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NATO Class of 2008?

1:40 PM, Mar 20, 2008 • By JOHN NOONAN
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The president signals his support for Georgia to join NATO:

President Bush indicated support yesterday for Georgia's aspirations to join NATO eventually, but left uncertain whether he will try to start the process at the alliance summit next month in Bucharest, Romania.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made clear he opposes the prospect of Ukraine and Georgia -- former satellites of the Soviet Union -- joining NATO, leaving some alliance countries leery about provoking a conflict with Russia.

After meeting with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in the Oval Office yesterday, Bush said he would like to see Georgia become a NATO member at some point. "I believe that NATO benefits with a Georgian membership. I believe Georgia benefits from being a part of NATO. And I told the president it's a message I'll be taking to Bucharest soon," Bush said.

Just another ally that will be unwilling to dirty its hands in Afghanistan? Or would the Georgians turn out to be shooters like the Poles? NATO also needs fresh troops to unscrew the mess that is Kosovo, but perhaps the alliance should focus on properly integrating the current force before they start bringing more newbies on board.

Still, I love the idea of Ukraine signing the charter. Putting NATO on a new eastern European border (Estonia and Latvia are already there) with the Russians gives me nostalgic Cold War warm fuzzies. And--if nothing else--it'd make the alliance somewhat less of an anachronism.

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