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CNN Live At Daybreak

Former Soviet Republic To Receive Assistance from U.S.

Aired February 28, 2002 - 06:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Turning to the latest in the anti- terror war, President Bush says U.S. troops deploying to the Soviet Republic of Georgia will mainly provide equipment and technical advice.

CNN Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty looks at the volatile region where the fighting goes on.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): The remote Pankisi Gorge in northeast Georgia is a lawless place, out of control of the central government. Fighters from Chechnya, drug and arms traffickers, and since the war in Afghanistan, al Qaeda fighters, have turned it into a hotbed of instability. Now the U.S. is ready to help the Georgian military clean it up, opening a new front on the war on terrorism.

Just as it did in the Philippines, the U.S. is poised to send up to 200 troops who will train the Georgian military. Ten combat helicopters already are being provided; and one military trainer, along with six contractors, has been on the ground since last November. The Pentagon says the U.S. troops will not take part in combat exercises. And, a spokesman for Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze says no joint operations are planned at this point.

Mr. Shevardnadze has been under pressure from neighboring Russia and the United States to bring order to the Pankisi Gorge. But he's had his hands full for years, with instability in other regions of Georgia. The situation is highly sensitive. Russia and the United States may be allies in the war against terrorism, but Russia opposes any U.S. military action in this former Soviet Republic.

(on camera): But Russia also is taking an "I told you so" attitude. "The Pankisi Gorge," a top Russian general says, "has turned into a center for international terrorism." And the United States now is taking it seriously.

Jill Dougherty, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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