@neolex:
It is possible, that Russia only decided to go into Georgia proper after Saakashvili attacked (because now they had a good cover story)

Certainly journalisti would like to think they are that important. I’ll stick to the under reported angle: Georgia saved herself with delaying attacks in the face of an in-motion (whether of not the Roki Tunnel had actually yet been transited) invasion.

By this narrative, which I call the “realist” version, no one in the Georgian, Russian or Solivichik (Russ secret service mafias and fake “Ossettian”) forces was surprised by anything higher than tactical surprises. One such surprise may have been Georgian [artillery? | missiles?] putting a dent in the Tskhinvali command/control/ communications centers at the very last “minute” and then falling back in good order… a coup de main comparable to Dunkirk.

But I’m sounding like a broken record…