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Politics : America Under Siege: The End of Innocence -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: joseph krinsky who wrote (13813)	3/4/2002 11:00:12 PM
From: calgal	Respond to of 27666

03/03/2002 - Updated 08:34 PM ET Russians blast plan to send U.S. advisers By Bill Nichols, USA TODAY MOSCOW — U.S. plans to send military advisers to the former Soviet republic of Georgia threaten to create the biggest rift in U.S.-Russia relations since the two nations became partners against terrorism after Sept. 11, U.S. and Russian officials here say. Russian politicians, with the notable exception of President Vladimir Putin, have decried last week's announcement that several hundred U.S. military advisers will train 1,500 soldiers in neighboring Georgia to fight terrorist cells linked to al-Qaeda. U.S. officials say Putin was told of the planned operation last November and gave his approval at the time. In his first comments on the mission, Putin said over the weekend, "We support this (anti-terrorism) fight no matter who takes part in it, American or European partners or our Georgian colleagues directly. U.S. diplomats say much of the criticism of the mission is based on inaccurate news reports that U.S. troops would take part in combat against terrorist cells believed to be in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge, which borders the breakaway Russian republic of Chechnya. On Sunday, Secretary of State Colin Powell described the U.S. forces as an "assessment team to help the Georgians." Limited numbers of U.S. military advisers also have been sent to the Philippines and Yemen to help local forces combat terrorist groups. Powell called them "small missions that don't tie us down around the world." Even so, Washington's latest incursion into former Soviet territory has created the perception here that Putin grants every request from President Bush without getting anything in return. Putin previously gave his consent for U.S. troops to be stationed in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Alexei Arbatov, deputy chairman of the Defense Committee in the Russian Duma, told reporters Friday that Russia faces a tough choice in Central Asia: "Either Islamic terrorists operate there or the U.S. military and political presence increases." Putin also is faulted by many here for failing to negotiate an amended version of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with Bush. After talks between the two presidents failed last fall, Bush announced the United States would withdraw from the treaty in June. The treaty bars development of a national missile defense. The criticism has raised pressure on Putin to strike a new nuclear arms reduction accord when Bush visits here in May. Otherwise, Russian officials say privately, Putin risks being branded an American lackey, a criticism that could cost him support for his campaign to improve ties with the West. A senior American diplomat says U.S. officials recognize the pressure on Putin to get an arms deal, which remains uncertain. "We are running out of time, but I hope that the time limit will prompt us to work more efficiently," Russian arms negotiator Col.-Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky said. The two sides are seeking to reduce their nuclear arsenals from about 6,000 warheads each to a range of 1,500 to 2,200. Contributing: Barbara Slavin usatoday.com