This Is Somewhat Disquieting
The Russian government, with no warning and quite publicly, just canceled long-standing plans to conduct joint military exercises with American forces. The exercises have been held in the past with no problems. Suddenly, the Russians are claiming that there are disagreements over the status of US troops (who were supposed to be unarmed during the exercise).
MOSCOW, Sept. 5 — Citing legal problems, Russia's Defense Ministry on Tuesday abruptly postponed joint military exercises with American forces that were scheduled to start later this month in central Russia. The exercises were drawing increasing criticism from the Communist Party and other groups angry over the prospect of U.S. troops on Russian soil.
Disagreements over "the status of U.S. personnel who planned to participate in the exercises" brought on the Russian decision, an unidentified ministry official told the Russian news agency Interfax. Granting U.S. requests on this question was impossible, the official said, "because any decision by Russia not to exercise its jurisdiction over arriving foreign contingents runs counter to the laws of the Russian Federation."
The Defense Ministry declined to explain the status issues or why they arose now between two countries that conducted joint exercises in Russia as recently as last year. Nearly 300 U.S. and Russian troops held joint maneuvers outside Moscow in an exercise called Torgau, named after the German town where American and Soviet troops met up in the final days of World War II in Europe.
The ministry now wants a ratified agreement on the issues that concern it, Interfax reported.
In Washington, a Pentagon official said the U.S. side had received no official word of a postponement and held out the possibility that the exercise might go ahead if remaining issues with the Russians can be worked out. Speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions remain open, the official said the size of the U.S. force has been a point of contention.
This is an odd situation. The object of the exercise was to enable US and Russian forces to be able to operate together in case of need. The abrupt cancellation sends a signal that Russia has no desire to do so, even if they are halting the exercise for internal political reasons.
World news | Gaius Tuesday, 5 September , 2006
By beth, Wednesday, 6 September , 2006 @ 12:26 am
The only times we have allied with Russia have been when we had a common enemy and needed to work together to defeat that enemy. I think they have never been a real ally. This is disconcerting to say the least.
By Bill Franklin, Wednesday, 6 September , 2006 @ 6:26 am
Maybe Russia doesn’t want to be viewed as a close ally of the United States, given how the opinion of America has deteriorated around the world. Even major European countries view America as the greatest threat to global stability:
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/13028
Maybe I’m really the ex-President of Iran. He (I?) just spoke recently and echoed the exact sentiments I’ve been saying here for the last few months:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/05/AR2006090501198_pf.html
In summary, America’s military intervention abroad has created more hatred, more terrorism, and less stability in the middle east.
Maybe it’s all part of an axis of Egos(tm) / Islaminati(tm) talking points that the ex-Prez and I read from. Or maybe it’s the truth. Let’s watch events unfold and see whether the Rightroots Independents(tm) version of reality is accurate, or my view.
By Gaius, Wednesday, 6 September , 2006 @ 6:33 am
Or maybe he just echoes what he kows will resonate with certain useful people.
By Roland Hesz, Wednesday, 6 September , 2006 @ 6:45 am
“The only times we have allied with Russia have been when we had a common enemy and needed to work together to defeat that enemy. I think they have never been a real ally. This is disconcerting to say the least.”
I think you are right there. Russia has never been a real ally of the USA.
And the USA has never been a real ally of Russia.
C’mon, two major political forces, competing for global dominance on the same globe.
How could they be “real allies”?
By the idiot, Thursday, 7 September , 2006 @ 9:28 am
I think we know now why the Russians did it.
By Gaius, Thursday, 7 September , 2006 @ 9:43 am
Good catch - you may have it exactly right here.