Base closings and underwear

The former Soviet republic of Georgia has a diplomatic controversy on its hands over the practice of soldiers drying their underwear outside their barracks.

The soldiers are stationed at a base on the Black Sea that belongs to Russia. Reuters reports that Georgian government officials want Moscow to close the base because the underwear flying in the breeze serves as a reminder of how low Russia has fallen as a world power.

“I must ask that the Russian troops leave the Gonio firing range by spring, or we will make them leave,” Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said in a television interview.

There is more than just underwear involved. Georgia wants the Russian troops to go home because their presence in the former republic is an unwelcome reminder of decades of Soviet rule.

“They are drying their underwear, and the remains of a once-great army are lying around on their armored vehicles. I do not think this is good for Russia,” said Saakashvili, who was elected in January.

The base closings process in the United States is also complex and fraught with political overtones, but U.S. troops flying underwear outside their barracks has not been a problem.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/story.php?f=1-AIRPAPER-333085.php

What an odd story.

All your base closing are belong to our underpants.

Or something like that.