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http://www.therussianissues.com/topics/53/02/03/19/13692.html What is the U.S. Doing in Georgia? (Kommersant-vlast’) Factors point to a war with Abkhazia by Olga Allenova 19.03.2002, 17:10 -Interestingly, Georgian journalists are talking about rumors coming from the country's corridors of power, claiming that all the fuss over the forthcoming operation in the Pankisis Gorge is nothing but a tactical move designed to distract public opinion from preparations for a war with Abkhazia. Journalists come to Georgia's capital Tbilisi in droves these days. The hotels are packed to overflowing, with numerous journalists from Moscow roaming the corridors of Georgian government buildings. Mirian Kiknadze, head of the public relations service of the defense ministry, is not amused: "There are so many journalists around here that the troops can't keep up with their training schedule," he complained. Nobody is trying to shoo the journalists away, though. On the contrary, everybody is going out of their way to make them comfortable. Want to visit a military airfield? Go ahead. Want to see troops in training? No problem. Or, perhaps, you want to see the new American UH-1H helicopters? Be our guest. The invitations seem to be intended to demonstrate that the Georgians have nothing to hide. The invitations seem to be intended to demonstrate that the Georgians have nothing to hide. Defense Minister David Tevzadze confessed to me he could not understand Russia's policies. He said Moscow already knew in the fall of last year that U.S. special-purpose troops would come to Georgia, stressing that the two sides made arrangements for the visit back in 1995 following the signing of a program of cooperation between Georgia's National Guard and the National Guard for the state of Georgia, the United States. "We said at a briefing in October that American specialists would visit us under a program that would be implemented in the following months," the Minister said. "Russia's military attache attended that briefing. And now three months later -- this scandal over American special-purpose troops. As if we tried to hide our plans and act in an underhand way. That's what I don't understand. We are not hiding anything." Nearly all of General Tevzadze's subordinates are former Soviet officers, but none of them has any qualms about the prospect of being trained by Americans. "If the Russians agreed to do the same, we would not reject their help either. Our army does need help; the men have lost many of their skills. You'll see that on the training ground." The minister said he was proud of the fact that he had gone through a course of study in the United States. Frankly, as the other journalists and I watched a battalion training at the Krtsanisi training ground, I did not get the impression that the Georgian Army was all that weak. In fact, the exercise looked quite impressive, with soldiers jumping out of a mock helicopter and opening fire on the run, firing at targets, climbing a vertical wall and carrying other soldiers over their shoulders. That is not the sort of thing you would normally see in a Russian Army unit. Interestingly, Georgian journalists are talking about rumors coming from the country's corridors of power, claiming that all the fuss over the forthcoming operation in the Pankisis Gorge is nothing but a tactical move designed to distract public opinion from preparations for a war with Abkhazia. Whether this is true or not is hard to say, but what catches the eye is that Georgian military officials are only too willing to talk about Pankisis, but give incoherent and evasive replies to journalists' questions about Abkhazia. What catches the eye is that Georgian military officials are only too willing to talk about Pankisis, but give incoherent and evasive replies to journalists' questions about Abkhazia. One of the rumors claims that the Pankisis operation will equip the Georgian troops with skills for an operation in the mountains of Abkhazia. There are reports claiming that American commanders will lead Georgian troops to Pankisis, but not a single official has confirmed the reports. Georgia's constitution says foreign troops cannot take part in military operations within the country's territory. But a Georgian journalist suggested in a conversation with me that Tbilisi might dub the military operation a training exercise, and in that case the operation would be quite in line with the constitution. "After all," he pointed out, "Russia hasn't been calling a war, a war." I asked the Georgian minister to tell me about how the Americans would train Georgian troops. "Nothing special," he replied, "but it will be on a different level...a very high level. As you understand, our people should have proper clothes, footwear and food. The American military provides all that under a joint program." The general said the aid was quite substantial. Defense ministry officials told me that six American UH-1H helicopters and two Turkish ones had arrived at the Vaziani military airfield. Foreign technicians laying the groundwork for the construction of helicopter hangers would teach the Georgian airmen. About a year ago graduates of Georgia's National Military Academy were dispatched to the United States to learn to pilot the helicopters that were to be supplied to Georgia. Over eight months, Georgian pilots were taught how to pilot them in bad weather and at night. The Georgians received excellent piloting skills and a good command of English. The latest group of Georgian pilots is going through training now. When they return home, they will teach their skills to the younger generation of pilots. Author(s): Olga Allenova Translators: Gennady Nikiforov Copywrite Editor: Suzanne Daly __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - live college hoops coverage http://sports.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
