Waiting for America: American and Georgian flags are flown as crowds gather to listen to President Saakashvili in Tbilisi on Aug. 12. Under Saakashvili, Georgia has been a close U.S. ally, and many Georgians felt betrayed when American troops did not arrive to help repel the Russian invasion during the early days of the conflict. After the cease-fire agreement was signed, President George W. Bush announced that the U.S. military would provide humanitarian aid to Georgia’s citizens.