Signs of the Times #875

Iran Begins Naval War Games [May 22] http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040522 ‘Iran announced it has begun a major regional naval exercise in the Persian Gulf and other nearby waters, Middle East Newsline reported Saturday.’ [and from another] Largest war games in Asia-Pacific underway in Thailand [May 13] http://www.abc.net.au/ra/newstories/RANewsStories ‘Almost 20,000 military personnel from the United States and other ally nations are taking part in the largest war games in the Asia-Pacific, in Thailand. Cobra Gold exercises include Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Mongolia. Ten other nations will observe this year´s drills, including Australia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.’ [and from another] http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp? ‘Maritime units of nine international navies, including the US, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Kuwait and Bahrain, participated in the exercise’ [Note: every country in the world getting their navies out to sea? This is to protect them, expecting sloshing along the coastlines which would dash the boats.]

 

Signs of the Times #874

Royal Navy ties up ahead of Seven-Nation War Games http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm? ‘Called Exercise Blinding Storm by the United States – and less grandly, Exercise Rapid Alliance by the U.K. – the training will involve upward of 30,000 troops from seven nations in exercises off and on the coast of North Carolina. Dutch marines and French soldiers will take part, as well as a Peruvian submarine and contingents from Germany and Canada.’ [and from another] Major Russian Armed Forces Exercises to be held in June [May 17] http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2004/05/17/‘The Russian Armed Forces will hold major exercises in June 2004, acting Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told President Vladimir Putin.’ [and from another] U.S. Troops Play War Games [May 18] http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/05/18/ ‘The Russian and U.S. military launched an unprecedented six-day command post exercise in Moscow on Monday to train for conducting joint operations in a third country.’ [Note: and the big guys coordinating, for what event?]