US sends elite commandos to the border of Russia to defend nervous Baltic states while NATO beefs up its defenses

[SirLinksALot]

SOURCE: DAILY MAIL

URL: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4088500/They-scared-death-Russia-sends-elite-commandos-reassure-nervous-Baltic-states-NATO-beefs-defenses.html

By ARIEL ZILBER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM



* US sends dozens of special forces troops to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
* The Baltic countries are increasingly nervous over potential Russian aggression
* US and NATO to deploy hundreds of additional soldiers in Baltics and Poland
* Trump comments during campaign sowed doubt over US commitment to NATO

The United States has deployed dozens of special forces troops to the Baltic region in recent months in a bid to lift the morale of anxious European allies who are suspicious of Russia, it was learned on Wednesday.

The Americans are eager to help the small armies of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia repel any possible threat from their neighbor to the east.

The Baltic countries have grown increasingly nervous over President-elect Donald Trump's stated intentions to improve relations with Russia, The New York Times reported.

That is why the US and NATO allies plan to deploy battalions that number between 800 and 1,200 to each of the three Baltic countries and Poland by the spring.

During the election campaign, Trump said he would pursue a different policy that has been in place since the end of World War Two with respect to NATO.

Trump said the US should only grant protection to European allies and NATO members who pay a greater share for their defense.

That remark – in addition to Trump's public embrace of Putin – sent alarm bells ringing in the capitals of Eastern European countries that have long felt menaced by the Russian Bear.

'They're scared to death of Russia,' General Raymond Thomas, the head of the Pentagon's Special Operations Command, said of the Baltic countries.

'They are very open about that. They're desperate for our leadership.'

The Americans want to boost training of troops in the region as well as gain a greater ability to anticipate future Russian moves.

The US can help its Baltic friends with sophisticated intelligence and surveillance technology.

In turn, the Baltic militaries have a deep knowledge of Russian military capabilities as well as Russia's non-military means to undermine its adversaries, like hacking and spreading disinformation.

The Baltic governments have watched with apprehension as Russia has become increasingly aggressive in Ukraine and Crimea.

The Russians have also increased its military presence off the Baltic coast.

The US and its NATO allies have done some muscle-flexing of their own.

Since Russia's intervention in Ukraine three years ago, all three Baltic countries have boosted spending on defense equipment, according to the Times.

Since 2014, Latvia and Lithuania have had the two fastest-growing defense budgets in the world, IHS Jane's reported.

The alliance recently wrapped up its 'Iron Sword' exercise – a large-scale military drill involving 4,000 soldiers from 11 different countries.

The exercise, which was held in Lithuania last month, was aimed at 'testing the combat readiness' of alliance members, NATO said.

The alliance wants to send the message that it is up to the task of defending itself if necessary.

Still, even with Trump set to take charge, it still anticipates the US will fulfil its historic role.

Lithuania's president, Dalia Grybauskaite told the Associated Press recently that as 'the guarantor of peace after the Second World War in Europe,' the United States long has shared responsibility for the continent's safety.

'We expect that this mission, and this understanding, will stay,' she said.

The American special forces troops who have been stationed in the region are also sending a message to Russia.

'Do the Russians know we're there?' General Thomas said. 'Yes.'

[Just_Victor]

I'm not sure about the wisdom of staging a special forces platoon in what the Russians appear to be considering a nuclear strike zone.

[geronl]

US sends small military detachments to allied sovereign countries all the time.

[skeeter]

US sends small military detachments to allied sovereign countries all the time.

Its not the act, its the timing.

[Cripplecreek]

US sends small military detachments to allied sovereign countries all the time.

Remember the good old days when you didn't have to explain to conservatives the importance of upholding our obligations.

[Just_Victor]

Remember the good old days when you didn't have to explain to conservatives the importance of upholding our obligations.

[imghttp://i.imgur.com/QICDiiU.jpg[/img]

Not sure if you meant your comment for me, but I was just speaking in a purely military tactical perspective.  You don't put your best trained troops in a front line cannon fodder position.  And they aren't even deploying enough troops to matter.

Maybe we can find some 0bama supporters in the State Dept.....

[Cripplecreek]

Not sure if you meant your comment for me, but I was just speaking in a purely military tactical perspective.  You don't put your best trained troops in a front line cannon fodder position.  And they aren't even deploying enough troops to matter.

Maybe we can find some 0bama supporters in the State Dept.....

I'm not interested in the hyperbole coming out of the Trump supporters at this point.

I'm tired of hearing how any action short of kissing Putin's butt is an act of war that will bring on a nuclear strike or cold war II.

[Just_Victor]

I'm not interested in the hyperbole coming out of the Trump supporters at this point.

I'm tired of hearing how any action short of kissing Putin's butt is an act of war that will bring on a nuclear strike or cold war II.

If you meant Trump supporters, then why'd you say "conservatives?"   

[kevindavis007]

Oh well.. Frack Russia.

[Cripplecreek]

Oh well.. Frack Russia.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have all stood by us in Afghanistan and Iraq as did many other former Soviet republics because we had stood up for them. They love us in Poland but a Polish friend on twitter says there is rising concern that they'll be abandoned.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVCx1IYwulQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rSN6zYrbZA (What?! This didn't cause a nuclear war?)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrpWwMkDBD4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOw4BM6Kr8k

[kevindavis007]

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have all stood by us in Afghanistan and Iraq as did many other former Soviet republics because we had stood up for them. They love us in Poland but a Polish friend on twitter says there is rising concern that they'll be abandoned.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVCx1IYwulQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rSN6zYrbZA (What?! This didn't cause a nuclear war?)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrpWwMkDBD4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOw4BM6Kr8k

We should never throw our Allies under the bus. Bad enough that Obama did it. 

[Cripplecreek]

We should never throw our Allies under the bus. Bad enough that Obama did it.

We can say a lot of not good things about Gerald Ford but to me it took a real man to want the ladder from our embassy in Saigon for his presidential library. He wanted it as a symbol of what happens when America fails to honor our obligations.

[HonestJohn]

If you meant Trump supporters, then why'd you say "conservatives?"   

Aren't Trump supporters claiming they are the "true Conservatives" and anyone else is just social justice warriors/liberals?

And as the next President, Trump is now the nominal head of the GOP.