President Bush has approved insurance
of US trade vessels against "loss or damage from war risks"
in the Black Sea "for 90 days", according to a memorandum published at the White House's web-site. The Secretary of
Transportation submitted a corresponding provision after insurance
"cannot be obtained on reasonable terms and conditions from
companies authorized to do insurance business in a State of the
United States", i. e. US companies stopped insuring vessels
traveling in the Black Sea, because they considered that area too
risky.
Experts say that there is a possibility
this winter of an attempt by Georgia to retake South Ossetia by
military force, because during the winter it would be very hard for
Russia, if at all possible, to move troops and armored vehicles
through mountain passes towards Georgia, and it presents a good
opportunity for Tbilisi.
The decision by US government to insure
ships in the Black Sea for the period of the three winter months
could mean that Washington considers possibility of a new war between
Georgia and Russia this winter as pretty high.
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