RUSSIAN GROUND FORCES ARE MOVING TOWARDS GEORGE AT THE SAME TIME 22 WAR SHIPS HEAD THERE
APR 20 2009
Russia has sent an official
notification to NATO’s general secretary,
Hoop Scheffer, proposing that "all upcoming military exercises planned in
Georgia should be postponed or canceled.”
On any other day of the year, I would read news article
discussing a disagreement between NATO and Russia regarding Black Sea naval
activity and dismiss it, but this isn't an
average day. Earlier this week, as per the agreement between Russia and
the Ukraine, Russian officials notified the Ukraine that 22 of its Black Sea
Fleet vessels will leave Sevastopol for military maneuvers. Those ships were
expected to depart earlier this week, but it was noteworthy when all of the
amphibious ships deployed first rather than all of the ships at once.
The Black Sea Fleet has now deployed all 22 ships, which is getting some
attention in the region because regional news reports have noted the Russian
military exercises taking place in the Caucasus since the political turmoil
and protests began last week in Georgia. There has been a
lot of discussion over the past several days,
mostly unverified hearsay and internet chatter, of movement of Russian troops
towards the Russian-Georgian border and into Abkhazia as part of those
exercises. Those rumors were confirmed today when an
EU monitor told Reuters
"it had registered Russian reinforcements at the boundaries between
Georgian-controlled territory and South Ossetia and Abkhazia."
A confidential assessment compiled by EU diplomats in Georgia and seen by
Reuters said the Russian reinforcements included tanks, armoured personnel
carriers, artillery and "Grad" multiple-rocket launchers.
"Thus the situation at the ABL (administrative boundary line) remains in
flux and volatile as Russian/South Ossetian forces continue to establish new
facts on the ground," said the the assessment, dated April 13.
This afternoon, the Eurasia Daily Monitor also noted the chatter in the region, and weighed in on the unfolding events.
It is important that the Russian military acknowledges its mobilization and forward deployment of troops and ships. At present, it is impossible to know precisely how many additional army units have been moved within striking distance of Georgian territory. However, the composition of the naval force that disembarked from Sevastopol is not secret, since the Ukrainian authorities must be informed. It seems to be larger than the force that was deployed against Georgia last August. Four large amphibious landing craft left Sevastopol last week, while in August 2008 only two were reportedly deployed to insert a regiment of marines into Abkhazia in the small port of Ochamchira, close to the border with Georgia (Vlast, August 18). The marines were later deployed in the invasion of Western Georgia.
The report goes on to note:
After the war, Georgia disbanded its navy, handing over its surviving ships to the local coast guard. The Russian naval flotilla lead by "Moskva" will not find any opposition at sea, but the deployment of a large amphibious force formed of thousands of marines armed with heavy weapons on board is a threatening sight. The low capacity narrow roads leading from Russia into Georgia (one into Abkhazia and another leading into South Ossetia) create immense logistical problems in rapidly deploying large military contingents into Georgia if Moscow opts for a "humanitarian intervention" to bring about "regime change." The insertion of a sizable marine force with heavy weapons was used last August to bypass the clogged up overland routes and this could prove important again. The Russian military knew beforehand the exact timing of its pre-arranged invasion and fully controlled the pre-war armed provocations by the South Ossetian forces, whereas in the present crisis the situation is much more volatile.
The Jamestown Foundation's Pavel Felgenhauer has a fantastic record when it
comes to observing military activity in that region. Just prior to the
breakout of hostilities last year, he wrote an article regarding the
Russian railroad troops that had
completed to connect Russia with Abkhazia. These railroads were used within 10
days of his article to supply the Russian military forces that moved into that
territory, thus removing Georgian rule. Last month he noted that with spring
melting the snow and ice that prohibits any military activity between Russia
and Georgia, Russia's political influence into Georgia was sure to follow. He
was right.
Russia's intentions are unclear. On the same day Russia tells NATO to cancel
military exercises,
Russia also agrees to hold a fifth
round of Geneva talks involving negotiators from Georgia, Russia, United
States, and the breakaway regions of Abkhazia, and South Ossetia on
May 18-19.
There is widespread belief that Russia helped finance
the demonstrations that began April 9th,
but it is noteworthy those demonstrations have become smaller and smaller each
day. After a week of demonstrations, polls indicated the public mood was
shifting away from the opposition, and Saakashvili remains the most popular
politician in Georgia despite the protests and well funded media campaigns
against him. Many experts appear to be in agreement the calls for his
resignation have failed, and this will end in negotiations. To date, the
opposition has dismissed any suggestion of sitting down with Saakashvili, so
it is unclear when those negotiations will happen.
Given that the Russian funded political unrest with demonstrations has failed
to achieve its goals, would Russia take military action
instead?
It seemed very unlikely war would break out last August on the opening day of
the Olympics. Russia may not be making a move against Georgia, but
this is one of the largest Black Sea Fleet exercises we
have seen in a long time, and the EU is
monitoring large troop movements at the border at the same time, so
even without a fire there is plenty of smoke.
Prophecy News - End times Prophecy News for Russia, China, Iran, Bush, World, America, Iraq, Syria, North Korea,
PLEASE SIGN UP AND ADD THESE FREE ADVERTISERS TO YOUR SITE |
||
Please rate this site at Just4Christ Top 50 Christian Sites | ||
|
||