Monday, June 29, 2009

Russia Holds Major War Games In Caucasus, Stokes Tensions in The Region

Artillery practice at Ingur frontier post, where Russian border guards have been deployed to defend Abkhazia's border with Georgia. Photo Radio free Europe

From CBS News:

Russia Holds Largest War Games Since War With Georgia. In Signal To Georgia, And To US

(AP) Thousands of troops, backed by hundreds of tanks, artillery and other heavy weaponry, began rumbling through the North Caucasus on Monday, as Russia began its largest military exercises since last year's war with Georgia.

The Caucasus 2009 war games are being seen by many experts as a warning shot for nearby Georgia, where the government says it has rearmed armed forces and where NATO recently wrapped up its own exercises.

Read more ....

More News On Russia's Military Exercises

Russian Military Exercises Increase Georgian Tensions
-- Huffington Post
Russia stokes tensions with Georgia as troops gather near border -- Times Online
Friction Feeds Fears Of New Russia-Georgia Conflict -- Radio Free Europe
Russian exercises anger Georgia -- BBC
Russia starts large-scale war games, Georgia fumes -- Reuters

My Comment: This is Russia flexing its muscle, but it is also a symbol of Russia's concerns with the Caucasus, and the growth of terrorism and separatist movements in this region.

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