Background: What you need to know

Key issues in the crisis.

Q: WHO IS FIGHTING WHOM?

A: On one side is Russian air, naval and ground power. On the other is the military of Georgia, a small, separate country south of Russia on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. It was part of the Soviet Union but has a history of troubled relations with Moscow.

Q: WHERE ARE THEY FIGHTING?

A: The bulk of the fighting revolves around two pro-Russian enclaves, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, although the fighting is expanding into other parts of Georgia.

Q: WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND TO THE FIGHTING?

A: Moscow has long viewed itself as the protector of the two enclaves, which have been under pressure from the central government in Georgia.

In 1990, Georgia voted to abolish the autonomy of South Ossetia, and by 1991 a war broke out. In 1992, Georgia and Russia signed a peace treaty, and Russian troops began patrolling the South Ossetia border.

That same year, Abkhazia declared its independence from Georgia. Another war was fought, which ended in 1994 with a treaty between Russia and Georgia. Russian troops then began patrolling that enclave, too.

Q: WHAT TOUCHED OFF THE LATEST FIGHTING?

A: Georgia launched a surprise operation last week to seize control of South Ossetia. An enraged Russia sent its military into the breakaway republics and bombed Georgia.

Q: WAS THIS CONFRONTATION EXPECTED?

A: Yes and no.

Many western experts predicted that Russia would stage some sort of military action after Mikheil Saakashvili was elected president of Georgia in 2004.

As part of his platform, he said he wanted to reincorporate the enclaves into Georgia. Most experts agreed that Russia would respond with force if that happened.

Q: DOES THE UNITED STATES HAVE ANY SPECIAL INTERESTS IN THE AREA?

A: Saakashvili is an ally of the United States and sent troops to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States has strongly backed Georgia's effort to join NATO.

Georgia is also a major conduit for oil flowing from Russia and Central Asia to the West.

Q: WHAT IS THE U.S. DIPLOMATIC POSITION?

A: President Bush said Monday that the United States wants Russia to end its offensive and return to the situation that existed before the fighting began.

In a tough statement from the White House after he returned from the Olympics, Bush said: "Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century."

Q: HOW IS RUSSIA LIKELY TO RESPOND?

A: No one knows how far Russia is planning to go. At the very least, Russia seems to want to punish Saakashvili and use him to send a message to its former allies and the West and that Moscow is again a major player.