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Posted on 05/15/2026 7:48:18 AM PDT by Eleutheria5
Pete Hegseth’s last-minute decision to cancel the deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland caught Pentagon staff and European allies by surprise — the latest example of an abrupt personnel move from the Defense secretary that blindsided both sides of the Atlantic.
It wasn’t clear exactly why Hegseth issued the order, according to three defense officials familiar with the matter. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed anger and frustration with European allies for their failure to help with the Iran war, although Trump has labeled Poland a “model ally” for its high defense spending.
The decision was even more surprising because troops and equipment had already started to arrive in the country. It sent fresh waves of anxiety through European capitals and inside the Pentagon on Thursday about whether such moves could embolden Russia — and which ally might turn into the next target.
“We had no idea this was coming,” said one of the U.S. officials, adding that European and American officials have spent the last 24 hours on the phone trying to understand the decision and figure out if more surprises are coming.
The move follows Hegseth’s announcement this month that the Pentagon would withdraw 5,000 troops from bases in Germany. But that decision followed through on a threat Trump made after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the U.S. was “humiliating” itself with the conflict in Iran.
The 4,000 Texas-based troops were preparing to leave on a long-planned nine month rotation to Poland that includes training with NATO allies when the order to halt came through....
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(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
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Done by design. They couldn’t leak it to the press and to NATO.
Pull all US troops and assets from Europe. They can pay their own way.
Far cheaper to stop that and send the troops from Germany to Poland. Duh.
When is the never ending WWII over?
“We had no idea this was coming,” said one of the U.S. officials.......”
Said one of the U.S. officials not involved in the decision making.
Poland is closer to Russia than Germany. You’d think they’d prefer that arrangement. Between Poland and Russia is Belarus and Ukraine. One sides with Russia and the other is at war. Would Poland act out more with US troops on it’s soil? Polaks have a way of doing things the hard way.
Yep
Why do 330 million Americans need to protect 500 million Europeans? I have a guess, Europe does not want to spend enough money for their own defense, so long as Uncle Sam is carrying the burden on his back.
gREAT IDEA THE 48TH tac fIGHTER wING HAS HAD A SQUADRON ON ROTTION TO pOLAND FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. i FOLLOW THE 48TH AS A PAST MEMBER 63-66 ITS ABOUT TIME WE MOVE THE 48TH TO pOLAND THEY HAVE REQUESTED usaf aIRCRAFTT FOR MANY YEARS AND pOLAND IS WILLING TO FINACIALY PAY FOR THE MOVE IT WOULD GIVE THE bRITS A GOOD QUICK KICK IN THE AZZ AN IT WOULD ALSO FINACIALLY FORCE eNGLAND TO SPEND MONEY ON ITS OWN DEFENSE. nOW uk QUIT SPENDING DEFENSE MONEY ON LLEGAL MUSLIMS TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR SUPPOSED empire. i AM SO SICCK OF SUPPORTING FINACIALY THE UK. mAYBE THEM fRANCE, sPAIN AND OTHER BACKSTABBIMNG MEMBERS OF SUPPOSED nato TREATY START BUYING STUFF FROM THE usa SORRY BUT i CANT GET GRAMMERKY BACK ON LINE
wE HYAVE BEEN CARRYING THE uk SINCE 1938 ARROGANT JOKE OF A COUNTRY.
Poland can handle Russia.
It's time to pull our troops out of Europe anyway.
We can’t afford it!
Actually, Poland borders Russia along Kaliningrad. The Poles don’t do things the “hard way,” but being like us they tend to be disorganized and indecisive. However, without 3,000 miles of ocean on both sides protecting them, that has often proved fatal.
“3000 miles of ocean on both sides” sounds more like the USA than Poland.
Making America weak and unreliable. Why didn’t they close the US Army hospital in Germany instead of pushing some papers around and cancelling a deployment? And you wonder why Trump could get the Kurds to do anything in Iran?
OOPS, my apologies; I missed your “without.”
Should they be kicked in the butt to do more? Of course, which is what Trump has been doing. But abandoned? How is that is US interests?
That leaves them stunned…. Ha, ha, ha!
“Jan, cool it.”
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