US Begins Flying Georgian Troops Home From Iraq

A column of Russian tanks rolls near the town of Dzhava in the separatist Georgian province of South Ossetia, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008. On Sunday, a group of Russian tanks attempted to cross from South Ossetia into the territory of Georgia proper, but were turned back by Georgian forces, according to Georgian Interior Ministry. (AP Photo/Musa Sadulayev)

From The AP:

BAGHDAD (AP) — The U.S. military began flying 2,000 Georgian troops home from Iraq on Sunday, military officials said, after the Georgians recalled the soldiers following the outbreak of fighting with Russia in the breakaway province of South Ossetia.

The decision was a timely payback for the former Soviet republic that has been a staunch U.S. supporter and agreed to send troops to Iraq as part of the U.S.-led coalition.

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More News On the Airlift Of Georgian Troops To Georgia

US begins flying Georgian troops home from Iraq -- Yahoo News/AP
Georgia begins pulling forces out of Iraq: US military -- AFP
Georgia sends troops from Iraq to South Ossetia -- Times Online
INTERVIEW-Georgian troops in Iraq anxious to return home -- Reuters

My Comment: These reports bother me on so many levels. (1) My concern is that a U.S. transport is not shot down by a Russian fighter. This will set back U.S./Russian relations for years. (2) By transporting Georgian soldiers, the U.S. is now actively taking sides. There are going to be repercussions from this. (3) Russia may now attack Western interests in retaliation. The BTC pipeline is probably on the top of this list. (4) Georgia has put the U.S. in a very difficult situation. American rapprochement with Russia is going to cost us a lot .... and we need them in our battles with Iran and terrorism.