Putin doubles the number of battalions near Ukraine border..."ready" for cross-border invasion

[Cali_Democrat]

Looks like Putin wants more territory:

Buildup Makes Russia Battle-Ready for Ukraine
By MICHAEL R. GORDON and ERIC SCHMITTAUG. 4, 2014

WASHINGTON — Russia has roughly doubled the number of its battalions near the Ukrainian border, Western officials said Monday, and could respond to the Kiev government’s gains there by launching a cross-border incursion with little or no warning.

Over the past several weeks, Russia has built up 17 battalions — totaling 19,000 to 21,000 troops, according to one Western estimate — into a battle-ready force of infantry, armor, artillery and air defense within a few miles of the border. In addition, it has vastly expanded its firepower, increasing the number of advanced surface-to-air missile units to 14 from eight, and deploying more than 30 artillery batteries, according to the officials.

The Kremlin’s intentions in increasing its military abilities remain unclear. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia could be seeking to pressure Ukraine and the United States to agree to a political settlement that would grant the eastern provinces of Ukraine maximum autonomy. But Mr. Putin, Western officials fear, may also be developing the option to intervene more directly if it appears that the pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine are on the verge of defeat.

American intelligence experts say that the advance by Ukrainian government forces on Donetsk and other steps that the Ukrainian government is taking to regain territory in the east from the separatists might prompt Mr. Putin to send his forces across the border under the guise of a “peacekeeping operation.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/05/world/europe/buildup-makes-russia-battle-ready-for-ukraine.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=1

[KoKo]

1. Coordinated Effort...Bloomberg Business News this a.m. parroting....

"Russia is amassing troops on Ukraine Border...preparing for possible attack." No reference...just "in other news of the day."

So, it's a clever coordination. Just as usual. I don't watch much MSM news (except Bloomberg Business..because I have to)... but, I can bet that both Faux and CNN had that as one of their "news of the day" headlines.

NYT is hardly believable when it comes to Cold War Issues or war in general after Judith Miller's fiasco reporting propaganda. It's the Nuland/Neocon folks busy pushing disinfo.
Those towns along the border have had heavy fighting and the people do need some protection. We've been so focused on Gaza that news about Ukraine hasn't gotten much attention but things are not going well there for the innocents caught up in it. And thousands have fled over the border to Russia which means that Russia is involved because it has to deal with this influx.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Putin is being embarrassed by the fact that Ukraine is actually fighting back

against his attempts to destabilize and foment unrest. Plan B to keep from looking like an ass: actually invade and pretend it's for Ukraine's own good.