November 17, 2007: For the
second time in two years, U.S. and Russian military officers met and conducted
peacekeeping training exercises. These drills make everyone aware of each
nations approach to peacekeeping. Where there are problems, they can be worked
out as a result of the exercises, rather than during an actual crises. About
three dozen officers were involved. American and Russian peacekeepers worked
together in 1999 in Kosovo, and noted they had different methods that could
sometimes cause problems.
These exercises are part of a
program that has Russian and American officers working together to become more
familiar with each other, and less likely to be paranoid about unfamiliar
actions taken by each side.
