Pentagon programs to bolster Georgian, Baltic forces

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Pentagon programs to bolster Georgian, Baltic forces
31 mins ago
The Pentagon said on Friday it would build military capabilities of Georgia and Baltic states bordering Russia to ready them for operations in Afghanistan, a move that could raise alarm in Moscow.


The Pentagon announcement came on the same day U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sealed an agreement on a landmark nuclear arms reduction treaty that they are to sign on April 8 in Prague.

Russia and Georgia fought a brief war in 2008 and U.S. officials have acknowledged tensions with Moscow in the past over similar programs to bolster the military capabilities of Russia's neighbours.

In notifications sent to Congress, the Pentagon said military assistance programs for Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Croatia and Hungary were designed to build their capacities "to conduct stability operations alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

Russia defeated Georgia's military bid to retake a pro-Moscow region from rebels in a five-day war that rekindled tension between the Kremlin and the West.


Read more: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20100326/tts-uk-usa-georgia-ca02f96.html

[pscot]

1. What an incredibly bad idea

Is there no way to rein in the pentagon's ambitions? We're flat broke and still borrowing from the international bankers to push the Empire right up to Russia's borders. Why? What do we hope to gain by this?

[Thothmes]

4. That is a question for the Commander in Chief

[bnymellon sucks]

2. Stay Out of Georgia

The Baltics is one thing but US needs to keep out of Georgia. Economic and social ties are fine but a military program in Georgia will anger Russia.

[nyy1998]

3. I'm sure Russia was pleased to hear this.