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December 2, 2008 7:28:07 PM CST

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Georgia Pushing to Rebuild Shattered Army Even Bigger

Posted Sep 3, 08 5:25 AM CDT in Politics,  Technology,  World 

(Newser) – The dust has barely settled from the catastrophic clash with Russia but Georgia's leaders are already keen to start rebuilding the country's pulverized army, the New York Times reports. Ambitious plans are being made to remake the military bigger and better than before—with plenty of US help. But Western military experts say the Georgian army is lacking more than just equipment.

Georgia's logistics and communications were poor, contributing to the military's panicked retreat in the face of the Russian advance, say Western officers. Pentagon officials have confirmed that the US is examining what will be needed to rebuild the Georgian army. But for now, worried about putting further stress on relations with Russia, the White House is choosing to highlight its humanitarian aid.

Source New York Times

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A Georgian man stands near Russian troops leaving the Georgian army base of Senaki, western Georgia, last month.   (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
Commander of the Senaki Georgian Army Base, Alekxander Kiknadze, observes the destruction left behind by Russian soldiers in Senaki, western Georgia.   (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
Georgian soldiers observe the debris left behind by Russians in the Senaki Georgian Army Base in Senaki, western Georgia, last month.   (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
Georgian army officers in civilian clothing raise their national flag in the Senaki army base just after Russian troops left last month.   (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
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I believe that soon there will be an American military base in Georgia, officially. And not only advisers. There will be a flag, tanks, artillery, aviation, even marines. - Dmitri O. Rogozin, Russia’s representative to NATO

Together with Europeans and the United States, we have to rebuild our army and make it stronger, because it is in the common interest. Who will be the next victim? Nobody knows. - Davit Kezerashvili, Georgia’s defense minister

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Russia • Georgia • military • South Ossetia • Mikheil Saakashvili • Tbilisi


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