[molson209]

Yes, but don’t forget they’re Russian . LOL

[no-to-illegals]

oh don’t worry about it ... I would tell you the latest news but am afraid you tell someone.

[autumnraine]

And in the meantime Obama can’t even get polite applause at a speech given to a world audience.

[no-to-illegals]

I has to know ... Are you and Fennie related?

[PGR88]

That’s a lot of targets - why don’t the Ukranians do something?

A drawn-out, asymmetric war would be a humanitarian disaster, but it would certainly punish Russia as well, it is the last thing Putin wants, and would likely force him from power.

[Star Traveler]

From Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Governor Sio Bibble: “A communications disruption could mean only one thing: invasion.”

The Ukraine better keep that in mind ... :-) ...

[grania]

Why, that's just awful. A country protecting its southern border and prepared to act if need be to protect its countrymen on both sides of the border.

It's just so....unAmerican

[Sacajaweau]

Kiev started all this crap with their little coup.

[Carry_Okie]

Why don’t they just send us a new map and get it over with?

[keat]

Time for Barry to move that red line again. Then leak some statements to the press i.e. “A land-bridge to the newly Russifed regions in the Crimea would not be challenged, but if they go beyond that, the international community will impose costs.”

[paterfamilias]

The headline should be re-written:

“REGIONAL POWER” RUSSIA MASSES 100,000 TROOPS ON UKRAINIAN BORDER.

[AU72]

A force that size in operational readiness is very expensive if just a bluff for concessions. On the other hand I don't Russia demanding anything from the Ukraine or ginning up some rent-a-mob riots.

I'm leaning toward a sudden incursion at any time. Putin went into Georgia while he was sitting next to Bush at the Beijing Olympics. Obama and Kerry are in the Middle East Friday.

[MNDude]

100,000 troops is a lot to support. An invasion is coming soon if this news it true.

[blueunicorn6]

I don’t know if Ukraine is right. I don’t know if Russia is right. The one thing I’m absolutely sure of is that Obama and Kerry will find a way to make it worse.

[cuban leaf]

This guy can be trusted. These Poles need to not worry. Warsaw is safe.

[Daus]

Time to let the Chinese know that they should feel free to protect their ethnic brethren in Eastern Russia while Vlad is looking the other way. :)

[mykroar]

That’s a lot of weakness on the Ukrainian border.

[aegiscg47]

Seeing how the Ukrainians have reported that they only have around 6,000 troops available to be deployed for combat, whether the Russians have 20,000 or 100,000 isn't going to matter much. They'll be able to achieve high odds pretty much at the breakthrough points of their choosing. Ukraine may be able to get up to around 40,000 after a few weeks, but a lot would have to go right for them in terms of mobilization, getting them equipped, transported, etc. My guess is that many won't show up for the mobilization effort or fade away once it looks like the Russians are going to win.

[tcrlaf]

(Reuters) - U.S. and European security agencies estimate Russia has deployed military and militia units totaling more than 30,000 people along its border with eastern Ukraine, according to U.S. and European sources familiar with official reporting.

The current estimates represent what officials on both sides of the Atlantic describe as a continuing influx of Russian forces along the Ukraine frontier, the sources said.

The 30,000 figure represents a significant increase from a figure of 20,000 Russian troops along the border that was widely reported in U.S. and European media last week.

But U.S. and European security sources noted that these estimates are imprecise. Some estimates put current troop levels as high as 35,000 while others still suggest a level of 25,000, the sources said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/us-ukraine-crisis-usa-idUSBREA2P22120140326?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=%2AMorning%20Brief&utm_campaign=MB.03.27.2014

[tcrlaf]

100,000 would be too many troops vehicles, etc. to hide, especially in an electronic society. The footprint of forces that large would be HUGE.

The Rueters figure of 25,000-35,000 is likely more accurate, if even that. There is anecdotal evidence of some battalion, and a couple of Brigade-sized moves, but not much else.

Any movement, if it comes, won’t be toward Kiev, but Donetsk (Russian sympathetic), toward Meltipol.