U.S. to pre-position tanks, artillery in Baltics, eastern Europe

[herding cats]

Source: Reuters

The United States will pre-position tanks, artillery and other military equipment in eastern and central Europe, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced on Tuesday, moving to reassure NATO allies unnerved by Russian involvement in Ukraine.

Carter, during a trip to Tallinn, said the Baltic states - Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia -- as well as Bulgaria, Romania and Poland had agreed to host elements of this heavy equipment. Some of the equipment would also be located in Germany.

The U.S. decision to stage heavy equipment closer to Russia's borders aims to speed deployment of rotating U.S. forces as NATO steps up exercises in Europe following Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region last year.

Neighboring NATO countries, especially the former Soviet Baltic states with their Russian minorities, fear Russia could foment trouble on their territories. Moscow denies any such intention.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/23/us-usa-europe-defense-idUSKBN0P315620150623

[KG]

1. not be considered, you know, 'sword rattling'

[LanternWaste]

6. Not quite as rattling as invading Ukraine, Georgia or the Crimea though.

Not quite as rattling as invading Ukraine, Georgia or the Crimea though.

[CANDO]

13. Can I just politely and gently make a suggestion?

So the rest of us don't experience so much deja vu, it helps to start your comment in the subject line and finish it below instead of repeating the entire comment twice. I don't wish to offend, and my apology if I have. But it makes for a more enjoyable read when not repetitive like that. Thanks!

[sadoldgirl]

2. I know that most here don't agree with my opinion

about this, but

For heaven's sake don't send hornets to anger
the bear. Leave him in peace.

[Bigmack]

3. And how would WE feel if Russia

decided to place tanks and artillery in Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama? Hmmmm. I wonder.

[woundedkarma]

4. I don't pay too much attention but...

Did we invade any of those places lately? Or did we help overthrow their governments? (I know we've done that in the past... ) Do we look ready to annex them?

If you ask me, nobody is worried as much as they should be about Russia.

Oh.. and at this rate, we'll know exactly how it feels... fairly soon. Too soon.

Freakin' cold war (or warm) all over again.

[Purveyor]

5. After our debacle in Iraq? Seriously... eom

[LanternWaste]

7. If we'd invaded and conquered three of those countries since 2008, we'd feel weird I imagine.

If we'd invaded and conquered three of those countries since 2008 prior top the placement, we'd feel weird I imagine.

[olddad56]

8. we didn't like it when Russia had weapons in Cuba.

[freshwest]

9. At the same time Nikita was pounding a shoe and threatening to bury us. No connection there. n/t

[geek tragedy]

12. Because Mexico is so worried about the US invading.

I mean, they talk about building a border wall and everything.

[24601]

10. Well, that should almost put them out of ISIL's reach and they will have to turn elsewhere for their

equipment.

[freshwest]

11. Oh, noes! We can't answer the calls of those who signed treaties with us...

Fortunately, the ostrich with the head in the sand is a myth. But whistling by the graveyard is a common human characteristic.

While I don't feel the least bit threatened by the Bear, some of their former provinces may. And too bad for us, they're allies.

This is literally the LEAST thing we can do for our allies. We've pretty much left them on their own, and will continue to do so.