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U.S., allies to stage exercises in West Ukraine as battles rage in East
Reuters ^ | Spe 3rd, 2014 | Peter Apps

Posted on 09/03/2014 8:51:11 AM PDT by Mariner

(Reuters) - As fighting between the army and Russian-backed rebels rages in eastern Ukraine, preparations are under way near its western border for a joint military exercise this month with more than 1,000 troops from the United States and its allies.

The decision to go ahead with the Rapid Trident exercise Sept. 16-26 is seen as a sign of the commitment of NATO states to support non-NATO member Ukraine while stopping well short of military intervention in the conflict.

The annual exercise, to take place in the Yavoriv training center near Ukraine's border with Poland, was initially scheduled for July, but was put back because early planning was disrupted by the crisis in the eastern part of the country.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
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To: AmericanExceptionalist

Neocons are so silly. Provoking a war with Russia to help cover zero? In fact, a war might just salvage zero and his fellow communists chances in november. If you are old enough to recall how the US behaved when soviet soldiers were in central America, you may understand.


21 posted on 09/04/2014 7:49:13 AM PDT by kneehurts
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To: AmericanExceptionalist
"It's not like we are going to oppose the Russian Army if they decide to move with authority". "I seriously doubt that Russian troops would choose to engage US troops, thereby provoking a major conflagration".

Actually, my quote was about US Forces opposing the Russian Army...which is FAR less likely than Russian forces opposing the US Army...in Ukraine.

The geopolitics of this matters. If the Russians moved on Kiev (unknown at this time), they would likely not shy from encircling US Troops in Ukraine and escorting them back over the border.

22 posted on 09/04/2014 8:11:41 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: MeshugeMikey

Thank you


23 posted on 09/04/2014 8:12:58 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Please God send Kerry to Kiev. Please!

In the meantime how about some payback for Vietnam. Arm the Ukrainians with the best we have to spill Russian blood.

24 posted on 09/04/2014 1:22:09 PM PDT by Sam Gamgee (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. - Patton)
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To: GeronL

I’m no General, but I’m thinking that if I were Putin, I would try and rattle Obama a bit and see what happens. I’m sure behind channels have told Obama that Russia will do what it has to do. This is an economic war.

Watch, Putin is going to make our president look like loser.


25 posted on 09/04/2014 1:52:50 PM PDT by nikos1121
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To: nikos1121

Probably not something that is hard to do... make Obamfool look like a loser


26 posted on 09/04/2014 2:00:00 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: Sam Gamgee

We are only 2 years too late.


27 posted on 09/04/2014 2:17:56 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
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To: Ingtar

Heh, the Yavoriv training center, where this exercise is to be held, is almost as far west of Kiev as Kiev is from Russia. If Putin’s army can be in Kiev in 2 weeks, and given that the Western part of Ukraine would be more hostile to the Russians than Eastern Ukraine, that should give our guys about a month to evade Putin, if need be.


28 posted on 09/04/2014 7:13:11 PM PDT by Paul R. (Leftists desire to control everything; In the end they invariably control nothing worth a damn.)
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To: Mariner
The geopolitics of this matters. If the Russians moved on Kiev (unknown at this time), they would likely not shy from encircling US Troops in Ukraine and escorting them back over the border.

Uh, why might you suppose that US troops are so docile as to allow themselves to be "escort[ed]...back over the border," ever so meekly?

29 posted on 09/04/2014 11:07:43 PM PDT by AmericanExceptionalist (Democrats believe in discussing the full spectrum of ideas, all the way from far left to center-left)
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To: AmericanExceptionalist
"Uh, why might you suppose that US troops are so docile as to allow themselves to be "escort[ed]...back over the border," ever so meekly? "

Because that will be their ROE. It will also be Russian ROE.

Only a fool commander would order a large battalion to fire on the Russian Army in Ukraine. Only a fool Russian commander would order fire on a thousand American troops unless their goal was existential war.

30 posted on 09/05/2014 9:43:56 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Mariner
Because that will be their ROE. It will also be Russian ROE.

Frankly, I am unfamiliar with the acronym. (ROI is return on investment; but I have never before heard of ROE--unless it is followed by "v. Wade.")

Only a fool commander would order a large battalion to fire on the Russian Army in Ukraine. Only a fool Russian commander would order fire on a thousand American troops unless their goal was existential war.

I really do not expect either to happen.

But if Russian troops were to attempt to "escort" American troops anywhere, the certain upshot would be open hostilities. Of that, I feel certain.

31 posted on 09/05/2014 10:52:18 PM PDT by AmericanExceptionalist (Democrats believe in discussing the full spectrum of ideas, all the way from far left to center-left)
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