it is really funny to see how historical facts were manipulated in west media.

you have to remember guys, south osetia never been part of Georgia state – never ever.
Abkhazia – same story.
in fact – people of these regions were in long term war with georgians. These two regions joined Russian imperia independently from Georgia.
after bolshevist coup in 1917, after ussr was founded south osetia and abkhazia were assigned to Georgia administratively to simplify reporting and control after population.
reason was that significant part of the year south regions were unreachable for north osetia communist administration. in a winter time mountains are closed.
also, Georgian establishment had an old dream to grab these territories – even before socialists took control over the Russia.
last and not least – stalin personally made this decision and he was georgian …

so it looks like guys – you are defending decisions made by belsheviks regime and personally by stalin.
how funny..

in the beginning of 90s Georgia declared withdrawal from ussr – that is OK osetians said.
you go – we will stay…

what is happening here – force incorporation of osetians into the Georgia…
almost 20 years these guys are resisting to this force incorporation into Georgia saying that they are independent from Georgia and they have nothing to do with this state.

u.s. is punishing them for this decision.
as simple as that.