<HTML>The translation as posted is basically correct. Based on some wording differences, it seems likely the article at the Russian link (Nezavisamaya Gazeta) has been updated, and additional important phrases pop up: "The Strategic Rocket Forces have been place on a heightened state of military readiness..." "In the south of the country (Russia)the largest military exercises in the last  10 years have begun" "The Baltic Fleet has not confirmed ... joint activity with German and French navies... Baltic Fleet Commander Admiral Vladimir Valuev .."preparation is going on for distant deployments ...and it's possible that the Fleet's ships will soon return to the world's ocean." ..... Below the article are comments from several different people with military or intelligence credentials who were asked "Do you consider Russian military intervention in the Iraq was possible, appropriate, or politically justified?" All said No categorically, but several mentioned the need to press the US through the UN. One also mentioned the right to make profits on the arms market and suggested that Iraq as a member of the UN is a victim of aggression and "Every member of the UN should offer it help, including military help. Of course I think these broad scale military exercises are just ordinary exercises! Of course I think the Russians are just "following the situation." More like looking out for their commercial interests, satisfying the segment of their polity that is appalled by the proceedings so far. And I think the possible collision of Russian nationalism as embodied by Russian exercises and Arab Islamist freelancers is just too surrreal to contemplate. As an aside, I hade time to watch Vremya both Wednesday (4/2) and Friday (4/4). Reportage included both one reported imbedded in Kuwait and someone who looks like an intelligence operative trying to put a positive spin on the Iraqi situation. Wednesday's news included mention of the Daisy cutter bombs and also cluster bombs. Friday mentioned the possibility of having the UN involved in postwar contracts with the US State Department nominally in favor of this while the House of REpresentatives might be opposed. DoreneC PS Maybe after I finish my taxes I will go check out iraqwar.ru .... In a message dated 4/5/2003 1:17:10 PM Pacific Standard Time, mailinglist@navari.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Subj:[lbo-talk] French and German navies may join the Russian fleet in the Arabian Sea! Date:4/5/2003 1:17:10 PM Pacific Standard Time From:<A HREF="mailto:mailinglist@navari.com">mailinglist@navari.com</A> Reply-to:<A HREF="mailto:lbo-talk@lbo-talk.org">lbo-talk@lbo-talk.org</A> To:<A HREF="mailto:lbo-talk@lbo-talk.org">lbo-talk@lbo-talk.org</A>, <A HREF="mailto:marxism@lists.panix.com">marxism@lists.panix.com</A> Sent from the Internet This story was posted on a discussion forum at pravda.ru by an individual calling himself CHORNYVOLK (ULTRA NATIONALIST RUSSIAN).  This post can be found at http://engforum.pravda.ru/showthread.php3?threadid=11269&referrerid=575 The post appears to be an english translation of a Russian language story originally published by http://www.ng.ru/world/2003-04-02/1_flot.html .  I'd appreciate it if one of the forum members, who speak's Russian, would confirm the contents of this post/article.  If this proves to be credible and accurate, do you believe that the Russians are simply seeking "to follow the situation, and if the need arises, to land assault forces in Iraq and take parttake part in the post-war reconstruction of the country"? One quote to note:  Russian Minister of Defense, Sergey Ivanov .... stated "that the new global security architecture is 'breaking apart'. He said, 'This again forces us to pay constant attention to the condition of our Armed Forces, so that under any contingencies, we can guarantee a reliable and total defense of Russia.'" Complete post follows..... French and German navies may join the Russian fleet in the Arabian Sea! The vice admiral of the Black Sea Fleet Evgeniy Orlov was summoned to Moscow for instructions on the upcoming wargames close to the Persian Gulf combat zone. The sources indicate that the vice-admiral will be meeting not only with the defense minister, but with President Putin himself. The analysts suppose that a Russian naval presence in the combat zone will allow Russia to follow the situation, and if the need arises, to land assault forces in Iraq and take part in the post-war reconstruction of the country. The Russian General Staff was correct in its assessment--the war in Iraq will be a long one. This is why the naval mission is being prepared without hurry. According to sources in the Russian Navy, the warships will be ready to go 5-6 days after a decision is taken and agreement with the nations who control the Bosphorous and Suez canal. The preparations for the war-games in the Indian Ocean have been completed by the Pacific Fleet. It is notable that the Baltic Fleet is also preparing to take part in the deployment to the Arabian Sea. Moreover it is possible that the Baltic Fleet will act jointly with French and German Fleets. Preparation for deployment into the conflict zone is being combined with active military maneuvers. Different branches of the Russian Armed Forces are being brought into different degrees of combat readiness. However, in the Ministry of Defense, they are saying that these events have no connection to the war in Iraq, and were planned in advance. It is true that in general military maneuvers in Russia take place at the end of March and beginning of April (the biggest of which took place after the beginning of NATO aggression against Yugoslavia). However the new military maneuvers are notably larger. In RSVN (Strategic Missile Forces) from 17 to 28 March, combat training took place in Vladimir strategic missile units. In the space center "Plesetsk", a mobile nuclear ballistic missile launcher "Topol" fired an inter-continental ballistic missile against an imaginary foe in Kamchatka. Similar combat drills are taking place in the 37'th air army (strategic air force). On March 28, in the Southern Federal District, under the command of Russia's Chief of Staff Anatoly Kvashnin, the biggest military maneuvers in 10 years have begun. On the Caspian Sea, combat training is conducted with the Caspian fleet/coast guard. The training is taking place close to Dagestani ports, as well as next to the border with Iran. According to the official versian, the fleet there is conducting joint training with the Ministry for Emergency Situations forces, and the Federal Border Guards. The training stresses the delivery of humanitarian aid into combat zones. It is not ruled out, that such a combat zone for the participants of the training could well be Iraq. Russia could deliver humanitarian aid to Iraq via Iran. The Caspian direction is looking most favorable in case decision is made about the participation of Russian peacekeepers in a UN operation in Iraq. The unprecedented activity of the Russian military confirm the noticeable nervousness of Moscow regarding the situation in Iraq. For example, Minister of Defense, Sergey Ivanov, fully backed the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to halt work on the ratification of the arms control agreement with the US. He also angrily condemned flights of American spy planes close to Russian borders. On March 24, he visited in Sarov, the Federal Nuclear Center, where he got acquanted with the latest developments in the area of nuclear weapons. He later commented on the goals of his visit to Sarov, stating that the new global security architecture is "breaking apart". He said, "This again forces us to pay constant attention to the condition of our Armed Forces, so that under any contingencies, we can guarantee a reliable and total defense of Russia." ___________________________________ http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk </BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>