The planning for these exercises clearly predates the outbreak of hostilities between Russia and Georgia.

ECONOMIST: Ruling the waves

Just as the Versailles Treaty produced not a lasting peace but an interlude between and pretext to war, so the Vance-Owen "peace plan" will assure the future outbreak of regional hostilities -- even if succeeds (against all odds) in temporarily suspending the present ones.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy