Japan has sent observers to the annual Cobra Gold wargames in Thailand. The US, as usual, has sent thousands of Marines and other personnel to take part in the exercises, which were originally designed to portray US assistance in the defense of Thailand. The US has tried for years to turn the operation into a multi-national exercise, but was only successful (last year) in getting one other nation (Singapore) to take part. After the Team Spirit exercises were canceled in 1994, the Cobra Gold exercise is the largest US wargame held in Asia.--Stephen V Cole