US ground troops to train in Ukraine next week

[rangerrebew]

US ground troops to train in Ukraine next week

    
The Associated Press

Published: September 3, 2014
 
 
Hagel cites well-grounded concerns that Russia could invade Ukraine

Rising concerns that Moscow is poised to launch an invasion into Ukraine are well-grounded because Russian troops are continuing to mass along the volatile border between the two countries, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Wednesday.

Russian maneuvers don’t alter NATO plans for Baltics war games
US Army to proceed with planned exercise in Ukraine
 
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon says 200 U.S. soldiers will participate in an exercise in western Ukraine starting next week. It would be the first presence of American ground troops in Ukraine since the crisis with Russian-backed separatists began.

The annual exercise, called Rapid Trident, involves forces from 15 nations and will not involve live firing of weapons. A Pentagon spokesman, Col. Steve Warren, said it will be a peacekeeping exercise with training through Sept. 26 in convoy operations, patrolling and methods of countering improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.

Warren said the U.S. troops are from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Italy.

The Pentagon also announced it has delivered more non-lethal aid to the Ukrainian military, including helmets, explosive ordnance disposal robots, sleeping mats, jackets, radios, body armor and first-aid kits.
 
http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/us-ground-troops-to-train-in-ukraine-next-week-1.301259

[Oceander]

Putting US troops into Ukraine, particularly in strength on the Eastern borders, is a good way to force Putin's hand without the US having to make the first military moves.  In that case, either the Ukrainians, with US support, defeat the separatists, or Putin makes the invasion clear by moving first to attack US troops in Ukraine.

[SPQR]

Putting US troops into Ukraine, particularly in strength on the Eastern borders, is a good way to force Putin's hand without the US having to make the first military moves.  In that case, either the Ukrainians, with US support, defeat the separatists, or Putin makes the invasion clear by moving first to attack US troops in Ukraine.

This is a bad idea. It will make Putin even more paranoid than he is and it will force his hand to move.The Russians already do not like NATO satellite nations at their doorstep.

[PzLdr]

Putting US troops into Ukraine, particularly in strength on the Eastern borders, is a good way to force Putin's hand without the US having to make the first military moves.  In that case, either the Ukrainians, with US support, defeat the separatists, or Putin makes the invasion clear by moving first to attack US troops in Ukraine.

A better idea is to send ENOUGH troops to Ukraine to show Vlad the Impaler we aren't screwing around. Say the entire armored force we have twiddling their thumbs in Germany. OR, move them to Poland, and send the 173d to Ukraine.

[SPQR]

A better idea is to send ENOUGH troops to Ukraine to show Vlad the Impaler we aren't screwing around. Say the entire armored force we have twiddling their thumbs in Germany. OR, move them to Poland, and send the 173d to Ukraine.

Do you want to start a war or civil war? The Russians have the entire southern end of the Ukraine. Half of the Ukrainians are sympathetic towards Putin.

[Oceander]

Do you want to start a war or civil war? The Russians have the entire southern end of the Ukraine. Half of the Ukrainians are sympathetic towards Putin.

Nope, but if fighting is going to happen, better to have it be Russia attacking US forces than the other way around.  And in case you hadn't noticed, a war/civil war is already in full swing.

[GourmetDan]

The West started the Ukrainian problem by replacing the elected, pro-Russian government with an installed pro-western government.

Now all we hear is 'Putin bad'.  We're being herded into a confrontation of our own making. 

People need to wake up...

[SPQR]

  And in case you hadn't noticed, a war/civil war is already in full swing.

Yes, but you do not put in US troops in middle of two warring parties. I thought that we have learned that lesson in the past of getting in the middle of other people's fights. The Russians main objective is to capture Kiev which is their historical capitol of Kievan Rus that was under the reign of Vladimir I. Vladimir I brought the Orthodox Church to Russia in 988 AD

[PzLdr]

Kievan Rus, along with Kiev, was destroyed in 1240 by Batu Quan and Subudei Bahadur. Capitols since then include Sarai, capitol of the Golden Horde, St. Petersburg and Moscow. Russia has no more right to that 'historical capitol' than the Mongols do. And in recent history, at the same time Kiev was capitol of the Ukrainian SSR, Moscow was capitol of the whole Soviet Union.

[SPQR]

Kievan Rus, along with Kiev, was destroyed in 1240 by Batu Quan and Subudei Bahadur. Capitols since then include Sarai, capitol of the Golden Horde, St. Petersburg and Moscow. Russia has no more right to that 'historical capitol' than the Mongols do. And in recent history, at the same time Kiev was capitol of the Ukrainian SSR, Moscow was capitol of the whole Soviet Union.

He wants to have the Slavs and the Ukraine under his control. Some Russians think Vladimir Putin  is a God. Many people thought that Vladimir I was a God.. He sees himself as a modern day Vladimir I that will deliver the people in that world its former glory. Its not by coincidence they share the same first name.The appropriation of Kievan Rus' as part of national history has also been a topic of contention in Ukrainophile vs. Russophile schools of historiography since the Soviet era.The memory of Vladimir was also kept alive by innumerable Ukrainian and Russian folk ballads and legends, which refer to him as Krasno Solnyshko (the Fair Sun). The Varangian period of Eastern Slavic history ceases with Vladimir, and the Christian period begins.The Russian Orthodox Church is adopted during the period of Vladimir I. Vladimir Putin is trying to make inroads within the Russian Orthodox Church.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/631547/Vladimir-I