[ganeemead]

This is some sort of a psychotic attempt to start a major war against Russia, which could roll NATO up in 36 hours...

[1rudeboy]

LOL. Russia? It would take them half that to sober up.

[Krosan]

Ganeemead, do you mean the RAND study? That study said that a surprise attack by Russia with 27 brigades would reach the outskirts of Tallinn and Riga in 60 hours and concluded that placing 7 brigades in Eastern Europe would be enough to counter it.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"This is some sort of a psychotic attempt to start a major war against Russia, which could roll NATO up in 36 hours..."

These same type of things were said in the 70's and 80's. It's funny how those vaunted Soviet tanks never came rolling through the Fulda Gap. It wasn't for lack of willpower. What Putin could do is easily overpower the Baltic states who were former properties of the Soviet Empire and are now NATO members which means we would be treaty obligated to go to war if they were invaded. Showing a strong presence in Eastern Europe would be a good guarantee (IMO) that we never have to face that.

Back in 2013, I was one who was all in favor of moving our heavy brigades out of Europe. They were no longer needed. The invasion of the Crimea and subsequent destabilization of the Ukraine changed everything. I agree with Trump that our NATO partners need to increase their defense budgets and some of them are showing signs of waking up to the threat, but we can't abdicate our responsibilities.

[thesligoduffyflynns]

i could see this- these are mobile troops