----- Original Message ----- From: Rick Rozoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2000 3:40 PM Subject: [STOPNATO] NATO Expands To South China Sea STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM [Good news. Next year's exercises will include the new Imperial Japan. Maybe they can team up with German and Italian forces - for aude lang syne.] Bangkok Post May 24, 2000 COBRA GOLD 2000 Army upbeat as war games end Japan expected at next year's exercises Wassana Nanuam in Pattani The two-week Cobra Gold 2000 joint military exercise between Thai, US and Singaporean troops ended yesterday. The closing ceremony was attended by Supreme Commander Gen Mongkol Ampornpisit and US ambassador to Thailand Richard Hecklinger. Thai and American soldiers land on a beach in Pattani on the last day of the two-week Cobra Gold 2000 military exercise yesterday. Thai, US and Singaporean military personnel took part in the exercise. _ BOONNARONG BHUDHIPANYA It was the first time a third country had joined the annual military drill. Singapore deployed 29 personnel for involvement in the Command Post Exercise. It is expected to increase that number to 60 next year. Lt-Gen Permsak Puangsaroj, chief of Joint Operations Directorate, said next year's exercise in the North could see Japan participating as well. However, Japan must first formally request to become an observer, he said. "The principle is that they must make a formal request to join the exercises because we make no invitations. And they have to be an observer first," he said. The US is also willing to conduct a joint exercise with China, Lt-Gen Permsak said. From this year onwards, the exercises would focus on peacekeeping operations to support the United Nations' Standby Forces Arrangement, Lt-Gen Permsak said. The military drills would prepare the troops for operations similar in nature to the deployment of multinational forces in East Timor and should not be viewed as a threat to other Asian countries, he said. Rear Admiral William Pickavance of the US Navy also voiced support for expanding the number of countries joining the Cobra Gold exercise, he said. Next year's exercises will take place in the North under the jurisdiction of the Third Army. ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb
