US Denies Troops Fighting In Georgia

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Baughman, 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Carson, Colo., instructs Georgian army soldiers on the dangers of conducting live-fire ambushes and maintaining muzzle control. In the third phase of the Georgia Train and Equip Program, the Georgian army is learning airmobile operations, basic and advanced rifle marksmanship, and tactical movement. U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Edward D. Holzapfel (October 25, 2002)

From The Herald Sun:

THE US denied a Russian suggestion today that US military trainers were linked to a Georgian attack on South Ossetia and that some of them may have been killed.

"Everyone is accounted for and safe," said Pentagon spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Hibner. "There are no reports of an American troop being killed."

Earlier today in Brussels, Russia's NATO Ambassador hinted at US military backing for Georgia's sudden military incursion into the breakaway region of South Ossetia last week.

"At least 127 American military instructors were in Georgia at the beginning of the conflict. There were joint training sessions that happened right before the start of the conflict," Dmitry Rogozin said.

He indicated that some soldiers killed in the fighting could prove to be American, speaking of "dark-skinned Georgians" found dead.

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My Comment: I hope that the Pentagon spokeswoman is right .... if even one American soldier is directly aiding Georgian soldiers on the front line .... this would set back Russian / American relations for a period of time.

From the Russian point of view it is bad enough that U.S. Air Force transport planes are flying in Georgian soldiers with full battle gear, but if U.S. servicemen are on the front line .....