A friend in need

Georgian soldiers are seen past U.S. and Georgian flags during the opening ceremony of "Immediate Response 2008" at the Vaziani military base, outside Tbilisi, July 15, 2008.(Reuters)

The joint training exercise included 1000 U.S. troops together with allies Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. It ended last Thursday.


Georgian soldiers marking Georgian Independence Day in Baghdad on June 6, 2006 (epa)

At least 1000 of the 2000 Georgian troops currently deployed to Iraq will be returning home to help with the fighting there. The U.S. will be providing transport. The Georgians have been our friends and allies for some time. We must be there for them now. Although this conflict ostensibly concerns the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia, Russian troops have pushed through that area and have advanced further into central Georgia.

Mikheil Saakashvili, president of Georgia, in today's Wall Street Journal: The War in Georgia Is a War for the West.