With allies like this ...

ARTICLE: "Georgians Eager To Rebuild Army: U.S. Mindful That Aid Would Anger Russia," by C.J. Chivers and Thom Shanker, New York Times, 3 September 2008, p. A1.

Opening paras as chilling in their potential pathways:

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 opions, 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 goggles.

State and DoD say no decisions made yet.

I am reminded of FDR's bit about your neighbor having a fire at his house and you loaning him your hose.

But what is your neighbor asks for a gun because he wants to blow some holes in that bully who's been threatening him?

Care to get that involved with a nuclear power?

Or is that the equivalent of Russian military hardware being stockpiled by Cuba?

One thing to pick a Veep on impulse. Another thing to pick up a nuclear war hair-trigger like this.

It gets better:

The information to date suggests that from the beginning of the war to its end, Georgia, which wants to join NATO, fought the war in a manner that undermined its efforts at presenting itself as a potentially serious military partner or power.

Mr. Saakashvilli and his advisers also say that even though he has no tactical military experience, he was at one time personally directing important elements of the battle--giving orders over a cellphone and deciding when to move a brigade from western to central Geogia to face advancing Russian columns.

But, by all means, give the kid a gun and signal to him that his plans for revenge are okay by you.

And then see where that promise takes you.

Georgia lost its Gaza and West Bank, and won't be getting either back any decade soon. This is Russia's border we're taking about here. Think carefully about the next steps and the "inviolable" U.S. strategic interests you're casually picking up, because those can quickly get our people dead.

And those orders shouldn't be taken over Saakashvilli's cellphone.

Comments

[Bruce Sterling]

McCain picked his running mate on impulse? Or was it on instinct an intuition of victory in November? Could have McCain picked a better veep to fill the gender vacuum created by Obama's choice of Biden over Hillary who would have ensured his victory? Biden who garnered 180,000 votes verses Hillary's 18 million? Amazingly Palin is gov of Alaska, purchased from Russia in 1867 and right next door. Another indication that more trouble from Russia is coming especially from its alliance with radical terrorist intransigent Iran. This is no time for girlie men like the long on brains short on guts Obama.

[anand]

I agree with you. I don't think Bush, Rice or Gates would behave rashly with Russia (at least in practice.)

McCain and Biden (if Obama listens to him) are likely to take a much harder line.

Nothing about McCain scares me more than his rhetoric about Russia. Russia is pushing to accelerate the training and equipping of the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces), and are open to playing a larger role in this "CRITICAL" effort.http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_10352061America's emphasis should be on working with Afghanistan against AQ linked networks, the Taliban and Takfiris more generally, rather than harsh rhetoric.

American military officials have quietly said that the Taliban has 200,000 soldiers inside Pakistan. Some of them are good quality:http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JI04Df05.html

Thom, is McCain potentially rash on issues other than Russia?

[Ted O'Connor]

The history of man in Europe is war. From clan chieftans to kings to prime ministers there have been men who loved to order the murder of others. Now in another tiny place short of soap and razors, a two-bit politician tries to battle the Russian army with a cell phone. Did he incur "roaming charges" while he dodged the Spetsnaz commandos? Is it possible that a fool like this could drag us into a military confrontation with Russia? Will this backwater generate the dreaded "3:00AM" phone call? Will there be a bigger fool answering the phone at the White House? Maybe it's time to call the Chinese. Time to tell them "Fellas, we can't handle it anymore, you need to take over now. We will just drop down to second place, maybe even third. You guys take the 3:00AM calls from now on. We don't want to wake up the kids.

[Pilgrim]

Wise counsel Tom. Anything we do should be done with an eye toward balance, scale and proportion regarding the consequences. War is a horrible heartbreaking business.

[Patrick O'Connor]

Choosing Sen Clinton would not have assured Obama's victory and stating that is intellectually hollow. The Alaska is next to Russia argument is ludicrous on its face. The rest of the post is mere dick measuring which you will find most readers of this blog left behind in adolescence.

[Jarrod Myrick]

Bruce Sterling,

Obama was free to choose *you* if he so desired.

[Ted B. (Charging Rhino)]

Someone needs to rein-in the misguided ideologues at NATO. NATO doesn't exist to gobble-up every nascent semi-democracy in Western Eurasia...certainly not outside of Europe-proper. Certainly not Georgia or the other Caucasas statelets. Other than one or two oil-pipelines what compelling-interest does the US have in Georgia? It's time to start vetoing additional inclusion to NATO, or revise the Charter that places us on a hair-trigger to "defend" minor and ambitious statelets who insist on antagonizing their neighbors when that antagonism is squarely against compelling American or NATO interests.

[Bill C.]

Is Georgia becoming Russia's (and the United States' next) "Taiwan?"

[Michael]

There is a compromise on this: we can help rebuild the Georgian military, but in the form of a defensive militia. Every able-bodied Georgian (and resident minorities) would learn to fight, attend drills and be issued weapons. The professional military would consist only of the officers and non-coms in charge of logistics, training, wartime leadership and a handful of specialized units. No air force or navy, only a coast guard, intelligence service and a few coastal artillery and engineering units.

In short, not a big threat to Russian territory unless Saakashvili could somehow persuade most of his population to risk their lives on an attack--but murderous hell for the poor bastard who tries to invade.

[Tom Barnett]

Bill C.,

That is my essential fear.