Reuters reports that “the Georgian army began two weeks of military exercises with the United States and Britain on Wednesday, drawing an angry response from former Soviet master Russia which called the war games ‘a provocative step.'”  

“About 650 soldiers from the United States, 150 from Britain and 500 from Georgia were taking part in the maneuvers, with Washington dispatching an entire mechanized company including eight Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and, for the first time, eight M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks.”  

“Georgia’s Defence Minister Tina Khidasheli said the drills were an important event for the South Caucasus republic.”