AP Coverage
The Russian operation began after Georgia last week tried to secure control over South Ossetia, a breakaway region loyal to Moscow. Russia's fierce military response expanded to Abkhazia, another separatist province, and ended up on purely Georgian soil.

Questions answered on Russia, Georgia conflict  USA Today, (online blog. Posted on Aug 9?) Posted 4d 22h ago By Jeffrey Stinson, USA TODAY

Q. What are Georgia and Russia fighting over?

A: Georgia launched a military strike on the province of South Ossetia, aiming to reclaim it after 16 years of semi-independence. In response, Russia sent tanks in. Moscow says Georgian forces had killed Russian peacekeepers there and were committing acts of "ethnic cleansing" of native Russians living there.

The earliest coverage I found came from a search of the NYT's website.

<a<br> href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/world/europe/08georgia.html?scp=34&sq=Georgia%20attacks% ">iercest Fighting in Years Near Georgian Border</a<p> By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ
Published: August 7, 2008

MOSCOW -- Fighting in the border region between the former Soviet republic of Georgia and a breakaway Georgian enclave escalated sharply Friday morning to its highest level in years.

NTV, via Agence France-Presse

Soldiers from South Ossetia, a breakaway Georgia enclave, on Thursday near Tskhinvali, where heavy fire was reported.

Georgian officials said their troops had made a significant incursion into the breakaway region, South Ossetia, in response to what the officials contended were provocations from over the border, including shelling. The Georgian officials said they had taken up positions outside the capital of the enclave, Tskhinvali.

While this is an unmitigated disaster for the Georgan people, I also fear that this debacle will further impact the US election--In McCain's favor.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."