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.