Brick,
A better means to achieve independence?
When your colonial master doesn't accept two referenda, both of which indicate a 90%+ degree of support for independence, what do you do?
And if there is that level of support, and if the area in particular is ethnically different and discrete, why would the West support 'territorial integrity' of the 'oppressor' rather than the aspirations of the smaller unit for self determination?
And why has there been no condemnation by the US of the fact that Georgia actually started this whole shooting match by invading South Ossetia?
I simply don't understand any of this, and these are genuine questions. In many ways I'd be delighted to learn that actually the Georgians behaviour has been exemplary, and that the Russians are being villains again.