Posted on 02/15/2015 6:22:35 PM PST by presidio9
'I believe the Russians are mobilizing right now for a war that they think is going to happen in five or six years —not that they're going to start a war in five or six years, but I think they are anticipating that things are going to happen, and that they will be in a war of some sort, of some scale, with somebody within the next five or six years."
So says Lt. Gen. Frederick "Ben" Hodges, commander of U.S. Army Europe....
"Strong Europe!" reads a sign on one of the walls. Next to it is the U.S. Army Europe insignia, a burning sword set against a blue shield. The two signs represent the strategic framework the three-star general has introduced—building on America's decades-long role on the Continent—since taking command last year of the 30,000 or so U.S. soldiers stationed in Europe.
The U.S. military presence in Europe is more vital at this moment than it has been in many years. American engagement is essential if the West is to deter a revanchist Russia that has set out to "redraw the boundaries of Europe," Gen. Hodges says with a native Floridian's drawl....
The Russians have "got some forces in Transnistria," he says of the state that broke away from Moldova in the 1990s. "They've got forces in Georgia. And I think they view China as their existential threat, so they've got a lot of capacity out there." The Russian military is thus already somewhat stretched, and Moscow had to carve out from existing units the battalion task groups currently arrayed near eastern Ukraine. Yet "they are clearly on a path to develop, to increase, their capacity," Gen. Hodges says. Add to this expansion that "they've got very good equipment, extremely good communications equipment, their [electronic-warfare] capability, T-80 tanks." How long will it take for Russia to reach its desired military strength? "I think within another two or three years they will have that capacity," he says.. -SNIP-
Sorry, meant to say “aren’t capable of much more than that.”.
So why did the Soviets not use them in 1989?
My post is exactly relevant.
probably too little, too late
Most NATO members were cutting military spending for the past decade or two, and Putin has been on a spending spree for at least 8 or 9 years now.
That is probably the kind of missions (and peacekeeping or holding areas after conflicts) it is for, there is also a SAM version.
“this Russian invasion”
It was noted on another website today, that if you add up all of the “RUSSIAN INVASION!!!” claims of Kiev’s propagandists, such as EuromaidanPR, Censor, Ukrinform, Informnapalm, etc., that the Russians would have somewhere north of 120,000 troops, 1800+ tanks, well over 1,000 guns and launchers, as well as hundreds of AA pieces in Ukraine.
Those are Operation Bagration type of numbers.
And yet, mysteriously, nothing like those numbers can be found by our satellites, the best the world has ever known.
If those numbers were in Ukraine, Kiev would have fallen months ago, and we’d be reminiscing about how short the Battle of Lvov was.
GDHTHF.
Why should they give a s**t if Moscow wants to continue to be able to access her Crimean naval bases? The only people trying to escalate the situation here is the United States via our hand-picked puppet government in Kiev.
One of my favorite books was Herman Kahn's, "On Escalation: Metaphors & Scenarios." He outlines an escalation ladder on the different ways a nuclear conflict could be fought.
Active Duty ping.
Ask Mikhail Gorbachev, not me. I would assume he knew how rotten the Soviet system was.
It’s little wonder Merkel and Hollande want nothing to do with this monumental catastrophe being orchestrated by the Obama administration.
Oh, one of those kraut M-60's too!
Actually post 34 is more relevant, and it doesn’t mention medicare.
HOW MANY CARRIERS DOES RUSSIA HAVE AGAIN?
One, built by Ukraine, and they never leave port without a tug boat in case it breaks down.
“In December 1991, she sailed from the Black Sea to join the Northern Fleet. Only from 1993 on did she receive aircraft.”
“In December 1991, she sailed from the Black Sea to join the Northern Fleet. Only from 1993 on did she receive aircraft”
“At the end of 1997 she remained immobilized in a Northern Fleet shipyard, awaiting funding for major repairs, which were halted when they were only 20% complete. The overhaul was completed in July 1998, and the ship returned to active service in the Northern fleet on 3 November 1998. “
“Kuznetsov apparently remained in port for about two years before preparing for another Mediterranean deployment scheduled for the winter of 2000–2001. This deployment was cancelled due to the loss of the nuclear-powered submarine Kursk.”
“In late 2003 and early 2004, Kuznetsov went to sea for inspection and trials. During the 2005 exercise, one of her Su-33 fighters was involved in an accident, and fell from the carrier into the Atlantic Ocean.”
“On 27 September 2006 it was announced that Admiral Kuznetsov will return to service in the Northern Fleet by the end of the year. The ship will undergo another modernization refit, in an attempt to correct some of her many technical issues.”
“On 5 December 2008 the aircraft carrier and several other vessels left Severomorsk heading for the Atlantic on a tour which was announced would be lasting several months and which would include combat training including joint drills with Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and visits to several ports in the Mediterranean. On this tour while the Admiral Kuznetsov anchored off Turkey on 7 January 2009 a small fire broke out on the ship. One crew member was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. The fire was caused by a short-circuit.
On 16 February 2009, Admiral Kuznetsov, along with other Russian naval vessels was involved in a large oil spill while she refuelled off the south coast of Ireland.”
“Although financial and technical problems have resulted in limited operations for the ship, it is expected that Admiral Kuznetsov will remain in active duty until at least 2030.”
A Tankette
Armored Weapons Carrier called the Weasel
or you can drop a quarter in it to get a 1 minute ride while standing still
Bibi just gave Jews in Europe the “get out of Dodge” signal.
There is a difference between disagreeing with the level of spending cuts and reductions, and trying to use that instead of an actual comparison between the fighting capabilities of NATO versus Russia.
Right now I’m interested in the balance of power between the Western world and Russia.
Russia is no match for us.
This is no joke. Prepare.
The coup will come from within.
at least it wasn’t that French carrier where the bridge’s glass was opaque, the deck too short for the AWACS, running all the washers would vibrate the ship to pieces and they lost their propeller on the maiden voyage
or something like that.
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