The breakaway province of South Ossetia is claimed by Georgia, aformer Soviet republic that cast its lot with the United States and theWest to the eternal irritation of Moscow. But South Ossetia hasresisted Georgia's rule and has been under Russia's sway for years.
Georgia sits in a tough neighborhood, shoulder to shoulder with hugeRussia, not far from Iran, and astride one of the most importantcrossroads for the emerging wealth of the rich Caspian Sea region. AU.S.-backed oil pipeline runs through Georgia, allowing the West toreduce its reliance on Middle Eastern oil while bypassing Russia andIran.
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