Russian promises to end a training operation along the border with Ukraine and return the troops to base were initially condemned by the Obama Administration as lies, but the Pentagon has now admitted Russia did make good on the pledge, and “at least two thirds” of the troops have already left.
Not only have the two thirds left, but Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren says the indications are that the remaining Russian troops are “packing up and preparing to depart the border as well.”
Not that Russia can do anything to satisfy the administration, as Col. Warren’s admission came with another round of condemnations, accusing them of having “radically destabilized the situation in Ukraine,” and demanding that they stop the secessionist movement in Ukraine’s east.
Col. Warren also complained that Russia maintains troops in the Crimean Peninsula, which is neither surprising nor related to the situation in eastern Ukraine. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel confirmed with condemning Russia, insisting Russia’s military are “not where they need to be.”
Putin should give his $140 billion to the poor, for such excessive wealth has his brain between a rock and the hard place. For what is in the best interest of Russia is to turn off all the gas flowing to Western Europe until the Ukraine military is disbanded. Whereas, what is in the best interest of his glorifying wealth is to continue doing stupidity, the whole stupidity and nothing but stupidity.
I imagine Col. Steve Warren might just get an email from State (Psaki or maybe even Ketchup himself) thanking him for blowing State's dis-info meme right out of the water. I also think the good Colonel can forget about that first star on his shoulder board.
Better yet, other than publicly recanting and apologizing, he is likely to get bitch slapped by Victoria Nuland.
I don't personally know her, but then again, her obviously being an alpha, you may be right.
The delay in pulling the troops back from the border may quite simply be due to incompetent officers being unable to get their unruly troops and rickety equipment moving.