Posted on 11/22/2001 5:48:33 PM PST by NC Conservative
MOSCOW, November 22 (PNS): The Russian media has thrown up yet another evidence to show the U.S. is recruiting Russian veterans to fight its war in Afghanistan, a charge the US embassy has denied.
A television report showed a 40-year-old reserve, who had fought the 10-year war in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation in the 1980s, as saying he would soon be going to that country again to fight the Afghans, but this time on the side of the Americans, according to IANS.
He refused to face the camera neither did he tell his name. The veteran boasted there was not a single garrison that he had not visited during his service in Afghanistan, saying he would leave as soon as he signed a contract with the Americans.
While the U.S. embassy in Moscow refused comment, another Russian shown on the programme said he had met Americans in connection with the recruitment exercise.
In another footage, security guards at the U.S. embassy were shown telling the reporter that they were tired of inquiries from hundreds of Russians about the recruitment centre. "They are drawn by promises of huge wages, and there have been visitors not only from Moscow but also from Tula, Rezan, and Pskov," a guard was shown as saying.
The media has reported the existence of underground recruitment centres in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhni, Novgorod and other Russian cities. The Afghan war veterans are being reportedly offered $5,000 a month for fighting alongside the U.S. soldiers.
U.S. Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow Monday denied that his embassy was engaged in recruitment of Russian veterans. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov, too, maintained he was not aware of any recruitment drive by the U.S., saying under Russian laws recruitment of mercenaries was a criminal offence.
But military observers here said they believed Russia might have already given a green signal to the U.S. to recruit veterans of the Afghan war given the improved relations between the two countries.
What is ashame if this story is true that they should instead pay some of our retired experienced people re-enlist at those some pay rates. Some pre clinton era warriors would be nice.
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