WASHINGTON DC, Thursday, July 21 - In a move consistent with NATO stance on the subject for days now, White House sources have again denied rumors of intense covert diplomatic negotiations with Moscow. Such talks are reportedly related to Soviet public accusations last week about supposed Western interference on the USSR's space program.
This public denial echoes previous statements issued by both Downing Street and the West German Chancellor's office which have claimed such rumors to be "based on no factual & reasonable information whatsoever, and thus of no real value".
The US DoD has declined to comment on the Soviet allegations on the record. However, informal sources inside the Pentagon describe the Soviet claims as "pure mythology". "We already have our hands full with the post-Challenger mess without having to jump into the programs of others - especially something as gigantic as the Soviet space industry complex", commented a retired USAF officer anonymously.
Nevertheless, the story continues to be offered front-seat coverage in the Soviet and WP media. Monday's edition of "Pravda" featured a special-report article on a list of alleged past western interference endeavors aimed against the Soviet space program, with supposed sabotage attempts going all the way back to some of the initial unsuccessful (and sometimes tragic) attempts of the late 1950s, 60s and 70s. While no western governments or agencies are fingered explicitly, comments such as "in the aftermath investigations of the R-16 launch pad explosion, traces of explosive substances manufactured exclusively in American & West German chemical factories were discovered" are clear enough in their intended purpose.
In related news, the Soviet Defence Council publicised some further details on the upcoming "Peace-88" military manouvers. As previously announced, the exercises will commence in late August, probably in the last week of the month. It has not yet been clarified whether NATO observers will be allowed to be present in the exercises, as has become customary in the late years.
The initial phase will cover the rapid movement of troops from the Baltic and Belorussian military districts to the GDR in order to reinforce the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSFG) in resisting a hypothetical OPFOR attack from the west. While the exact forces to be transferred have not yet been publicly stated, it is assumed that they will include at least 2-3 complete tank or combined-arms armies (over a dozen tank and motor-rifle divisions), and possibly more.
After the transfer is completed, some of the new forces will assume the role of the OPFOR and simulate an attack from the side of the IGB on the GSFG and its reinforcements. The defenders will repulse the attack and then attempt a counter-attack of their own to drive the assaulting OPFOR completely out of E.German territory. It is expected that this second phase will also include heavy air operations, as well as possible naval complements.
The final phase will demonstrate the orderly withdrawal of the reinforcements back to their peacetime locations, following the successful completion of the main exercise.
In other news, the reinforced carrier group that is the core of the US 6th Fleet was reported to be steaming towards the Suez canal in order to enter the Red Sea. It is believed that afterwards the group will enter the Persian Gulf and will relieve the standing US forces as well as assist the ongoing investigations into the Iran Air Flight 655 tragedy.
-ENDS