Posted on 03/26/2014 6:00:27 PM PDT by kristinn
A new classified intelligence assessment concludes it is more likely than previously thought that Russian forces will enter eastern Ukraine, CNN has learned.
Two administration officials described the assessment but declined to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the information.
The officials emphasized that nothing is certain, but there have been several worrying signs in the past three to four days.
“This has shifted our thinking that the likelihood of a further Russian incursion is more probable than it was previously thought to be,” one official said.
The buildup is seen to be reminiscent of Moscow’s military moves before it went into Chechnya and Georgia in both numbers of units and their capabilities.
U.S. military and intelligence officials have briefed Congress on the assessment.
As a result, Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee late Wednesday sent a classified letter to the White House expressing concern about unfolding developments.
An unclassified version obtained by CNN said committee members feel “urgency and alarm, based on new information in the committee’s possession.”
The committee said there was “deep apprehension that Moscow may invade eastern and southern Ukraine, pressing west to Transdniestria and also seek land grabs in the Baltics.”
SNIP
The United States believes that Russia might decide to go into eastern Ukraine to establish a land bridge into Crimea.
The belief is that Russian forces would move toward three Ukrainian cities: Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk in order to establish land access into Crimea. Russian forces are currently positioned in and around Rostov, Kursk, and Belgorod, according to U.S. intelligence information.
(Excerpt) Read more at security.blogs.cnn.com ...
Putin giving Obama the “Bronx salute”.
The greatest possible threat of war between Russia and a NATO member is actually Turkey, which is threatening to close the Straits of Bosphorus to Russia.
Putin wants no part of Turkey. That won’t be happening. Turkey has a credible military and Putin’s MO is to attack weak countries who can’t fight back. Erdogan made one phone call and shut Putin down.
I believe Danish F-16’s shadowed some of the recent Russian war games being discussed. But whether they could offer much more than harrasment of an actual Russian move on the Baltics may be questionable.
Did you notice the type of aircraft sent to “reenforce” the Baltics? It was a few antique F-15C’s. Air to air fighters with minimal air to ground capabilities, I believe. Putin would have a free hand for a week or more if he rolls into Estonia. NATO units are so far away the battle would be over by the time they got there. I think that is the plan.
The kenyan and Merkel are not interested in a shooting war with Russia over the Baltics. Putin is free to pluck them at his leisure.
The Baltics are NATO Countries, if the russkies “enter” them, it is a whole other matter and the bastard kenyan might find that a country that covers eleven time zones is a tad more than a “regional” power.
The Russians are already there. Parts of Estonia are 90% ethnic Russian. What isn’t in the Baltics is a credible NATO deterrent. The kenyan and Merkel know that and do nothing. Why do you think that is? The answer is they have no intention of defending the Baltics militarily.
As long as Lukashenko is in power and does what Moscow wants him to do, Belarus will be left alone.
Russia won’t stop until it has secured the other areas of the Ukraine that have a majority of Russian speakers, which includes the east and south of the country. The annexation of those areas will provide Russia with an oil/gas pipeline corridor that will completely by-pass what remains of the Ukraine. They’ll supply Europe and let Ukraine freeze.
YOu say that, and yet Turkey has for now backed down on its threat to close the Straits of Bosphorus. Russia wants no war with Turkey, but if the Straits were to be closed, that would be an Act of War by Turkey against Russia, and Russia would be forced to open them.
Yep. They know there will be no meaningful consequences when they do take part of the Eastern Ukraine. And, each advancing soldier will have his face totally covered too, just like they do in Crimea.
So, this means that the sensational headline about Russia moving on the Baltics was little more than sensationalism by a Congressional Staffer with a Boehner for war.
“They know there will be no meaningful consequences when they do take part of the Eastern Ukraine.”
Except for having to deal with another pissed off neighbor. It’s like moving your mother-in-law into the house.
“So, this means that the sensational headline about Russia moving on the Baltics was little more than sensationalism by a Congressional Staffer with a Boehner for war.”
I always look at the source. Hmmm. CNN. No agenda with them, right?
The media is a gay lynch mob. The media hates Putin and Russia because they won’t let the gay mafia push them around and thus constantly agitates against him, but to far less avail than with their American targets.
As to whether Putin is a real threat, I have no idea, but I certainly don’t see the bear of the hammer and sickle years; just a bunch of wild eyed stories. I’m an old guy, and this ain’t the Russia of the Cold War, no matter how much the gaymob and neocons want to fight them.
I kind of meant from our fearless leader.....
>As to whether Putin is a real threat, I have no idea<
Lets see, he rules by decree through his tool the state Duma, he ignores treaties, he orchestrates phoney elections and sends troops w/o insignia into the sovereign territory of his neighbor, and he has nukes.
He is a predator, maybe not a Stalin, but more like a Tony Soprano.
Which is why I don't believe it. However, Putin's watching who is lining up for the election ahead....he'll stall for a time.
You'd think Ukrainians have had enough of the oligarchs by now....which is why they are in this situation to begin with..... So far they're lining up the same'o same'o.....billionaires with lots of money and power. (Transparency International that monitors corruption, rates Ukraine 144 out of 177 states.)
“He is a predator, maybe not a Stalin, but more like a Tony Soprano.”
I can agree with that, but I’ll take him over Stalin any day.
The oligarchs you refer to are the same ones that were propping up Putin’s puppet, Viktor Yanukovich. After Yanukovich hightailed it to Russia, one notable oligarch, Firtash, helped finance Russia’s invasion of Crimea.
These are the oligarchs the Ukrainians are tired of.
Heh!! I guess that little, so-called “regional power” has a little more muscle and balls than The Great Won anticipated. Have some more skittles, Mr. Skittles, and let’s all sing Cum-by-ya as we get high on the Mr. Skittle’s sugar high. Oh! Is that a nuke pointed at Manhattan??? Say it ain’t so, Mr. Skittles!!!!
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