Another area where Georgia needs U.S. support is in rebuilding its defenses. Georgia is doing more fighting in Afghanistan than much of the NATO alliance it wishes to join. Yet it has been a struggle to get the administration to provide Georgian troops heading into combat even basic equipment, armored vehicles and replacement parts. Beyond this short-term assistance, Georgia needs long-term support to provide for its own defense. This is likely to entail antitank capabilities, air defenses, early-warning radar and other defensive systems that should not be misconstrued as U.S. endorsement for any Georgian use of force against its separatist regions. Georgia will always be less powerful than Russia, but that is no reason to leave it vulnerable two years after a Russian invasion. [Emphasis added]
Russia lost the Russo-Georgia War of 2008, having gained nothing but what they already had--two break-away regions already under Russian control.
But like any war won on the battlefield, our side can suffer if it won't wage the post-war. Supply the weapons Georgia needs to destroy armored vehicles and shoot down aircraft (and train them to use them!). Do that and the distant Russians will think twice about initiating round two.
And supply Georgia with appropriate weapons so other countries in Russia's near abroad won't conclude that Russia won in 2008, and so move toward appeasing Russia at our expense.
