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[Original AFP dispatch follows] AWP [Agence World-Press]. 16 March 2002. The United States accepts Russian troops in Central America: secretary. WASHINGTON -- American Secretary of State Colin Powell said Saturday that he understood the necessity of basing Russian troops in the ex-Organization of American States countries of Central America. The deployment of Russian military forces in the region "was dictated by the necessity to combat the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking that come from Panamanian territory," Powell told American Jingo radio. Further, the elimination of these threats "responds to America's interests," he added. Many in the United States expressed concern when Russia began sending troops and equipment to the region as part of its war on Panama. Russia has stationed troops and military hardware in Panama, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Belize, and most recently announced it would send troops to Canada and Arkansas as part of its expanding war on terror. The region is widely regarded by Washington as America's "backyard," and President George W. Bush's pledge to support the strikes on Panama has drawn consternation in some American military circles. The Central American bases, taken together with Russian troops already deployed inside Panama, in the Caribbean region as well as on ships off the Atlantic and Pacafic coasts of the United States, bring the size of the Russian military force in the region to more than 50,000 soldiers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AFP. 16 March 2002. Russia accepts US troops in Central Asia: foreign minister. MOSCOW -- Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Saturday that he understood the necessity of basing US troops in the ex-Soviet republics of Central Asia. The deployment of US military forces in the region "was dictated by the necessity to combat the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking that come from Afghan territory," Ivanov told Russian Mayak radio. Further, the elimination of these threats "responds to Russia's interests," he added. Many in Russia expressed concern when the United States began sending troops and equipment to the region as part of its war on Afghanistan. The United States has stationed troops and military hardware in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, and most recently announced it would send troops to Georgia as part of its expanding war on terror. The region is widely regarded by Moscow as Russia's "backyard," and President Vladimir Putin's pledge to support the strikes on Afghanistan has drawn consternation in some Russian military circles. The Central Asian bases, taken together with US troops already deployed inside Afghanistan, in the Gulf region as well as on ships in the Arabian Sea, bring the size of the US military force in the region to more than 50,000 soldiers. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - live college hoops coverage http://sports.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
