Eastern Europe,Balkan and Baltic countries now forced to accept invaders

Baltics worried Russia gonna try to take `em over...
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Baltics on war footing as NATO tries to deter attack
Tue, Jun 14, 2016 - Leaders in the Baltic countries and Poland fear the force NATO plans to deploy on their territory is too small and symbolic to deter an attack by Russia, whose 2014 annexation of Crimea is fresh in the memories of the former Soviet-bloc states.
This week they are to press other ministers of the Western military alliance to help them build an air defense system against Russian aircraft and missiles. However, that would be a highly sensitive step, likely to be condemned by Moscow as yet more evidence of a NATO strategy threatening its borders. Asked about the likelihood of Russian aggression in the Baltics, Lithuanian Defense Minister Juozas Olekas said: “We cannot exclude it ... They might exercise on the borders and then switch to invasion in hours.” Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia see themselves on the front line in any potential conflict with Moscow, and say they are putting their armies on a war footing, meaning they can be mobilized almost immediately.

NATO defense ministers are set to agree this week on a new multinational force of 4,000 troops for the Baltics and Poland. The US, Germany and Britain are set to lead battalions of about 1,000 troops each. Canada might lead a fourth. While the Baltic nations welcome the deployments, they say the build-up must go further — pointing to Russia’s efforts to develop an “anti-access” capability in the Kaliningrad exclave bordering Lithuania and Poland, using missiles and submarines to stop NATO moving reinforcements into the Baltics.

The Baltics want NATO fighters to protect their skies and are seeking medium-range missile interceptors from Norway’s Kongsberg Gruppen and US defense contractor Raytheon. “We need to stop possible air aggression,” Olekas said. “We are discussing creating a regional medium-range air defense system together with the Latvians, the Estonians and the Poles.” Olekas expects to raise the matter with NATO colleagues at a ministers’ meeting today and tomorrow in Brussels. “The first and foremost is the defense of our airspace. Air defense is the challenge that needs to solved together with the NATO alliance,” the head of the Estonian defense force Lieutenant General Riho Terras said. “We are not talking about defense of Lithuania, we are talking about the credibility of the whole alliance,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said.

However, such calls would require stretched NATO governments to beef up the so-called air policing mission that regularly intercepts Russian jets flying over international waters close to the Baltic states. The Baltic nations rely on their NATO allies’ quick reaction aircraft to patrol their skies, with no mandate to confront hostile aircraft in a conflict. Ben Hodges, the commander of the US army in Europe, visited Vilnius last week and echoed Baltic concerns about the strength of NATO’s deterrence. “It is a transition,” Hodges said. “I hope that includes serious war fighting capabilities. Just putting garrisons of troops sitting in the countries ... will not deter.”

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Another troll thread from the sackless, racist chicken shit....
 
Trump 'handlin' Putin?...
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U.S. Army tanks being moved to Russian border
Jan. 31, 2017 -- The U.S. Army will send M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks to the Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania along Russia's borders ahead of a NATO operation in the spring.
The tanks participated in joint drills between U.S. and Polish forces but some are being moved to the Baltic states to await a deterrence operation set to reassure the United States' European allies that Washington, D.C., is committed to their defense, The Wall Street Journal reported. German troops are also arriving in Lithuania, British troops are reinforcing positions in Estonia and Canadian troops are being sent to Latvia.

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An American M1A2 Abrams Tank moves quickly into firing position during a live-fire training exercise on Jan. 30 at Karlikie Range, Zagan, Poland. The exercise, the first between the U.S. 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and the Polish 11th Armored Cavalry Division, took place after a formal welcome ceremony for the American Soldiers. The American forces arrived in Poland earlier this month to begin a nine-month “heel-to-toe” rotation to bolster ties with NATO allies.​

The United States deployed 87 tanks, 144 armored vehicles and 3,500 troops -- the biggest U.S. deployment in Europe since the end of the Cold War -- to perform regional operations through most of 2017 to combat Russian aggression, the Pentagon said. Another unit will replace the brigade that's currently deployed in Europe in October. "This is the largest ever U.S. deployment in Poland and it's about deterrence," U.S. Army in Europe commander Gen. Ben Hodges told NBC News. "An outright attack by Russia is unlikely, but the best way to keep it unlikely is to do what we're doing here today."

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A tank crew in an M1A2 Main Battle Tank belonging to 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division completes tank gunnery qualification at Presidential Range in Swietoszow, Poland​

The United States did not have a single tank in Europe prior to Russian President Vladimir Putin's annexation of Crimea in 2014. "Let me be very clear, this is one part of our efforts to deter Russian aggression, ensure territorial integrity of our allies and maintain a Europe that is whole, free, prosperous and at peace," U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Tim Ray, deputy commander of U.S. European Command, previously said of the NATO operation.

U.S. Army tanks being moved to Russian border

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Ukraine prepares to evacuate town under siege; no electricity, no water
Jan. 31, 2017 -- Ukrainian authorities said Tuesday that preparations to evacuate the strategic town of Avdiivka, under fire from rebel and government forces, are underway.
The government-held town in eastern Ukraine, which borders land controlled by rebels, is without water or electricity and has been the center of renewed fighting between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists. Seven soldiers and an undetermined number of opposition fighters were killed over the weekend as freezing temperatures came to the area.

Although an evacuation order has not been given, officials said 10 tons of food is on its way to Avdiivka, and they can remove up to 8,000 people per day. Neighboring communities are prepared to accept 9,000 people, they added. Estimates of Avdiivka's population range from 16,000 to 22,000.

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Residents in eastern Ukraine cross a damaged bridge between government-held and separatist-held territory. Officials said they are prepared to evacuate the town of Avdiivka, under siege since Friday.​

The town is near the rebel-held city of Donetsk, as well as near important roads used by rebel forces. It is also the home of a coke and chemical plant, Europe's largest of its kind. If the separatists captured the facility it could jeopardize Ukraine's steel industry.

The two sides called a truce in late December. The renewal of hostilities coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump's telephone conversation Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the BBC reported. It added the Ukrainian government fears it could lose the support of the United States during Trump's presidency.

Ukraine prepares to evacuate town under siege; no electricity, no water
 
Europe can and will help refugees. Some European Union countries such as Greece, Italy, Germany, Sweden, and France have been helping over a million refugees from the war-torn Middle East and some African countries. Others, notably Poland, Hungary, and Britain have virtually closed their borders and among these are states which have received huge financial help to improve their infrastructures long neglected when they were vassal states of Russia. To those who received the most from the European Union, the least has been offered by way of not pulling their weight in humanitarian assistance. If they continue along this selfish and uncharitable course, then others will have to carry a heavier challenge in helping refugees. They should not expect such largesse from the Union until they come 'round.
 

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