US troops land in Latvia amid Ukraine crisis

[KamaAina]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Latvia on Friday welcomed American troops on its soil, part of a US force of 600 sent to the region to reassure the Baltic states amid concern over Russia's actions in Ukraine....

Some 150 troops from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will be based at the Adazi base near capital Riga until at least the end of the year, according to the Latvian defence ministry.

Another company of soldiers arrived in Poland on Wednesday, while around 150 others are each expected in Lithuania on Saturday and Estonia early next week.

Washington on Tuesday said it was sending the 600 troops to the region to increase its presence in the region and reassure its NATO allies and partners.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/us-troops-land-latvia-amid-ukraine-crisis-135554490.html

---

Well, at least they didn't forget Poland. Am I the only one who is not reassured?

[hack89]

1. This is a perfectly balanced response

too small to represent a threat to Russia but serving as a reminder to Russia that America now has skin in the game and the consequences of a Russian misjudgement are now much higher.

[KamaAina]

2. Would you have said the same about the first few hundred advisors in Vietnam?

[hack89]

3. No - they were placed in the middle of an ongoing war

they not there to deter war.

[penultimate]

37. So it's acceptable to declare war on sovereign nations when they allow small

numbers of foreign military assets in their own country?

[hack89]

38. A small symbolic number of troops

that represents no military threat to Russia will not trigger a war. They merely serve to show Russia that we will honor our treaty obligations to our allies in Europe.

[The Magistrate]

41. The 'This Means nuclear War' Line, Sir, Is Peddled Currently By Two Freak Shows

One, 'Executive Intelligence Review', the LaRouche flagship masthead.

Two, 'Press TV' the voice of the Iranian mullahs.

My guess, in the cases of these new sign-ups, is the youth group of the Larouche bunch....

[strikeforce]

13. well put sir.

[Ash_F]

26. So, using servicemen as human shields?

It will probably work. Hopefully.

[ballyhoo]

4. Negative

This is a horrible mistake.

[pscot]

5. What the fuck!?

Do we seriously want to start a war with Russia? Do we think we own the entire fucking planet?

[hack89]

6. Russia would have to invade Latvia first

so I can't see how this would start a war. They are symbolic - they represent no military threat to Russia

[davidn3600]

7. You realize that Latvia is part of NATO, correct?

If Russia invades Latvia, all of NATO is at war.

The ball is in Russia's court.

[pscot]

8. Baloney

Putting troops in Latvia is a flagrant provocation. We're inviting an attack. The Russians will use nukes. This is batshit crazy.

[Gravitycollapse]

11. You honestly believe the Russians are going to use nuclear weapons because we're in Latvia?

Get your head on straight.

[pscot]

16. We were ready to nuke them over Cuber

We have misread the Russians on this right from the gitgo. The fact is neither you nor I nor the chairman of the JCS has any idea what the Russians may do, but backing them into a very tight corner, poking them with a stick and daring them to react strikes me as seriously misguided. My head sits square on my shoulders and I'd like to keep it there for a while longer. The graveyards are full of people who thought they could pull the other guys chain with impunity. The bet is that no matter how threatening our behavior, how hard we push them, the Russians will take it and like it. Would we, if the situation were reversed? We're playing Russian roulette. And for what? What's at stake here that's worth risking a serious military confrontation with a super power? Do you believe our government actually gives a shit what happens to the people of Ukraine? This is about natural gas and a payoff for the bankers. Are you ready to sacrifice other peoples kids for that? Wake up and smell the coffee.

[Gravitycollapse]

18. You really, seriously have no idea what you're talking about.

We're deploying troops to NATO countries in response to the Russian aggression. Which is the exact opposite of what you appear to think is happening. It's the Russians who are invading sovereign countries and threatening our allies.

You can't just say any possible encounter between the US and Russia is comparable to the Cuban Missile Crisis. That's totally asinine.

I'm not saying anything we are doing is the right thing to do. What I am saying is you don't appear to understand the situation at all. At all. And you really don't seem to have even an elementary grasp on the existence and usage of nuclear weaponry.

You're taking an already tense situation and introducing a level of complete and total idiocy.

[pscot]

19. I'll bet you believed president Cheney

when he said the Iraqis would welcome us with flowers. Let's hope we don't enjoy a similar level of success in our new adventure.

[Gravitycollapse]

20. Your statements are the very definition of incoherence. No logical connections at all.

Basically a grab bag of random conflicts tied together to try and make them seem the same despite any person with an ounce of intelligence understanding they are totally incomparable.

This is exactly what we don't need in this situation.

[pscot]

22. I feel like I'm arguing with Don Rumsfeld

Peace brother. I yield to your superior wisdom, or something.

[Gravitycollapse]

24. Again, not even a semblance of a logical argument chain.

"You disagree with me therefore you are like Donald Rumsfeld."

[penultimate]

29. Well, aren't you a shape shifting reptilian kitten eater too?

[Democracyinkind]

44. You're actually just plain wrong.

This is standard procedure and the Russians have accepted that the baltic has come under the NATO sphere of influence. It's no more a provocation than all of our annual exercises in the region are.

[pscot]

48. Yes of course

In principle that is true. I wonder how Vlodya and his generals feel about that. Let's smack 'em on the nose and find out.

[Democracyinkind]

49. We are not smacking them on the nose.

I've been accused of being one of the Putin lovers. Believe me I get where you're coming from. But Putin is not stupid. Recent events have shown that he knows to pick his fights. None of his Generals will be surprised by this move. Standard procedure.

NATO maneuvers in the region have involved a much greater amount of American troops and no Russian felt smacked by those. Which is not to say that the Russians don't resent NATO's eastern expansion. But that's a done deal.

[pscot]

51. In the region is not the same as on Russia's border

and what's done can come undone all too easily. History is replete with examples.

[Democracyinkind]

54. In Latvia. In exactly the same spot. It's in the public record.

[penultimate]

28. You do not believe sovereign nations have the right to be members of alliances or take part

in military cooperation with allies? Do you oppose the idea of Russia sending military assets to places like Venezuela? If Mexico decided to form closer relations with Russia, would you agree that the US would have the right to militarily support uprisings in the north states of Mexico, sending in US troops and then annexing Sonora, Chihuahua or Baja? Then after that, would you view it as an act of aggression on Russia's part if they moved troops into either mexico or other central American countries who felt threatened? I for one wouldn't be supporting the US, and I wouldn't be viewing the Russian moves there as the hostile ones. Would you say Russia was stupid and inviting attacks, because the US might use nukes?

Now back to this world. Why would Russia use nukes on a small contingent of troops in a country that it isn't at war with? Is US/NATO going to invade Russia with so few troops? Wouldn't Russia's concern here only be that it would make it more difficult for them to violate the sovereignty of countries like Latvia and Poland if US troops are there? What threat do they pose to Russia that would justify Russia using nukes or even attacking them? If Russia did the same thing in a country near the US, would that justify the US taking similar actions that you believe Russia would be justified in taking? If not, why is it different?

[pscot]

50. What you or I believe doesn't mean jack shit

It's what the Russians think about what we're doing and the degree of Russian paranoia engendered by our aggressive stance. If nothing else, we're guaranteeing that Putin will be president/tzar of Russia for as long as he likes. Russians who have been arguing that the West can't be trusted are being fully vindicated.

[The Magistrate]

43. No, Sir, It Means No Such Thing

Unless you imagine a company of U.S. paratroops poses a serious threat to Russia, or imagine that Latvia has no right to defend itself against Russia, and cannot be allowed to practice for the possibility of its being invaded.

[The Magistrate]

53. Train You Ride Is Never Late, Sir...

[Democracyinkind]

46. No more a provocation than our annual exercises in the region are.

The Russians have accepted that the Baltic has become a part of NATO's sphere of influence.

[strikeforce]

14. article 5 of the NATO treaty

familiar with it ?

[geek tragedy]

9. Russia has tripled its helicopters on the Latvian border

so, this is fairly proportional.

Sure a Russian invasion of Latvia seems improbable. Then again, a Russian invasion of Eastern Ukraine also one time seemed improbable. Force and intimidation are about the only things the bear recognizes these days.

[AnalystInParadise]

23. I don't see how

an invasion of Eastern Ukraine is improbable, the DIA has been talking about it for a year now. No one is talking about Eastern Europe though, not even Russia.

[dipsydoodle]

10. Oops

Last edited Sun Apr 27, 2014, 05:36 AM - Edit history (2)

Latvia has told the EU it wants a billion Euros to agree to sanctions ..........................

That was when the EU were thinking about sanctions against Belarus - 2 years ago.

Latvians want compensation from EU for sanctions against dictatorship.

https://charter97.org/en/news/2012/3/20/49540/

[Adam-Bomb]

12. NATO should've moved East a long time ago.

Kind of hard to be a deterrence when you are two countries away.

Saw West Germany from the troop hatch of an M113A2, myself.
Got right close to the Border a time or two.

[strikeforce]

15. thank you for your service.

light weapons infantryman-101 air assault division-reforger 1976.

best time of my life. 19 years old patrolling along the czech border.

[Jesus Malverde]

21. "best time of my life."

Cold war nostalgia from the duck and cover generation...



Where is our generations peace dividend?

[Ash_F]

31. Our 'peace dividend' was the two longest wars in American history. /nt

[pscot]

17. So did I

We were a trip-wire battalion. Which is partly why I think what we're now doing is dumber than shit.

[Ash_F]

32. Can you elaborate on what tripwire battalion means?

For those who don't know.

[pscot]

47. There were some ungodly number of Soviet armored divisions

in east Germany, poised to assault the Fulda Gap. The 14th Armored Cav had about 3000 men in 3 battalions scattered along the border from Bad Hersfeld to Bad Kissingen. We patrolled the border. In the event of war, our annihilation would kick off the festivities. I understand the 14th has been reconstituted as a Stryker unit and was deployed to Iraq.

[Ash_F]

56. Ah, so human shields basically.

Glad that did not happen.

[pscot]

57. More what the Brits used call a Forlorn Hope

[Obnoxious_One]

25. Calm down people this is a good thing.

I don't know why but I'm told that this act of provocation is totally reasonable...
Playing policeman of the world is now totally progressive.

[EX500rider]

30. You're right, Russia should just be allowed to gobble up their neighbors..

...piece by piece.

[Obnoxious_One]

33. You mean if they Vote to be gobbled up?

Sure!

I mean it beats being ruled over by a bunch of unelected clowns that not so long ago were the militant group that was taking over government buildings.

Funny how that works out.

[Bosonic]

27. Latvia says Russia trying to use 'provocateurs' in Baltic state

Latvia says Russia trying to use 'provocateurs' in Baltic state

(Reuters) - Latvia's defense minister said on Friday Russia was trying to stir unrest in the Baltic state by using "specially-trained, professional provocateurs" in the wake of its intervention in Ukraine.

The Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, now NATO and EU member states, were once part of the Soviet Union and have substantial Russian-speaking minorities, like Ukraine.

"There are risks that Russia might try to destabilize the situation in the region," Raimonds Vejonis, Latvia's defense minister, told Reuters in an interview.

"We see it very clearly in Ukraine's case, where they have acted and are still trying to escalate the situation in different ways," the minister added.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/25/us-latvia-defence-idUSBREA3O1Q420140425

[The Magistrate]

36. Right On Time, You Are, Sir

[greatauntoftriplets]

40. ...

[TwilightGardener]

45. NATO will be beefed up, it's logical and expected. It doesn't mean war, it's not

a provocation. It's just a message to Putin that he needs to think twice about where all of this goes, in case he doubts our commitments to our treaties. End of story. The only way anyone should use this smilie: is if Putin is in fact crazy enough to attack NATO member nations or military assets, or if Obama decides it's time for American boots on the ground (or planes in the air) in Ukraine itself. I doubt any of that will come to pass.

[davidn3600]

55. The Baltic states are not Ukraine

These people are not split the way Ukraine is. Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania... are much closer to Europe culturally, economically, politically, etc.. Especially the youth in these countries are much more pro-European and even routinely learn English in schools.

Ukraine is not NATO nor EU. So they are not as important to Europe. Ukraine tends to be considered by most of the world to still be within Russia's sphere. But if Russia starts screwing around in the Baltics...we are going to have a big, BIG problem. And we will start putting troops in there. Putting a few troops in these countries now is signal to the Kremlin that we are going to draw the line right here.