In an appearance on Fox News this morning, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-MI) reported that in addition to massing tens of thousands of troops on the eastern border of Ukraine, Russia is building up its military forces in the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia. Rogers suggested that Russian president Vladimir Putin is considering an invasion of both Georgia and Armenia, as part of an effort to create an overland link between Russia and Iran.
"They are moving some of their most advanced equipment into South Ossetia," said Rogers. "There is no reason to do that. The Georgian army really poses no threat. That's certainly concerning."
Rogers later added, "I would ask why is he moving the equipment that he is into South Ossetia up in Georgia, which makes really makes no sense other than they are contemplating maybe using those armor columns to drive through Georgia down to Armenia to create a land bridge to Iran."
It sure would make life easier for Russia if they had an uncontested, unmolested land route to Iran. This also has the side benefit of isolating Azerbaijan: if Russia does move into Armenia and Georgia the Azeris then can only bring that oil to market through pipelines controlled by the Russians. The other 'Stans also become more isolated.
Obama plays marbles. Putin plays 3-D chess with Spock and is holding his own. |
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