Georgians Eager to Rebuild Army

New York Times ^ | September 2, 2008 | C. J. Chivers and Thom Shanker

[reaganaut1]

We should not make security promises to Georgia that we won't keep, but we should sell them weapons they can use to defend themselves.

[austrian]

if they try to rearm now this is the biggest failure they can commit. russia would never let them. they would attack them again instantly because they could say georgia is reaming to start the next war just weeks after the first was over.

[Cicero]

I suppose it really isn’t a surprise that The Communist New York Times blames Georgia, not Putin, for the war, and thinks we should abandon our allies to their fate.

Sulzberger & Co. are scum.

[Arkinsaw]

We have been training their army for anti-terrorism. We now need to train their army for defensive war against tanks and air assault.

They need to be supplied with large numbers of anti-tank weapons. These are only useful in defense against...tanks.

They need to be provided with hundreds of fixed anti-air defenses that are state of the art. These cannot be used to attack anybody....only defend.

We need to help them install anti-tank traps, bunkers, etc. Strictly defensive.

We need to help them set up hardened internal command and control systems within Georgia.

They are never going to get Ossetia and Abkhazia back. But what is left there should be no doubt left in the Russian mind that it is OFF LIMITS forever.

[Decombobulator]

The fact is no amount of weaponry is going to make Georgia able to withstand an attack by Russia. When you are a small country next to a nuclear superpower, you have to know your place and make a few sacrifices. It’s not fair, but that’s how the world has worked since the dawn of man.

[MarMema]

Too late. We have already invested in the pipeline there. There is no returning now.

Several of my close friends in the military say that with the right tools, Georgia can defend herself against Russia. It is in our interests to see that Georgia gets them.

[Arkinsaw]

The fact is no amount of weaponry is going to make Georgia able to withstand an attack by Russia. When you are a small country next to a nuclear superpower, you have to know your place and make a few sacrifices. It’s not fair, but that’s how the world has worked since the dawn of man.

Afghanistan, a small nation, had some limited success in brining a neighboring superpower to its knees.

Russia is a nuclear power. But it is not a superpower. Russian military equipment has fought US equipment before. It is indeed possible for some F-16's to knock out a hell of a lot of Russian made aircraft given proper training. Even a Georgian pilot with a Raptor could probably take down as many Russian jets as he could carry ammo for if we were to someday export those.

It is definitely possible for some M-1 Abrams to go through a hell of a lot of Russian armor. And that is without anti-tank mines.

It is definitely possible for Stinger missiles to take out lots and lots of Russian helicopters and aircraft.

All this has been done before against Russian equipment. Many of those who invaded Georgia were thugs and undisciplined paramilitary.

We and the Georgians could make it very painful for another invasion of Georgia if we wished.

[MarMema]

what is this?

[Squantos]

100% for DEFENSIVE weapons help as soon as possible ASAP !

Tools to defend against land, air and sea attack with a layered defense in depth backed my infantry tank killer teams and air defense teams to back up those larger systems !

[Uhaul]

"make a few sacrifices"?

Cowards are slaves. The brave live free or die. Those are not just words. Fortunately for us the founding fathers did not hold your weak beliefs. That isn't to say that Georgia should be stupid about poking the bear. On the other hand they shouldn't lie down and pull their dresses up like you are advocating. They can, and should, build up their defenses to the point that if Russia attacked them they would pay dearly. Strong deterrence works. Appeasement does not. Some deterrence may or may not work. But it beats the hell out of slavery.

[austrian]

We have been training their army for anti-terrorism. We now need to train their army for defensive war against tanks and air assault....

---

the russian allready accused the US helping the georgians to start (what the russian called an war of agression) the first war. result they bombed and invaded them. guess what they would do now if georgia try to rearm now? will they stand by? i guess not. btw. geogia is a too small country to fight russia no matter what weapons they may get. they would never have a chance. not fair but this is the world we are living.

[redstateconfidential]

Sweeeeeeeeeeettttttttttttttttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JasonC]

Earth to clueless, Russia will attack them again and swallow the entire country whenever they bloody well feel like it, excuses be damned.

[Decombobulator]

Even 10 billion USD worth of arms to Georgia will make very little difference against Russia. I have nothing against Georgians but I don’t want to give my tax dollars to them.

[redstateconfidential]

Well give them your toilet potato washers again.Weak.

[Arkinsaw]

the russian allready accused the US helping the georgians to start (what the russian called an war of agression) the first war. result they bombed and invaded them. guess what they would do now if georgia try to rearm now? will they stand by? i guess not. btw. geogia is a too small country to fight russia no matter what weapons they may get. they would never have a chance. not fair but this is the world we are living.

Again, I point to Afghanistan who succesfully beat the Russians off of them with a few Stinger missiles and AK-47's. This is a historical fact.

You are buying the hype on the Russians. The truth is that the 3rd Armored Division pretty much alone knocked off the 4th largest army in the world equipped with Russian stuff. The Israeli Air Force in F-16's (our average small fighter) took out the entire Syrian Air Force equipped with Russian stuff.

The Russians are better with their stuff than the Arabs are for sure. But not enough to make up the difference. I once again point out Afghanistan.

The Russians are a nuclear power and have a very powerful strategic force. But most of the tactical side is bluster. The Georgians could make it very painful with the proper defensive equipment and training. Just as painful as Afghanistan did.

[Arkinsaw]

Earth to clueless, Russia will attack them again and swallow the entire country whenever they bloody well feel like it, excuses be damned.

The Afghans proved the theory that the Red Army is the biggest and baddest quite wrong.

[Arkinsaw]

Even 10 billion USD worth of arms to Georgia will make very little difference against Russia. I have nothing against Georgians but I don’t want to give my tax dollars to them.

Democrats said that a lot when the Russians invaded Afghanistan. Reagan gave them the arms anyway. The USSR was soon in the ash heap of history.

[Arkinsaw]

Correction: 3rd INFANTRY Division. Sorry Rock of the Marne.

[JasonC]

A fifth of the Afghan population died in that war, and another third fled the country. Some victory.