I'll clarify that the defeat of South Ossetia without RU participation was likely, but not certain or quick. Left to our own devices, we could have plausibly fought for a while. But that's a whole other topic.

Reflection is indeed important, and this concerns the topic of South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Nagorno-Karabakh. The latter doesn't exist anymore largely because the West chose to principally side with Azerbaijan (and Georgia). This should be food for thought, but, sadly, no one really cares.

Say what you will about Russia's policies, but its decision to help defend South Ossetia from Georgia's illegal attack was certainly both legal and correct. Otherwise, Georgian aggression would have resulted in the destruction of South Ossetia, which Europe would have just shrugged off.