Posted on 09/02/2008 8:02:53 PM PDT by reaganaut1
TBILISI, Georgia Just weeks after Georgias military collapsed in panic in the face of the Russian Army, its leaders hope to rebuild and train its armed forces as if another war with Russia is almost inevitable.
Georgia is already drawing up lists of options, including restoring the military to its prewar strength or making it a much larger force with more modern equipment, like air-defense systems, modern antiarmor rockets and night-vision devices.
Officials at the Pentagon, State Department and White House confirmed that the Bush administration was examining what would be required to rebuild Georgias military, but stressed that no decisions had been made. The choices each pose difficult foreign policy questions.
Georgias decision to attack Russian and South Ossetian forces raises questions about the wisdom of further United States investment in the Georgian military, which in any case would further alienate Russia. Not doing so could lead to charges of abandoning Georgia in the face of Russian threats.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
"Georgia, Tbilisi, 20 August / Trend News corr. N.Kirtskhalia / The NATO Secretary General confirmed that the meeting of the NATO Council would be held in Tbilisi in September. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the NATO Secretary General, said at the briefing that he would send Robert Simmons, his representative, to Tbilisi for organization of the council. I will come to Tbilisi to participate in work of the council, as well, he said. The Secretary General stressed that a meeting of the Georgia-NATO commission would be held in this period, as well."
No not true. NATO is holding a special emergency meeting in Tbilisi in September to help them get moving and into NATO as soon as possible. Georgia will be in NATO and soon.
The supreme commander of NATO spent a few weeks there just recently helping them re-assess things.
You're right, ultimately Georgia can't win, but with the right weaponry, tactics, and a will to fight, Georgia can be more painful than what it's worth. Think about what a profound affect a simple weapon system like the Stinger had in Afghanistan. If we arm them with the right stuff, we can push the pain threshold beyond what is acceptable, and even if Georgia is gobbled up, the net result in the grand picture is still that Russia is in a weakened state afterward and others see that we didn't abandon them.
Doing nothing is conceding to the will of Russia and allowing them complete control of the Caucasus, re-estabishing themselves as the regional hegemon. If we do nothing others in the Caucasus and former Stans will take note, and they will fall in line with Russia like domino's for they know they stand alone, even if no Russian tank is parked in their capital. If we take no action and back away, if we appease as the Europeans would surely have it, we are actually feeding the monster.
Arkinsaw is right, arm them. Raise the ante.
Is that a Koran disposal unit?
Beslin? was bad. Chechnya? Well as long as they continue to fight with Muslims its okay too. But Russia generally mucks about and thumps on anyone they can.As long as they keep supplying our enemies with weapons, invade countries like Georgia, and run their government like a crime family, let evil befall them. After all if Obamanation is elected, we will draw down and shrivel while the bad guys will have the best time ever crushing our erstwhile friends .
Never. Obama is history. It WILL be McCain.
Shhh, someone just flushed an exact image of the Prophet down the toilet,...
By December Georgia could be moved to the next level.
They have come an ENORMOUS distance in the last few years. And we have been there training them and helping them. Lots of our military were there a few years ago, teaching them how to meet NATO specs.
The EU is not NATO. I think there is a huge difference.
Me too, but don’t forget Chicago,..after all you may vote Republican when you are alive, but once you are dead you vote Democrat....(old 5th ward joke)
Russia has entered a new course in life. Powered by fascism and neo-eurasianism. You have to understand, they really think they are meant to be the world superpower. They believe they are destined for this and nothing can stop them.
"As a result, Russia quarrels violently with USA and West Europe. Its a beginning of a long distance blockade and isolation from the direction of USA. At the same time Russia proves not only the status of the regional Power but also the status of the Great Power; Russia proves her possibility to send a challenge to USA and unidirectional world. It means, that Russia returns on the world arena, returns in a history."
"Nowadays this is a situation: Russia either exists and becomes stronger or turns out to be a mirage. It is not a choice for every responsible Russian - Tanks to Tbilisi! - this is a voice of our national history. Alack! Our elite is still irresponsible. The nets of effects agents from the West is everywhere in russian authority. Putin has not been doing serious purges. It can adversely effect Russia."
He wrote this, they did it. This maniac and idiot runs the show from behind the scenes.
you have to understand that here in europe the georgian president does not have as many supporters as he may think.
most people and even “politicians” agree that russia has totally overacted and that we should watch them close in the next time if this behavior will contine or not. BUT if you read between the lines of many politicians (not to talk about many people here) many here think that the georgian president is just an idiot. official this sounds like “we condem russia for it´s actions but the georgian president did not make a wise decision by starting this and his actions are not in favour of the politics or the views of the European Union .....” this are standart news here. or go to european message boards you will find little or no support for the georgian president. so if he really dreams that the europeans will support him joinig NATO he has lost reallity. after this as i said before georgia has not the chance of a snowball in hell to join Nato. most countries would veto it in a heartbeat (and would have the support of its people). this is the reallity for georgia right now. not nice but this will happen believe me.
ups this was adressed to MarMema
The other facts are that Russia has become at best a rogue country and will never be trusted again. The Europeans who choose to do so will be very sorry and may have changed their minds drastically by next year.
Russia has lost the respect of everyone except Iran, Cuba, Syria, and North Korea, her new bed partners.
Russia only know expansionism. Russians believe if you are not conquering and subverting other people you are weak and therefore dying.
Russia has lost the respect of everyone except Iran, Cuba, Syria, and North Korea, her new bed partners. “
Bed Partners, as in some freepers.
The final end state of socialism and the associated secularism.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.