U.S. Military Support Of Georgia To Continue

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
CNN
August 12, 2008

The Situation Room (CNN), 5:00 PM
SUZANNE MALVEAUX: The conflict is especially troubling for the U.S. military, but leaders are formulating a plan.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joining us live -- Barbara, what are you picking up there?
BARBARA STARR: Well, Suzanne, what we're learning is that the chill with U.S.-Russian military relations is not likely to melt any time soon. But the U.S. military is forging ahead with some new ideas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) STARR: U.S. Air Force C-17s are expected to begin flying into Georgia, carrying relief supplies, according to U.S. officials. But the Pentagon wants Russian assurances it won't challenge the U.S. military presence.
It's a frosty day for U.S./Russian military relations. The U.S. may send the hospital ship USNS Comfort to the Black Sea to offer humanitarian relief to Georgia, knowing full well Russia has a cordon of nearly 20 warships waiting there.
The strategy is all about reasserting the U.S. presence in Georgia in the face of the Russian offensive. About 70 U.S. military trainers are in the country and they will stay.
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters that, "removing them would inadvertently send a signal that the U.S. is abandoning Georgia, which we are not."
That training program is the linchpin of U.S. military support. The U.S. has trained Georgians in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, but not for the type of assault Russia inflicted. Any new U.S. military support will have to keep Georgia in check.
CHARLES KUPCHAN, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: Once the dust settles, the U.S. relationship with Georgia will continue, military-to-military cooperation. But I think the U.S. will be much more careful about restraining Georgia and making sure that this kind of escalation does not occur again.
STARR: Russia already is signaling it doesn't welcome the U.S. strategy of showing its face in Georgia.
SERGEY LAVROV [Russsian Foreign Minister] (Through translator): Many years we've been warning of the danger of arming Georgian leadership. We drew attention of our U.S. partners to the fact that their program of arming and training of the Georgian Army... (END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: But as another kind of U.S. displeasure, the U.S. Navy is planning to cancel participation in a U.S./Russian naval exercise off Russia's Pacific Coast that was scheduled for the coming days -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Thank you, Barbara Starr, very much.
 
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