Unfortunately the article I refer to is not available on line nor do I have a copy at hand. I will definitely reread it later at home.

The sequence of events as reported by Italian correspondents in Georgia lays the initiative of hostilites squarely on Georgia's shoulders- as if it were them who "waited for the Olympics." Russia has simply acted as expected, especially with the death of Russian citizens. But I suppose a debate on who started can go on til we're blue in the face.

The larger geopolitical scenario has Russia acting as any power who wishes to reassert its authority within its sphere of influence especially when another power on the world scene encroaches on its very borders. Russia cannot be expected to sit and wait while Saakashvili openly courts NATO. You needn't be a fortune teller to figure that out.