Pentagon confirms cancellation of naval exercise

by Staff Writers Washington (AFP) Aug 13, 2008 The United States has cancelled a naval exercise with Russia in response to the conflict in Georgia, the Pentagon confirmed Tuesday. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the August 15-23 FRUKUS naval exercise in the Sea of Japan involving ships from France, Britain, Russia and the United States "has been cancelled." "The United States cancelled it," he said. "It just wasn't appropriate in the current situation." The exercise included an onshore component in the Russian port of Vladivostok. FRUKUS was the latest in a series of naval exercises that have been held with the Russians... [read full story]