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MOSCOW PREPPING FOR WAR ON NEIGHBOR?
WND
Sept 24 2012
Troops exercise in shadow of once-invaded Georgia
Editor's Note: The following report is excerpted from Joseph Farah's
G2 Bulletin, the premium online newsletter published by the founder
of WND. Subscriptions are $99 a year or, for monthly trials, just
$9.95 per month for credit card users, and provide instant access
for the complete reports.
WASHINGTON - It could be deja vu all over again - as a Russian-led
security group is in the process of holding a series of military
exercises for the first time in the South Caucasus in what may be a
prelude to a military attack on the former Soviet republic of Georgia,
next door, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.
Russia has on the calendar a series of military exercises this month
and next in cooperation with the Russian-led Collective Security
Treaty Organization, or CSTO. The largest, called Kavkaz-2012, was
held in Russia's South Military District in southern Russia.
The just-finished project involved more than 8,000 personnel, 200
military vehicles, 100 artillery and 10 combat vehicles. It included
security forces from the Federal Security Service and Interior ministry
in addition to the Ministry of Defense.
It was significant since it drew the attention of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, which has been in the process of conducting its
own military exercises in Georgia reflecting scenarios that affect
critical infrastructure.
Nevertheless, the fact that NATO is conducting a military exercise
in the Republic of Georgia has raised concerns with neighboring Russia.
Russia's reaction and the fact that it's conducting military exercises
of its own are of particular concern to Georgia, which was the
subject of a Russian invasion in August 2008 following a similar
annual military exercise.
Georgia is in the South Caucasus and has continued to block a land
corridor that the Russians need to reach their sole base in Armenia,
where they intend to hold another CSTO military exercise.
Although smaller, the exercise in Armenia where the Russians have a
single base may be more significant. It is the first to be held in
the South Caucasus. However, the Russians need to fly in all supplies
since Georgia continues to block land access.
As WND/G2Bulletin has reported previously, the Russians are incensed
by the Georgian government's ongoing block of land access for the
Armenian base. The Russians also intend to provide assistance to Iran
next door to Armenia should the Israelis decide to launch a military
attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
The Russian base in Armenia receives all of its fuel and some supplies
from neighboring Iran.
The military exercise in Armenia also is significant, since it is
the first CSTO exercise involving the countries of Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan in the South Caucasus.
Like NATO, the CSTO members are obliged to respond to any threat to
its members.
"Given the fact that none of the CSTO members recognized the
independence of (the breakaway Georgian provinces) of Abkhazia or
South Ossetia, it is unclear what the precise circumstances might
involve in order to convince Central Asian members to send forces to a
crisis or conflict situation in the South Caucasus," according to Roger
McDermott of the Washington-based think-tank Jamestown Foundation.
However, a collective military exercise, as in 2008, may just be a
cover for Russian President Vladimir Putin to stage his forces for
the impending October parliamentary elections in Georgia.
Already, Georgian officials are sounding the alarm.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry claims that Russia is positioning large
numbers of troops and military equipment in the Georgian breakaway
provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The amassing of troops comes as Georgia prepares to hold parliamentary
elections on Oct. 1.
For the rest of this report and other G2 Intelligence Briefs, please
go to Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin: ~UIran/Turkey: Vying for influence
in Iraq ~UChina/Russia: Race is on for Central Asia influence
~UChina/Japan: Island fight could hit economies ~UVenezuela/United
States: Worries rise over narc subs
http://www.wnd.com/2012/09/moscow-prepping-for-war-on-neighbor/?cat_orig=world
WND
Sept 24 2012
Troops exercise in shadow of once-invaded Georgia
Editor's Note: The following report is excerpted from Joseph Farah's
G2 Bulletin, the premium online newsletter published by the founder
of WND. Subscriptions are $99 a year or, for monthly trials, just
$9.95 per month for credit card users, and provide instant access
for the complete reports.
WASHINGTON - It could be deja vu all over again - as a Russian-led
security group is in the process of holding a series of military
exercises for the first time in the South Caucasus in what may be a
prelude to a military attack on the former Soviet republic of Georgia,
next door, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.
Russia has on the calendar a series of military exercises this month
and next in cooperation with the Russian-led Collective Security
Treaty Organization, or CSTO. The largest, called Kavkaz-2012, was
held in Russia's South Military District in southern Russia.
The just-finished project involved more than 8,000 personnel, 200
military vehicles, 100 artillery and 10 combat vehicles. It included
security forces from the Federal Security Service and Interior ministry
in addition to the Ministry of Defense.
It was significant since it drew the attention of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, which has been in the process of conducting its
own military exercises in Georgia reflecting scenarios that affect
critical infrastructure.
Nevertheless, the fact that NATO is conducting a military exercise
in the Republic of Georgia has raised concerns with neighboring Russia.
Russia's reaction and the fact that it's conducting military exercises
of its own are of particular concern to Georgia, which was the
subject of a Russian invasion in August 2008 following a similar
annual military exercise.
Georgia is in the South Caucasus and has continued to block a land
corridor that the Russians need to reach their sole base in Armenia,
where they intend to hold another CSTO military exercise.
Although smaller, the exercise in Armenia where the Russians have a
single base may be more significant. It is the first to be held in
the South Caucasus. However, the Russians need to fly in all supplies
since Georgia continues to block land access.
As WND/G2Bulletin has reported previously, the Russians are incensed
by the Georgian government's ongoing block of land access for the
Armenian base. The Russians also intend to provide assistance to Iran
next door to Armenia should the Israelis decide to launch a military
attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
The Russian base in Armenia receives all of its fuel and some supplies
from neighboring Iran.
The military exercise in Armenia also is significant, since it is
the first CSTO exercise involving the countries of Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan in the South Caucasus.
Like NATO, the CSTO members are obliged to respond to any threat to
its members.
"Given the fact that none of the CSTO members recognized the
independence of (the breakaway Georgian provinces) of Abkhazia or
South Ossetia, it is unclear what the precise circumstances might
involve in order to convince Central Asian members to send forces to a
crisis or conflict situation in the South Caucasus," according to Roger
McDermott of the Washington-based think-tank Jamestown Foundation.
However, a collective military exercise, as in 2008, may just be a
cover for Russian President Vladimir Putin to stage his forces for
the impending October parliamentary elections in Georgia.
Already, Georgian officials are sounding the alarm.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry claims that Russia is positioning large
numbers of troops and military equipment in the Georgian breakaway
provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The amassing of troops comes as Georgia prepares to hold parliamentary
elections on Oct. 1.
For the rest of this report and other G2 Intelligence Briefs, please
go to Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin: ~UIran/Turkey: Vying for influence
in Iraq ~UChina/Russia: Race is on for Central Asia influence
~UChina/Japan: Island fight could hit economies ~UVenezuela/United
States: Worries rise over narc subs
http://www.wnd.com/2012/09/moscow-prepping-for-war-on-neighbor/?cat_orig=world