By Jaba Devdariani and Blanka Hancilova (10/23/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)

BACKGROUND: The Russian campaign of intimidation against Georgia has stepped up in recent months and included more than five cases of airspace violation, unauthorized troop movements in Georgia's hotspots of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and the habitual threats of cutting off energy supplies. Importantly, top Russian politicians, and executive and military officials were involved in continuous media propaganda, arguing for urgent, possibly military, action against Georgia. Since the Clinton administration, the U.

By Hooman Peimani (10/23/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)

BACKGROUND: General Tommy L. Franks, commander of the American forces in Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Persian Gulf, paid official visits to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in late August. In his meeting with Uzbek President Islam Karimov in Tashkent, the General confirmed the suspicion of many regional states, including Iran, Russia and China, when he stated that American forces in Afghanistan would stay there longer than expected.

By James Purcell Smith (10/23/2002 issue of the CACI Analyst)

BACKGROUND: Afghanistan has been a prize in the struggle between empires and regional powers since the British-Russian confrontation from early in the nineteenth century. It was thrice at war with Britain, became a battleground for the Soviet Union and the U.S.