USA plans to expand military presence in Azerbaijan to strike Iran

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Wed, 13 Apr 2005 23:10:58 -0700 (PDT)

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http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/368/15281_azerbaijan.html

 

 

USA plans to expand military presence in Azerbaijan to strike Iran

 

 

04/13/2005 13:07

 

 

The Pentagon wishes Russia shows no protest against the US military

presence in Asian republics of the former USSR

 

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld visited Azerbaijan (an Asian

republic of the former USSR) on Tuesday, April 12th. It became

Rumsfeld's second visit to the republic in four months - that is why

it can hardly be treated as a formal visit of no particular importance.

 

 

 

One may probably distinguish two major reasons,

 

which make the US administration develop active cooperation with the

regime of the incumbent Azeri President, Ilkham Aliyev. It is worth

mentioning, though, that Mr. Aliyev does not match the " democratic

standards " of the US Department of State. The first reason includes

the transportation of the Caspian oil and the security of the

Baku-Tbilisi- Ceyhan oil pipeline, which is directly connected with

Mr. Rumsfeld's department. Secondly, the USA is interested in

establishing mobile army bases on the territory of Azerbaijan, which

is stipulated in the plan to re-deploy US troops in Europe and Asia.

 

 

 

As for the oil pipeline is concerned, there has been a certain plan

elaborated for the implementation of security measures. The USA is

ready to assign not less than $100 million during the coming ten years

for the development of the so-called Caspian Guard (founded in the

autumn of 2003). Guaranteeing security to the pipeline, which is

currently undergoing the construction process, will be the prime goal

of the Caspian Guard.

 

 

 

According to Wall Street Journal, the Caspian Guard will represent a

network of police detachments and special military units in the

Caspian region. These troops will be capable of showing efficient

reaction to states of emergency, including attacks against oil

objects. The European command of the Defense Department in Stuttgart,

Germany, coordinates the efforts of various departments and provides

the training for military men to defend the new pipeline. The pipeline

system will enable the transportation of oil from the Caspian Sea via

the Caucasus to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The system is said to be

put into operation during the current year. The radar-equipped command

center in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, will also be included in

the Caspian Guard. The center will give the Azeri government an

opportunity to monitor sea traffic in oil areas of the Caspian Sea.

The Guard will also assist in the struggle against the smuggling of

arms and drugs, Colonel Mike Anderson, the European Division Chief of

the Plans and Policy Directorate said.

 

More- http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/368/15281_azerbaijan.html