"People here in Moscow believe such an invasion is imminent," he said. Putin, he added, "has to do something visible that the public would see as Russia hitting back."
Everyone I have talked to from a former soviet satellite country thinks the same thing.
Shortly after the Beslan massacre, Col. Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, chief of the general staff of Russia's armed forces, declared that Russia will "take all measures to liquidate terrorist bases in any region of the world." Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov also defended Russia's right to carry out pre-emptive strikes outside of Russia.
Russian defense leaders must act soon if they pursue an attack in Georgia, because winter in the Caucasus Mountains could block off passes and bog down troops, analysts said.
I would bet this was as much a part of the timing of the attack as any other reason. Many of the mountains in those regions are really high. With the way Putin has been having a hard time showing up to pipeline deals now he has to deal with the Chechen rebels on a time schedule not of his chosing. I think the move on Moscows part was coming anyway. If true it was a strategic move on the part of the rebels ( with backing by uncle sam? ) to do this now.
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