| President Mikhail Saakashvili said Friday that Georgia will increase its troop contribution to the U.S.-led mission in Iraq, linking the move to President Bush's re-election. Saakashvili made the announcement in a televised address but did not say how many extra troops would be deployed. Georgia said earlier this week that some 300 troops will join 150 in Iraq now, but it wasn't clear if Saakashvili was referring to these or additional troops. U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher on Thursday said that Georgia was increasing its troop strength in Iraq to 850. However, Georgian defense officials have yet to confirm that. In announcing the increase, Saakashvili mentioned the re-election of President Bush, who he called a friend of Georgia. "In today's world, it is impossible to decide one's own security without friends and allies," said Saakashvili. |