gerogia appear to be at war.

The S. Ossetia province, with a large Russian minority population, has been in conflict with Georgia for many years. In the last couple days the Georgian military had launched an offensive to bring the province under its control and Russia announced it would defend the breakaway province. This may have some parallels and political connections with the international recognition of the breakaway Kosovo province (from Serbia) by many other countries against Russia's (and Serbia's) wishes.