Russian troops inside Georgia are there as peacekeepers, enforcing a peace supported by armour, artillery and air-power (Unlike any UN peacekeeping mission).

Now why would they refuse the assistance of South Ossetian Militamen? I can offer a few extremely good reasons:

- They do not add to the weight of what the Russians say they wish to do.

- They do not operate within the Russian "Chain of Command" in what could turn into a "hair trigger" international crisis situation of some consequence. That is if this whole thing hasn't been deliberately engineered by the Russians from the word go.

- Their presence can only serve to inflame the situation, whereas the Russians are stating that they wish to pacify the area.

PS: Little Hawk Russia and Georgia are not at war.