[Navy Patriot]

Yes, the Georgians were improperly equipped and improperly prepared.

They employed poor tactics, as well, for which the Russians had prepared.

Likely the Russians are even more prepared for hostilities in Eastern Ukraine now, they certainly are showing the discipline necessary for a carefully prepared battle plan.

However, we both know that the likely first casualty is the battle plan.

[Zhang Fei]

Yes, the Georgians were improperly equipped and improperly prepared. They employed poor tactics, as well, for which the Russians had prepared.

Even today, the Georgians are mainly equipped for counter-insurgency. In the 6 years after the conflict, they have spent their money mostly on domestic defense boondoggles (building their own APC) instead of acquiring gently-used fighter aircraft (either American or ex-Warsaw Pact). In that time, they could have acquired dozens of these aircraft. While the biggest threat to Georgia's sovereignty is Russia, a close runner-up is the corruption of its political elites. Russia can afford to be as corrupt as Georgia because it has more extractable resources from the ground than the US, Brazil and Saudi Arabia combined. Georgia just has a bunch of mountains.