Thread: U.S. halts military sales to Georgia Russian influence on O

FROM JOSEPH FARAH'S G2 BULLETIN

U.S. halts military sales to Georgia

Critic cites Russian influence on Obama policy

Posted: May 27, 2009
11:00 pm Eastern

© 2009 WorldNetDaily

Editor's Note: The following report is excerpted from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, the premium online newsletter published by the founder of WND. Subscriptions are $99 a year or, for monthly trials, just $9.95 per month for credit card users, and provide instant access for the complete reports.

Bowing to persistent Russian pressure, the Obama administration quietly has placed a hold on all U.S. military exports to Georgia due to a "policy review," with no indication as to when it will be completed or what defensive military items will be allowed to be exported, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

U.S. sources told the G2 Bulletin that such a review has been so "close-hold" that even the Defense Department, which also reviews license applications for national security reasons, was unaware of the action. DOD has been recommending approval of munitions license applications for Georgia.

By law, the State Department has the lead in reviewing all munitions export license applications for "foreign policy" reasons. State could deny such license applications even if the Defense Department recommends approval on national security grounds.

The development comes as Russia renews threats to Georgia where nearly month-long maneuvers are under way by 15 countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO. The Russian foreign ministry described the maneuvers as "dubious" and a "provocation."

NATO decided to hold the maneuvers after Russian threats to show support for Georgia, which is seeking to join the western security organization. Due to Russian threats against Georgia and Europe if NATO would accept Georgia's membership, NATO last March opted not to vote in Georgia but instead left open the prospect in the future. To show its support for Georgia in view of Russia's invasion last August, NATO decided to conduct the military exercises in Georgia even though the country is not yet a member.

Keep in touch with the most important breaking news stories about critical developments around the globe with Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, the premium, online intelligence news source edited and published by the founder of WND.

Last August, Russia staged an invasion of Georgia, occupying the two Georgian breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Upon occupying the provinces, Russia immediately announced its recognition of them as independent countries and immediately got them to "invite" Russia to take over border security, station battle tanks in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and set up air force and naval bases in Abkhazia.

Russia is adamant in asserting that it has the right to influence events in former Soviet states, such as Georgia. Moscow vehemently opposes Georgia and Ukraine joining NATO and believes the organization has expansionist intentions into areas Russia claims are within its sphere of influence.

"The Obama administration is caving to the Russians," one official said. "It means that we're letting the Russians control U.S. foreign policy interests."

Up until the Russian invasion last August, the U.S. was a major supplier of military equipment to Georgia, in addition to providing training
. The equipment provided, however, was designed more for counter-insurgency and defensive purposes and was not intended to confront any Russian threat.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php? ... geId=99322

There are plenty of Georgians who believe the President of Georgia made a mistake in attacking Southern Ossetia and that his playing chicken with the Russians is to blame for current problems.