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A signal to U.S.: officials

WASHINGTON: U.S. intelligence officials believe that the exclusion of American observers at the joint China-Russia military exercises is a signal that it is not wanted in Central Asia. ``For the Chinese and the Russians, this is a message to the United States...they want to see our bases in Central Asia and presence in Asia cut back,'' said several officials who spoke on condition on anonymity. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said both China and Russia notified the U.S. about the exercises. With more than a hint of suspicion, he said ``we would hope that anything that they do is not something that would be disruptive to the current atmosphere in the region.'' — PTI

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