Getting Ready For the Next War

A man photographed a South Ossetian guardsman Aug. 12 in front of a
burned Georgian tank in Tskhinvali, the enclave’s capital.

Georgia Eager to Rebuild Its Defeated Armed Forces
-- New York Times

TBILISI, Georgia — Just weeks after Georgia’s 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 Georgia’s military, but stressed that no decisions had been made. The choices each pose difficult foreign policy questions.

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My Comment: Guess what Vice President Cheney is going to be asked for when he arrives in Georgia this week. Expect the Americans to be walking a very fine line.