Russia starts preparations for forthcoming war against Georgia?

Russia has begun the so-called "Caucasus 2009 military exercises" on the occupied territories of the Caucasus Emirate.

These exercises have already been called as a prologue to a new war with Georgia - and this is not only the opinion of Georgian mass media, but also of many Western - such as British The Times, American The Washington Post, and many Russian experts.

As previously stated by one of the ringleaders of the gang of "Ministry of Defense", a certain Kolmakov, "the Caucasus-2009 exercises would be quite major, as compared with those that were conducted in Soviet times".

"Issues and methods of warfare based on experience, gained during the operation to force Georgia to peace in August 2008, will be worked out", Kolmakov noted.

Formally 8,500 troops, 200 tanks, 450 armored vehicles, and 250 artillery pieces will take part in military exercises. Meanwhile, according to sources in the Command of Armed Forces of the Caucasus Emirate, in reality, more than 250 thousand members of the various occupation formations, deployed in the Caucasus Emirate, are involved in them.

It is also indirectly confirmed by invaders themselves, having declared that "all the brigades of the North Caucasus Military District, and also the armies of Air Forces and Air Defense, Caspian Flotilla, Novorossiysk naval base, FSB troops, the North Caucasian regional command of Internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and Airborne troops would be involved in the exercises".

The maneuvers are being held on the all occupied territories of Caucasus Emirate - from the Black Sea to Caspian Sea, and run through July 6 - the day that US President Barack Obama arrives in Moscow.

Some Russian experts do not exclude that exactly in this day the Russian troops may begin a new stage of aggression against Georgia.

According to other analysts, Obama's visit is the last chance to prevent the Russian-Georgian war.

The maneuvers on the occupied territories of the Caucasus Emirate are being directed by one of the ringleaders of the gang of "Ministry of Defense", Nikolai Makarov.

Let us indicate thereupon that many western experts also believe that the exercise may lead to beginning of the war. In particular, The Times has written on this.

The author of material writes that the Russian troops deployed in South Ossetia are already less than one hour from Tbilisi. It is, he said, "like living in London with Russian tanks lined up in Windsor".

The paper considers that conducting exercises on the eve of visit of US President Barack Obama o Russia - is a demonstration of failure of attempts of joining Georgia to NATO.

The same version was stated last week by the director of Institute of Economic Analysis, Andrei Illarionov, who said that the Russian-Georgian war may resume after July 6, when the exercise will end and Barack Obama arrive to Moscow.

A former adviser to Russian President Illarionov believes that the actions contributing to withdrawal from conflict zone of the observation missions of OSCE and UN, and also frequently occurred acts of terrorism in conflict zone, including against the European observers, are drawing Russian into war. According to Illarionov, the termination of existence of Georgia as a sovereign state may become an overall objective of new military campaign.

And comments by Russian generals show that the war is real as never before.

Thus, a high-ranking official of Russian General Staff told "Interfax" that "Caucasus-2009" exercises would assist to stabilize the situation in southern Russia, as well as to prevent possible military adventures by Georgia against Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"The preset Georgian leadership has not desist from further military adventures against Abkhazia and South Ossetia and does not abandon attempts to resolve the territorial issue by force", the official of the General Staff noted.

As he said, "today the Georgian army is equipped with combat equipment and weapons that are not below level of August last year, when President Saakashvili decided for aggression against South Ossetia".