US Troops Head To Poland, Baltics To 'Reassure' Allies

[Purveyor]

Source: Agence France-Presse

World | Agence France-Presse | Updated: April 23, 2014 07:22 IST

Washington: The United States is deploying 600 troops to Poland and the Baltics to highlight its commitment to NATO allies amid tensions with Russia over Ukraine, officials said on Tuesday.

In a show of solidarity, a company of 150 soldiers from the US Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade based in Vicenza, Italy, will arrive in Poland on Wednesday and roughly 450 troops are due in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia in the coming days as part of a series of exercises due to last at least through the end of the year, a Pentagon spokesman said.

"Since Russia's aggression in the Ukraine, we have been constantly looking at ways to reassure our allies and partners," Rear Admiral John Kirby told a news conference.

The deployment of US troops is "a very tangible representation of our commitment to our security obligations in Europe," he said.

Read more: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/us-troops-head-to-poland-baltics-to-reassure-allies-512402

[Fuddnik]

1. Nere comes WWIII

Nice knowing all you guys.

[ballyhoo]

2. Exactly. If the US thinks this is reassurance

to the allies, then they must think they are all dumb. The US basically just poured gasoline on a match several yards downhill.

[davidpdx]

3. Where's the panic parade?

Oh, damn it already arrived.

[dipsydoodle]

4. US to send 600 troops to Baltics, Poland amid Ukraine tensions

BRUSSELS - The US Tuesday (22 April) announced it is sending hundreds of troops for military exercises to four countries in Eastern Europe to assure them of its commitment to the region's defence amid ongoing tension in Ukraine.

>

The 600 US troops will be deployed to Poland and the three Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania - and will conduct live ammunition exercises with forces from the four host states.

The US Pentagon said the move was in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.

“If there’s a message to Moscow, it is the exact same message, that we take our obligations very, very seriously on the continent of Europe,” said Pentagon press secretary, Rear Admiral John Kirby on Tuesday, according to US media reports.

Kirby said the decision was more than about symbolism, with Nato having ruled out military intervention in Ukraine.

http://euobserver.com/foreign/123898

[malthaussen]

5. 600 troops is taking a commitment "seriously?"

I guess I'll just never understand geopolitics.

-- Mal

[hack89]

6. They are there as a tripwire

not enough troops to be an offensive threat to Russia(and give Russia an excuse to attack) but enough that Russia could not attack without starting a war. It is to make Russia think twice before messing with NATO countries.

[Purveyor]

8. Russia isn't stupid. They will never attack a NATO country unless attacked

first.

[hack89]

9. There have been many unplanned wars

which were the result of mistakes in judgement, hubris or pure stupidity.

Anything that focuses Russia on the potential disaster they face if they miscalculate is a good thing.

[grahamhgreen]

7. How much did that cost me?