Did the U.S. Prep Georgia for War with Russia?

Did the U.S. Prep Georgia for War with Russia?

blog.wired.com

Since early 2002, the U.S. government has given a healthy amount of military aid to Georgia. When I last visited South Ossetia, Georgian troops manned a checkpoint outside Tskhinvali -- decked out in surplus U.S. Army uniforms and new body armor.

The first U.S. aid came under the rubric of the Georgia Train and Equip Program (ostensibly to counter alleged Al Qaeda influence in the Pankisi Gorge); then, under the Sustainment and Stability Operations Program. Georgia returned the favor, committing thousands of troops to the multi-national coalition in Iraq. Last fall, the Georgians doubled their contingent, making them the third-largest contributor to the coalition. Not bad for a nation of 4.6 million people.

(visit the link for the full news article)



Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
Russian tanks 'rolling into Georgian breakaway'
Russian volunteers head for South Ossetia
Georgia Downs Two Russian Planes
Threat of War in Georgia

[edit on 9/8/08 by Smokersroom] Having some difficulties with links, grrr....

[edit on 9/8/08 by Smokersroom]

The U.S. is a very strong ally of Georgia, and they will need to take some difficult decisions in the UN, and with NATO over the coming days.

As Georgia & Russia stumble into a full blown conflict, the US has to avoid dragging anyone else in, fanning the flames of a very tense region.

blog.wired.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

This wiki link provides some very important information on just how much the US has invested in Georgia, both financially and strategically.

en.wikipedia.org...

Already posted I believe:
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Different title, same content.

reply to post by The Godfather of Conspira


Hmm slightly different I think.

A question which is nagging at me. If Georgia has shot down two modern Russian planes, what advanced level of technology would be required, and who supplied it?

And why would they need such advanced surface to air systems to combat 'al-qaeda', the stated goal of the train and equip program?

Originally posted by Smokersroom
reply to post by The Godfather of Conspira

 

Hmm slightly different I think.

A question which is nagging at me. If Georgia has shot down two modern Russian planes, what advanced level of technology would be required, and who supplied it?

And why would they need such advanced surface to air systems to combat 'al-qaeda', the stated goal of the train and equip program?

I have heard the number was about five...anyway,that doesnt really take *advanced* technology..the first two were not in a war with georgia...the others is not a large loss for russia...im sure gerogia has good missile defence systems....but russia hasn't even flexed its muscles yet..gerogia has no airforce what so ever,russia would roll over georgia in a few days.They are hoping the international community intervines before then though obviously...but i dont think thats going to happen....

reply to post by Smokersroom

A question which is nagging at me. If Georgia has shot down two modern Russian planes, what advanced level of technology would be required, and who supplied it?

Advanced? Hardly...

Look at the Chechen conflicts, Russia lost dozens of helicopters and ground attack aircraft to Chechen separatists armed with at best ex-Soviet Strela 3's, but the majority wielding the older infrared homing shoulder-fired Strela 2's.

The two planes Russia lost in the opening stages of this conflict were most likely Frogfoots (Su-25), low altitude ground support aircraft, or older Yakolev's/MiG's like the MiG-23, probably on forward observation.

Since the Russians hadn't yet at that stage mobilised the cream of air force from the North Caucasian airfields to provide cover, they were most likely older planes marshalled from the nearest airfields to provide reconnaissance Intel on the Georgian forces moving North.

Hence they were much easier to intercept (older, no countermeasures, slow, low-flying).
In fact they probably weren't even expecting the Georgians to have any S-2-A capabilities, hence why they were unescorted.

The Georgians while having virtually no air force do have a wide variety of SAM's, some of them quite potent Soviet-era stuff like the SA-11 Gadfly.
www.globalsecurity.org...

It's definitely not outside Georgia's capability to take down Russian aircraft, but without any air cover, Russia is going establish superiority within days and begin neutralising their air defence network.

And why would they need such advanced surface to air systems to combat 'al-qaeda', the stated goal of the train and equip program?

I assume your talking about the proposed modernisation package Georgia was supposed to have planned with Israel and the US?

That was cancelled or stalled before too long and not much Western equipment ended up in the hands of the Georgians.

The army also received significant training assistance as well as equipment from the United States military: in 2002 (that is, already under Shevardnadze), an eighteen-month "train and equip" programme with a total budget of $64 million was started to modernise four infantry battalions and one mechanised company. Georgia also received valuable equipment, such as ten UH-1 transportation helicopters from the US government. The value of the US military cooperation with the Georgian armed forces in 2007 is estimated at $34 million. As a result, some 16,000 troops are now considered trained by the US military.

www.opendemocracy.net...

They received training for 4 battalions and some transport helicopters but that's about it.
The only Western equipment Georgian forces have been seen fielding are G-36's, everything else they've got is Soviet-era stuff.

Israel has recently cancelled military sales to Georgia:
www.jpost.com.../JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1215331198561