U.S. To Resume Training Georgian Troops

Georgian soldiers in May, taking part in exercises organized by NATO, over Russian objections. Pool Photo by Nina Shlamova

From The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — The United States is resuming a combat training mission in the former Soviet republic of Georgia to prepare its army for counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan, despite the risks of angering Russia, senior Defense Department officials said Thursday.

The training effort is intended to prepare Georgian troops to fight at NATO standards alongside American and allied forces in Afghanistan, the Pentagon officials said.

Russian officials have been informed, American officials said. The training should not worry the Kremlin, they said, because it would not involve skills that would be useful against a large conventional force like Russia’s.

Read more ....

My Comment: The Russian Government does not care about the training that a few hundred Georgian soldiers are going to receive .... they care more about the political significance and the media play from such a joint event.

Biden Says US Ties To Russia Won't Hurt Georgia

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) stands next to Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili in Tbilisi July 22, 2009. Biden, visiting Georgia on Wednesday, said the United States "stands with" the former Soviet republic a year after war with Russia, and urged consolidation of its 2003 revolution. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili (GEORGIA)

From Yahoo News/AP:

TBILISI, Georgia – In a speech interrupted by several standing ovations, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told somber Georgian officials on Thursday that Washington stands behind them a year after their army was routed in a war with neighboring Russia.

The war last August came as Georgia sought to regain control of South Ossetia, one of two separatist regions backed by Moscow. Since then, Russia has recognized the two Georgian territories as independent nations and sent troops to defend them.

Read more ....

My Comment: After all the nice talk .... no agreement for the U.S. to send to Georgia the weapons that the Georgians had requested.

Biden Heads To Georgia, US Flashpoint With Russia

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, meets Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, July 21, 2009. Biden arrived in Ukraine for a three-day working visit. (AP Photo/Olexander Prokopenko/Pool)

From Yahoo News/AP:

KIEV, Ukraine – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden rejected the Russian push for a sphere of influence over former Soviet nations, saying as he headed to Georgia on Wednesday that no nation could veto another country's choices.

It has been almost a year since Georgia's war with Russia turned the small nation on the far frontier of Europe into the epicenter of the simmering conflict between Moscow and the West. President Barack Obama's attempt to rebuild relations with Russia has raised concerns among some of Russia's East European neighbors that the U.S. might abandon their interests.

Read more ....

Update: Biden rejects Russian sphere of influence -- Yahoo News/AP

My Comment: My contacts in Eastern Europe are telling me that many are concerned about the U.S. focus on its relations with Russia. As far as they are concerned, their population base, economy, and strategic importance is equal if not better than what Russia can offer to the U.S.

I tend to agree but on two points. Russia has a nuclear stockpile, and it also has vast energy supplies that make them a strategic partner for now.

But the future will reside in Eastern Europe.

One More Reason For The Russians To Not Trust Us

Vice President Joe Biden,speaks at J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Va., Thursday, July 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Biden To Greet Eager Allies In Ukraine And Georgia -- Yahoo News/AP

KIEV, Ukraine – Vice President Joe Biden is visiting Georgia and Ukraine starting Monday, meeting leaders eager for further reassurance that Washington still supports their joining NATO and that its effort to warm relations with Russia won't come at their expense.

The Kremlin, having seen several former communist countries of Eastern Europe enter the Western alliance, strongly opposes more of its own former republics joining. And although the Obama administration has insisted nothing has changed regarding the Georgian and Ukrainian candidacies, there's a widespread perception in the former Soviet bloc that the U.S. has opted to move more slowly.

Read more ....

Update: Biden heads to Ukraine, Georgia to show US support -- AFP

My Comment: The Russian leadership is not going to be happy with this trip .... but the U.S. administration is doing the right thing. The U.S. has been ignoring Eastern Europe and former Soviet States in favor of a Russian focus .... this visit should put things back into balance.

U.S., Georgia to Sign Strategic Pact

From The Danger Room:

Months after Georgia fought a short, nasty war with its northern neighbor, the United States is moving to shore up security ties with the former Soviet Republic.

Agence France-Presse reports that Georgian officials will sign a "strategic partnership" treaty on Jan. 4 in Washington. On Tuesday, the Department of State issued the first confirmation that the United States and Georgia would pursue a more formal security arrangement. In a response to questions from reporters, State issued the following news release:

Read more ....