Russian Troops Hold Drills in Serbia

[Depaysement]

Source: ABC News

Camouflage-clad Russian soldiers parachute from the sky, armored vehicles fire live rounds on an open field after being dropped from military transport jets and helicopters fire missiles against enemy positions.

Although the flat terrain resembles the Ukrainian war zones, this is not an armed Russian intervention against its neighbor. It's the first-ever joint Serb-Russian military exercise in Serbia, the Balkan country that has been performing a delicate balancing act in between its Slavic ally Russia and Western Europe, with which Belgrade wants to integrate.

The "anti-terrorist' drill on Friday — the first such by the Russians outside the former Soviet Union — of elite Russian troops in northern Serbia, not far from NATO-member Croatia, has stirred controversy both here and abroad.

"Serbia's government wants to try and keep everyone happy," said prominent Balkan political analyst Tim Judah. "So, the U.S. helps finance and modernize Serbia's army while now Serbian soldiers train with Russians. In normal times there would be little to say about this, but post-Crimea, these are not normal times anymore."



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russian-troops-hold-drills-serbia-26913234

[pscot]

1. The Serbs started WWI

with less encouragement.

[BillZBubb]

2. The Serbs are nuts if they think this helps them with Europe.

Now no western country is going to trust them.

[heaven05]

3. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife in June 1914

in Serbia justified hostilities that kicked off WWI, so isn't it interesting that Serbia is maybe a WWIII staging/practicing ground. Just a thought.

[SkyDaddy7]

4. Putin is trying to start a major war!!

He thinks he is some kind of messianic Russian Czar or something...SCARY!!!

[kardonb]

7. Putin

I really think this guy is a megalomaniac , and he is mentally unstable , and therefore extremely dangerous .

[7962]

5. Why the hell is the US helping Serbia's army after what they did in the 90s??

First I've heard of it. Dont like it, they cant be trusted

[Old Nick]

6. It's time. IT'S FINALLY TIME!

[cosmicone]

8. Why is it that when the US holds military exercises in Latvia

it is seen as a friendly, reasonable thing to do but if Russians do it with one of their allies, it is a bad thing and start of WWIII?

How long will we keep thinking of ourselves as the eternal good guys and Russians as the eternal bad guys?

Since 1970, Soviet Union/Russia have only invaded one country -- Afghanistan.

We have invaded Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Granada, Panama, Nicaragua, Iraq I, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq II, Libya and the bombing of Kosovo and Serbia.

People can be so brainwashed ....

[Spitfire of ATJ]

10. The idea of the Soviet Union dominating the entire world is a neocon fantasy.

[Laughing Mirror]

9. First Ever Joint Russian-U.S. Military Training On American Territory

May 16, 2012

The first joint U.S.-Russian military exercises on American territory have begun in the western state of Colorado, with drills involving special antiterrorist units.

Colonel Aleksandr Kucherenko, of the Russian Airborne Troops Force, said the exercises began on May 15 at the U.S. base at Fort Carson.

He said units of the U.S. Army's Special Operations Ground Force and the Russian Airborne Troops Force were participating.

In welcoming addresses to the troops, Russian and U.S. military officials expressed hopes that cooperation between the two countries' special-task forces would continue, and that joint training would strengthen confidence between Moscow and Washington, who have shared decades of superpower rivalry.

http://www.rferl.org/content/first-ever-joint-russian-us-military-training-on-american-territory/24582882.html

Only a little over two years ago.

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. Testosterone on display.

boys and whose got the most toys...
or to put it another way...
dr. strangelove.