One of the most interesting - or perhaps “worrisome” is the better word - things about Moscow’s move to increase its support for the Bashar al-Assad regime as it battles to wrest control of large swaths of territory in Syria from Islamic State and other anti-government forces, is that it comes as the conflict in Ukraine still simmers.
Even if, as Bloomberg suggested on Friday, The Kremlin is “leaning on the separatists to limit cease-fire violations and focus on turning their makeshift administration into a functioning government with the help of Moscow-trained bureaucrats,” the issue is far from resolved and if Transnistria is any guide, it may never be.
That of course means the tension between Russia and Europe isn’t likely to dissipate any time in the foreseeable future, a fact that makes Moscow’s overt military support of Assad in Syria seem like a rather risky maneuver. In short, it appears that no matter how one wishes to characterize Moscow’s actions (i.e. irrespective of who the “aggressor” is), the West’s Russophobia as it relates to Putin’s willingness to chance a direct military confrontation with NATO isn’t entirely unfounded and as we’ve been keen to point out over the last several days, what the Russians have done by reinforcing Assad at Latakia is effectively call America’s bluff.
Needless to say, NATO’s actions over the last six or so months have done nothing to de-escalate what amounts to the most intense staring contest between Russia and the West since the Cold War. War games and snap drills conducted along Russia’s border combined with the stationing of heavy weapons in Poland lend credence to the idea that at best, the US isn’t nearly as anxious to re-establish a constructive dialogue with Moscow as Washington would like the public to believe.
It’s against this backdrop that we present the following excerpts from Foreign Policy who reports that “for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. Department of Defense is reviewing and updating its contingency plans for armed conflict with Russia.” Notably, when the Army ran a series of war games to test NATO's preparedness, the results were nothing short of a disaster.
* * *
Via Foreign Policy
The Pentagon generates contingency plans continuously, planning for every possible scenario — anything from armed confrontation with North Korea to zombie attacks. But those plans are also ranked and worked on according to priority and probability. After 1991, military plans to deal with Russian aggression fell off the Pentagon’s radar. They sat on the shelf, gathering dust as Russia became increasingly integrated into the West and came to be seen as a potential partner on a range of issues. Now, according to several current and former officials in the State and Defense departments, the Pentagon is dusting off those plans and re-evaluating them, updating them to reflect a new, post-Crimea-annexation geopolitical reality in which Russia is no longer a potential partner, but a potential threat.
“Russia’s invasion of eastern Ukraine made the U.S. dust off its contingency plans,” says Michèle Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense for policy and co-founder of the Center for a New American Security. “They were pretty out of date.”
The new plans, according to the senior defense official, have two tracks. One focuses on what the United States can do as part of NATO if Russia attacks one of NATO’s member states; the other variant considers American action outside the NATO umbrella. Both versions of the updated contingency plans focus on Russian incursions into the Baltics, a scenario seen as the most likely front.
After Russia’s 2008 war with neighboring Georgia, NATO slightly modified its plans vis-à-vis Russia, according to Julie Smith, who until recently served as the vice president’s deputy national security advisor, but the Pentagon did not. In preparing the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, the Pentagon’s office for force planning — that is, long-term resource allocation based on the United States’ defense priorities — proposed to then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to include a scenario that would counter an aggressive Russia. Gates ruled it out. “Everyone’s judgment at the time was that Russia is pursuing objectives aligned with ours,” says David Ochmanek, who, as deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development, ran that office at the time. “Russia’s future looked to be increasingly integrated with the West.” Smith, who worked on European and NATO policy at the Pentagon at the time, told me, “If you asked the military five years ago, ‘Give us a flavor of what you’re thinking about,’ they would’ve said, ‘Terrorism, terrorism, terrorism — and China.’”
In June 2014, a month after he had left his force-planning job at the Pentagon, the Air Force asked Ochmanek for advice on Russia’s neighborhood ahead of Obama’s September visit to Tallinn, Estonia. At the same time, the Army had approached another of Ochmanek’s colleagues at Rand, and the two teamed up to run a thought exercise called a “table top,” a sort of war game between two teams: the red team (Russia) and the blue team (NATO). The scenario was similar to the one that played out in Crimea and eastern Ukraine: increasing Russian political pressure on Estonia and Latvia (two NATO countries that share borders with Russia and have sizable Russian-speaking minorities), followed by the appearance of provocateurs, demonstrations, and the seizure of government buildings. “Our question was: Would NATO be able to defend those countries?” Ochmanek recalls.
The results were dispiriting. Given the recent reductions in the defense budgets of NATO member countries and American pullback from the region, Ochmanek says the blue team was outnumbered 2-to-1 in terms of manpower, even if all the U.S. and NATO troops stationed in Europe were dispatched to the Baltics — including the 82nd Airborne, which is supposed to be ready to go on 24 hours’ notice and is based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
“We just don’t have those forces in Europe,” Ochmanek explains. Then there’s the fact that the Russians have the world’s best surface-to-air missiles and are not afraid to use heavy artillery.
After eight hours of gaming out various scenarios, the blue team went home depressed. “The conclusion,” Ochmanek says, “was that we are unable to defend the Baltics.”
Ochmanek has run the two-day table-top exercise eight times now, including at the Pentagon and at Ramstein Air Base, in Germany, with active-duty military officers. “We played it 16 different times with eight different teams,” Ochmanek says, “always with the same conclusion.”
Incursion. Fuck this word
“Russia’s invasion of eastern Ukraine made the U.S. dust off its contingency plans,”
LMAO. Before or after the US-led coup to overthrow the government that the locals elected, with the intention of installing a US puppet government? Oh, and we won't even bring up Ukraine's gold that has since gone missing.
Fascism.
The @#$%ing invasion is happening in the south with millions of muslims for god's sake. Talk about taking the eyes off where the problem is. NATO should be putting its troops there.
i know. the paraanoia is palpable
cuckoos nest cuckoos nest
Hooray, another war!
Hope it's televised or at least on pay perveiw.
Why would Russia want to invade the Baltics or Poland? Anyone? Anyone?
The Ukies are begging for some payback from the Bear, which I think they'll eventually get. That aside, what good would sending in the Russian Army do when Putin could just use TBTB's playbook (e.g., "color revolutions") against them?
For example, if Putin can appear as a friend to the right wing in Polish politics (this immigration thing is a great opportunity) -- then he needn't run tanks through the country, just money to specific political organizations and seize control that way.
Estonian chicks are hot. I'll grant that. Are they not enough that it make invasion a plausible scenario? It isn't like Russian chicks are all that bad in their own right. A guy could also just get a visa and go knock a couple of boots too.
Wait...What? Most of the hot Estonian chicks are already whores in the rest of Europe? Fuck me. That changes everything. Who is the pentagon kidding? Without hot Estonian women there isn't any damn reason to go to Estonia in the first place.
The department of Defense has tucked away plans for every possible defense and invasion of everything so that it looks "prepared." I'm sure if you hunted through the file cabinets you could find plans for defending Antarctica from Lithuanian topless womens volleyballers. Russia does the same. It makes warrior feel good. Remember, the pentagon is full of preppers.
Tragically, there is also a plan to defend against an invasion from Mexico (despite the occasional half hearted PR denial)...
Estonian chicks have CCR5 delta32 mutations, now THAT's sexy.
If America thinks the next war with Russia will be fought in Europe (Eastern) they had better fu*king wake up.
How many subs are parked off the US coasts right now? War is going to get a whole lot more real for the average US citizen.
What the hell are they waiting for?
In the dim and distant past they planned to have war with the British Empire (Blue versus Red war plan). Makes them feel they are relevant when they are just another form of government employed welfare recipiant.
not to give putin any ideas, but hungarian chicks are hotter. just saying.
Who is the pentagon kidding?
The Pentagoon kids everybody......
Russia don't need to invade, they just sanction and cripple the economies,,game over without a shot fired.
actually, it's the western sanctions that are hurting baltic economies the most. estonian exports to russia fell 45% and russian based tourism declined 40%, latter thanks to the lost purchasing power of ruble compared to euro. both constitute 6% fall of overall exports and tourism, so it's not really having that big of an effect. but nevertheless, thanks a lot, USSA!
So, you are saying they may side with Russia without firing a shot??
I think that sort of sentiment is already brewing in Poland.
The pro EU internationalist contingent had the government now because the people wanted to have what Western Europe had.
Now enough of the people might decide that the price is too high.
Germany is still feeling guilty about WWII.
Poland does not have that issue.
The monkey on their back is 50 years of communism and over 200 years of being gone off the map as a country.
It created a bit of a inferiority complex and it is mixed in with the Iron will for independence. Kind of a weir combiation
..
Poland lost around 100 top military/political/business leaders in the plane crash a few years back. If anyone has seen an accurate review of how that loss impacted Poland and the resulting change, if any, in its relations to foreign powers & unions, please post it.
Your language in you comment is clear enough why Baltic states believ they can not trust Russia to be have
Yeah ... that's you all over.
Given you don't seem to understand implications, and/or are terminally dishonest, which goes with your one-eyed extreme polarization, I'll provide a chronological recount of what's been going on in the Baltic since just March this year.
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Majority of Finns Support Swedish Military Alliance
By GERARD O’DWYER Mar. 26, 2014
HELSINKI — Nearly 54 percent of Finns would support a formal, treaty-centered, bilateral military alliance with Sweden, according to an opinion poll conducted March 17-20 ... Russia’s defense strengthening in the High North, combined with a more aggressive and expansionist Kremlin, has rekindled debate in Finland and Sweden over the sustainability of their separate positions on non-alignment and remaining outside NATO. ... Conceding that the activity of Russian forces had increased close to the borders of Finland and Norway, Sweden’s defense commander, Gen. Sverker Göransson, ruled out the immediate possibility of an attack by Russia on the NATO-aligned Baltic states. While the possibility of such an attack could not be fully ruled-out, against the backdrop of Russian aggression in the Ukraine, Göransson pointed to what he called the “huge differences” between the Baltic NATO states and Ukraine. “Although Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have land borders with Russia, they are so integrated with NATO and the European Union that Russia’s leaders will, in the short term, not dare attack,” said Göransson. Sweden and Finland have responded to increased activity by Russian forces along the eastern border and in the Baltic Sea by increasing radar surveillance and deploying more aircraft to monitor force movements. Finland is particularly keen to track Russian military exercises on the Karelian Isthmus. The Finnish Air Force has moved more F-18 Hornets to air bases along the border, while radar stations are also on high alert.
http://archive.defensenews.com/article/M5/20140326/DEFREG01/303260045/Ma...
NATO Chief: Russia's Nuclear Threats 'Deeply Troubling'
Agence France-Presse May 27, 2015
Russia's provocative rhetoric and its dramatic expansion of flights by nuclear bombers are deeply troubling and dangerous, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday. Russia's plans to deploy nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad — near Poland's border — and its threat to move nuclear forces in Crimea would "fundamentally change the balance of security in Europe," Stoltenberg warned, in speech during a visit to Washington. In blunt language, the NATO chief delivered a scathing critique of Russia's behavior over the past year — including Moscow's armed intervention in Ukraine — and vowed the transatlantic alliance would redouble its commitment to "collective defense." "Russia's recent use of nuclear rhetoric, exercises and operations are deeply troubling," he told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. Russian President Vladimir Putin's "admission that he considered putting Russia's nuclear forces on alert while Russia was annexing Crimea is but one example," the former Norwegian prime minister said.' Stoltenberg also criticized Russia for staging large snap military exercises, which he said was a violation of international agreements requiring governments to share information about planned drills in advance and to invite observers. One short-notice exercise was used to move Russian forces to annex Crimea in February 2014 and others were employed to support separatists in eastern Ukraine and to stage a military build-up on Ukraine's border. Russia is conducting yet another snap exercise near Ukraine this week that involves 250 aircraft and 700 pieces of heavy equipment, he said. Dating back to Russia's intervention in Georgia in 2008, Moscow has sought to settle disputes through military force or the threat of military force, he said. Russia has also started deploying its most modern weapons systems near the borders of NATO members in Eastern Europe, he said. Citing Russia's actions in Ukraine and elsewhere, Stoltenberg said Moscow "is asserting its military power, stirring up aggressive nationalism, claiming the right to impose its will on its neighbors and grabbing land." ... Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia plan to make a formal request to NATO to deploy a force of several thousand troops in their countries as a counter-weight to Russia.
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/europe/2015/05/27...
Baltics Mull Joint Air Defense Against Russia
Agence France-Presse May 28, 2015
PANEVEZYS, Lithuania — Defense ministers for the three Baltic states said Thursday they are mulling a joint air defense system in response to security concerns over Russia's activity in the region. The ministers of NATO-members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania met in the northern Lithuanian city of Panevezys along with their Ukrainian counterpart at a time when their relations with Russia are at a post-Soviet low over the Ukraine crisis. "We plan to analyze the possibility of developing a medium-range air defense system to strengthen our defense capabilities," Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas told reporters. "External threats lead us to cooperate more," he said, referring to neighbor and Soviet-era master Russia, which has spooked the region with its intervention in Ukraine. NATO has been guarding the skies over the three small Baltic states since 2004, when they joined the defense alliance but lacked the air power to monitor their own airspace. Under Moscow's thumb until 1991, the Baltic trio has been on high alert since Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine last year. "The situation remains complicated and absolutely unpredictable," Ukrainian Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak told reporters.
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/05/28/baltics-mull-joint-a...
PARIS: Russian military revamps modernisation plans
By: Stephen Trimble in Moscow Jun 16, 2015.
" ... That sweeping document laid out plans to buy as many as 441 fighters, 250 airlifts, more than 1,100 helicopters and 80 jet trainers, as well as to modernise the air force’s jet-powered bombers, heavy lift transports and the MiG-31. The scope and breadth of Russia’s shopping list raised questions about the defence industry’s ability to support it, but Slyusar says the industry is keeping up with the government’s requirements so far, even as military aircraft deliveries ramp up to near Cold War levels at above 100 units a year. “We don’t see a problem with these numbers. When the programme will be updated and finalised, we are ready to turn out the necessary numbers of 120-130 aircraft per year,” Slyusar says.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/paris-russian-military-revamp...
Swedish Party's U-turn Reignites NATO Membership Question
By Gerard O'Dwyer September 13, 2015
Russia is staunchly opposed to Finland or Sweden joining NATO. In June, Viktor Tatarintsev, Russia's ambassador to Sweden, warned that both countries could become the subject of Russian "countermeasures" if they abandoned their non-aligned status. "Sweden’s security is best built in cooperation with others," Bäckström said. "The NATO issue is more in the limelight this year because the security climate has changed. ... It is natural for Sweden to want to join the alliance." The pivotal shift in the Center’s view of NATO is driven by a more militaristic and threatening Russia. The Kremlin’s intervention in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea has changed the security landscape for all Nordic and Baltic governments in the region. "We cannot count on NATO to come to our rescue in the event of a military conflict," the joint position statement reads. "If Sweden falls victim to a military attack, we are today directly dependent on outside support. We lack the ability to defend ourselves for an extended period." Sweden lacks the ability to defend itself for a long period of time, Lööf said. "At the same time, NATO is very clear about the fact that Sweden cannot rely on military support if we are not a full member of the organization. We can no longer close our eyes to that," said the Center leader. "Sweden is a relatively small country with a strategically important location in the Baltic Sea region. It is our strategic assessment that we cannot remain neutral and alone. We need to cooperate with others to get the best out of our defense capabilities, and we need to do that as part of NATO," said Ebba Busch Thor, the Christian Democrat’s leader. In August, the Swedish government said it was moving forward with plans to deepen defense cooperation with the United States. Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist said that having the US and Swedish flags fly side-by-side during joint exercises would "send a clear message to Russia" about Sweden’s resolve and intent.
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/policy-budget/warfare/2015/09/1...
Lockheed secures contract to install JASSM on Poland’s F-16s
BY: James Drew Washington DC 14 September, 2015
Poland is the third international customer for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) ... JASSM carries a penetrating, blast-fragmentation warhead and its stealthy, precision-guided missile body has a range of more than 200nm. A newer version, JASSM-ER, more than doubles that range. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control’s director of strike systems Alan Jackson said in an interview that Poland’s Ministry of Defence has expressed interest in JASSM-ER, although no international sales of the newer version have been approved yet.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/lockheed-secures-contract-to-...
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I could provide many more statements from the Baltic region and States on their views of Russia's stepped-up aggressive posture, and deliberately provocative threatening regular large unannounced exercises, with rapidly developing aircraft and naval activity around their borders, as the Russians simulate large-scale heavy attacks on Baltic States.
The Baltic states are all responding after the fact to large-scale Russian aggressive and threatening activities, not the other way around.
If Moscow didn't want this ramping strategic blow-back Putin should have thought about it a long time ago, as it won't stop now via him pretending to play innocent - again. That routine has gotten old fast and is 100% counterproductive when used now. Everyone simply takes it as implicit evidence of dishonesty and malevolent military intent so are now only interested in defense and in pointing weapons at Russia's head. As far as the Baltic States are concerned they are quite convinced Russia wants confrontation and a new Cold War. They simply don't believe his recent high-minded noises about not wanting that. No one in the Baltic Sea area is interested in what Moscow claims or states any longer.
The level of trust and confidence is now effectively non-existent.
That's my red fucktard,,what was it about not expanding NATO ? That's where it all started, not to mention the Jew shit trying to rape Russia again.
Quick ... distract ... blame someone else.
Totally predictable.
Your comments, without mention of the orignal promise, are also predictable. Not that it matters, in the event of things going pearshaped the Baltics are nought but a memory.
Perhaps you can draft a long and comprehensive list of Moscow-apologist's points to prefix to every comment, that would really help to avoid anything that you might ever object to, or didn't quite suit your pernickety urges for perfection in knee-jerk apologetics?
Actually, I think I'm going to leave that to you altogether. ;-)
The depth and amount of highlighted sections in your lengthy posts reveals your committment to your employer, whomsoever that may be. Folks with other concerns (read: a life) can hardly take the time to respond with such lengthy posts.
So are you a sort of heglian Tyler, a click bait salesman? Who supports you?
Talk shit all you want, my comments have details and facts and substance, which I note people like you do your best to distract from, and play the messenger, while avoiding the inconvenient content.
Now go put some trousers on.
Yes. Your posts do have details, facts and substance. However, 'people like me' would still like to know who pays for your upkeep.
It's an entirely voluntary service provided by me to fuck-up the nefarious liars and bullshit artists, who seek to do humanity harm, via endless deceit and undermining.
But you're right, they really should be paying me for it, the cheap bastards. :D
Well yeah, they do, but all that substance is lost when you fail to address the reason for that "Russian Aggression" [LoL] . Try to post a balanced view of the topic including the original, and now BROKEN PROMISE to NOT EXPAND NATO. What you post above [Lots of shit] is the natural reaction to an expanding NATO. Don't like it ? Tough !
Now go change your pad :)
You should sue them for breach of promise.
Substance is never lost mate, why should I talk about the points you wish to trumpet, when you can do it perfectly well yourself? Are you incapable and need me to do it for you.
Please cite the details of this 'promise', I'd like to see the original documents please.
For your information, the Soviet Union totally utterly collapsed, and lost all organizational capacity and effect, and dissolved itself. It was hardly in any position to negotiate the outcomes of its ending state. No one believed in it or wanted it any more, everyone was just thrilled to see it go, including all Baltic Sea States and also most Russians, who just wanted to be able to eat properly again.
Show us the original sources for this claim, so everyone knows and can gauge if there is any truth to the claim, of a distinct promise to not expand NATO.
What have you got?
Because NATO says you are making false, baseless claims.
Part 1: NATO 'Never Promised' Not to Expand Eastward - Spiegel Online - November 26, 2009
Part 2: Calming Russian Fears
Russia does not rule out future NATO membership - By Valentina Pop - 1. Apr 2009
So, no strange unaccountable allergy to NATO expansion, in 2009, coming from Moscow's political center.
You should try the facts and substance of things, the Russian ultra-nationalist imaginary 'realities' don't actually work or stand up. It's just twaddle, apologetics and propaganda based on nothing but lies and endless distortion, and attempts to re-write history, to pretend that some great terrible wrong has been committed, and then to use that lie as an excuse to do actual terrible wrongs. Then you want to also pretend to wonder why everyone is suddenly pointing a gun at Russia's head and cocking it? Well get used to it, no one trusts Russia at all, and for very good reason.
Have a nice day. ;-)
One long rambling fairy story full of paranioa. The Russians planned to upgrade their military years ago and also end conscription (the plans to do this are online). The upgrade of assets would not be on a one for one basis (more capable assets for less capable). Much of the equipment they are replacing is old. The move to 'professionalise' the Russian military would cut the numbers of troops. Hardly the moves of a country planning to invade Europe. They even went out of their way to update their military doctrine and make it more defensive. Hope the US took note.
The duplicity and perfidiousness US is worrying but the Russian military planners must be laughing at the stupidity.
E
Even if what you are saying is true, by virtue of American foreign policy the last 70 years and counting and the way it has violated just about every international treaty obligation it said it committed to in writing including "Geneva" with that ever so minor alteration after 9/11 called "enemy combatant status" that still holds several dozen folks languishing in that shit hole Guantanamo for crimes they never committed or were proven by their accuser...
Stalin knew that the West was less than honorable at Yalta which is why he surrounded himself with a "buffer" of Eastern border countries. The West couldn't be trusted than so why would the Russians trust them any more now?
The Russians sorta don't need a handshake and a verbal queue from the Zionist state anymore with law breakers like that now -do they?
Why bother? The Russians will continue to allow the U.S. to destory it's own capital markets as it drowns in "QE" all the while waving it's fist and talking ever so loudly of what it will do to them... if they don't capitulate!
Blah Blah Blah... Blah Blah Blah Blah... ad nauseam!
if the country is at war with syrie and russk and nkorea and iranq and stateless entities, that still leaves out australia and europe and southamerica
hugs,
pnac
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_for_the_New_American_Century
>> The @#$%ing invasion is happening in the south <<
No, no! Don't you see? The mortal threat to the USA is if Estonia falls to the Russians.
++ Good
How many Americans could find Estonia on a map? Not many I would suggest.
Upper Michigan?
Foreign Policy is just another outlet for a slightly modified version of the official Washington narrative.
Precisely. Reading the article above, my persistent thought is that the Americans don't seem to realize that the most dangerous enemy is their own bullshit. They are so full of shit and lies that they don't know what it looks like anymore. They're so determined to look outside of themselves for an enemy, and/or invent one, they don't recognize the pathology infiltrating their own top brass and banking complex. PSYCHOPATHS, bitchez.
Political Ponerology: A Science on the Nature of Evil Adjusted for Political Purposes
That is an interesting book to read...shows how a small percentage mentality deranged (psychopaths, narcissists, sociopaths) migrate to positions of power in all types of organisations....greedy bankers with no empathy, priests that exploit children, military types with Cesar and Napoleon complexes (without the talent)....also the odd wanker with control problems we have to put up with at work.
Logge in just to upvote u, he lost me at the same spot!
Wanted to share this post by an ex American military guy living in Germany
There are ALOT of disgruntled Germans who really just do not want the added complication of more refugees and all the problems they bring with them, here again.
This isn't the first wave. This has happened here several times since the Wall came down.
Also, many Germans are highly upset that their tax-Euros are now going to aid a people that have consistantly called for their deaths. This at a time when there are strikes going on and people that could really have used those Euros more.
The perception is out there that all Germans are wealthy and can easily handle the extra load.
Not.
Roughly 20% of the population is either on the dole (they call it Harz IV here) or because of their pride work at jobs that barely pay the bills.
I don't like muslims and I don't like arabs. I fought them before, for my country, and saw first hand what their culture calls for. Instead of welcoming them into the heart of Europe we should be walling the B strds in where they come from. They have been killing each other for more than five thousand years so this 'human catastrophy' is nothing new.
To all the governments in Europe and the US: How about asking the PEOPLE, the CITIZENS who live in your respective countries, what they would like!
This boys been paying attention.
Remember NATO is not an army, but the illusion of an army - with member as related to North Atlantic as Japan or Turkey
NATO is a bunch of war planners in desperate search for a war.
Seems everywhere I go these days and the people I talk to, to a man... and woman, whether barbers, auto mechanics or accountants, are all calling for war with Russia in the Balkans. "Balkans! Balkans! Balkans!," is all I hear. I think what set them off is the idea of Russia interfering with the natural influence that should prevail adjacent to our NATO military bases. Russia is aching for a fight and the people not only feel it, but are eager to be the first to send their sons into the fray. Our country can't understand why Russia hasn't already rolled back its borders -- out of respect -- but again they're spoiling for fight. And when Americans finally figure out what are the Balkans, and where they're located, that they taste like chicken, I think it will fuel their anger and calls for justice.
You must live in NJ. Everyone I talk to is more concerned about jobs, taxes and how they are going to make next months rent money. The wealthier ones speak about the NFL and their next trip to Florida. Not one person has mentioned anything about foreign affairs other than a few asides about getting the hell out of the ME.
Oh, midwest here.
/s
It was pretty obvious to me that was sarcasm.