Posted on 04/23/2014 4:41:30 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
US troops arriving in Eastern Europe. Is it more than symbolic?
A contingent of 150 US troops began arriving in Poland Wednesday, the first of four such units being deployed for training exercises in Eastern Europe in a move criticized as unlikely to impress Russia.
By Anna Mulrine, Staff writer / April 23, 2014
Washington
The Pentagon is sending a contingent of 150 US troops to Poland this week, the first piece of what US officials describe as an effort to reassure Eastern European allies that the United States has their back in the wake of Russian aggression.
The contingent, which began arriving Wednesday, is the first of four such units headed to Eastern Europe for training exercises. While some military analysts say the deployments will have little to no impact on the tense military situation in the region, the Pentagon insists that its reply to Russian troops movements near Ukraine is not just a symbolic gesture.
“Anytime you put troops on the ground and doing exercises – in this case for a month at a time – it’s more than symbology,” Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said in a briefing with reporters Tuesday. “The kind of work that we’re going to be doing is real infantry training. And that’s not insignificant.”
There will be a “company-sized” contingent of US troops headed to Poland for “the first in a series of expanded US land force training exercises.” In the coming days, US troops will also be heading to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia for similar exercises, for a total of 600 troops in the region by the end of the week.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
I don’t give a tinkers damn about the Ukraine!
Putin budy its suppertme
Foreign wars or even the threat of them distract from domestic failure, tyranny and decline.
Don't sweat it. I don't think Obama does either.
Just so not one single person doubts my courage and guts, I have sent our finest to Poland... 
and they are on the way!
Driver? 
Driver!
How soon do we... 
get to Warsaw?
Really, Phil, the President must be crazy... 
to send us way over here!
Look at... 
this country--
Look... 
Look!
And you cannot get a signal... 
worth a damn here either!
So, tell all, far and wide, as far as I am concerned... 
if the Poles like their country, they can keep their country!
Putin is shaking........with laughter.
“...Russian troops movements near Ukraine...”
They mean Russian troops movements inside of Russia.
Another hair-trigger situation ready to spiral out of control. Barry cannot do anything right.
I’m sure the troops families aren’t laughing.
They mean Russian troops movements inside of Russia.
Nope, the Russians are moving forces into Belarus into positions that can better strike at Kyiv.
http://rt.com/news/belarus-planes-nato-poland-594/
.........in 1962, President Kennedy created MACV (Military Assistance Command Vietnam). At that time, he only had approximately 1,000 advisors “in country” and most of them had been originally sent in by Eisenhower.
By the end of that year, Kennedy had increased troops to over 15,000.00. During that timeframe, we know our Federal Government lied to us AGAIN because it was repeatedly stated they were there to “train only” and that “no combat” by Americans was authorized or would take place other than self defense.
So, if any of you believe that 150 troops going to Poland is not a first step toward combat for our American kids AGAIN.............you need help! Moreover, how many times does it take for the American People to “get it”? Uh.....you cannot believe a gd thing the American Government says!
Putin kills a few American troops, and here we go AGAIN !!!
Tripwire. It’s one thing to steamroll over locals, quite another to engage the troops of the Hyperpower.
What a sorry COS. Poor guys. How would you feel to be them? Knowing you are no more than a small speed bump in front of the Russians and that the POS obarry and the catsup prince are “backing you up”?
Then you think about the rest of us poor slobs.
They were going to call it Task Force Smith but realized it wasn’t big enough to rate that title.
At the least will the troops get ammunition? Or will they not be allowed to carry loaded weapons?
Bad omen. That gives me shivers.
Anyone know what unit is going?
This is all I’ve found so far...
SWIDWIN, POLAND - APRIL 23: Members of a Polish paratrooper unit watch as a U.S. Air Force plane ferrying men and equipment of the U.S. Army 173rd Airborne Brigade lands at a Polish air force base on April 23, 2014 in Swidwin, Poland. Approximately 150 U.S. troops, as well as another 450 destined for the three Baltic states in coming days, will participate in bilateral military exercises over the coming weeks in a sign of commitment among NATO members. Tensions are rising in eastern Ukraine between Russian separatists and Ukrainian authorities and NATO is seeking to reassure its own members located close to Russia. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
http://www.kvue.com/news/slideshows/256396061.html
A family friend’s husband went to Nam in the early 60s as a “military advisor”. I remember seeing him for Christmas each year when he came home for several years. He was a lifer in special forces.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.