U.S. mulls future Georgia military aid

TBILISI, Georgia, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- The Bush administration and U.S. military leaders are debating whether to help Georgia rebuild its military after its stinging defeat by Russia, sources say.

U.S. officials said they are concerned that overt aid to Georgia might antagonize Russia and they are also reportedly wary of Georgia's leadership after the decision to attack the breakaway republic of South Ossetia triggered a massive Russian response, The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, reported Wednesday.

On the other hand, a decision to not aid Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili with his goal of rebuilding and upgrading his country's military deterrent could be seen as abandoning an ally in the face of Russian aggression, sources said.

Georgian defense officials in Tbilisi told the Times they want to re-equip its army's four brigades with modern equipment and grow the size of its air force.

And the country has strong ties to both major party U.S. presidential candidates. Democratic Party vice presidential nominee Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., visited Saakashvili last month. The Georgian president also received a visit from Cindy McCain, the wife of likely Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.