US Army commander in Europe Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges visited Ukraine today, as Pentagon officials confirmed plans to send troops to war-torn Ukraine this spring for a “training operation.”
Officials say the number of troops involved has not been determined at this time, and that the troops are part of an effort to strengthen the “rule of law” in the country.
By “rule of law,” they mean getting the Ukrainian military, which is ratcheting up its conscription, ready to crush eastern rebels, who have been demanding reforms after the new government imposed a series of harsh restrictions on the ethnic Russian east.
So far, the plans are to put the troops in Lviv, in the far west, which should keep the US forces from getting too directly into the nation’s civil war, though officials are saying this is just the “first step in further training,” which means more operations could happen, putting troops closer to the frontlines.
So US troops will be behind the front lines – for now – maybe.
What happens when they move closer to the fighting and the first US soldiers are killed? What happens then?
Is the US truly ready for a potentially nuclear war with Russia? If so, what will “victory” look like? Will the survivors envy the dead?
Russia is not defenseless like Grenada, Panama, or Iraq. Russians don’t huff, puff or bluff, nor do they fold easily, as both Napoleon and Hitler discovered.
The average Russian is not the issue here. It is Putin to contend with. And the same goes for him…this is not Georgia or Maldova. It is the Ukraine and for the first time in modern history he will see what the west is all about. His soldiers in my opinion will turn tails and run once they see what is coming for them if they do not leave soon!
Lovely. And I was wondering on what grounds that idiot Poro was feeling so confident and arrogant. Now we know.
They can grow little Hitler mustaches to win hearts and minds.
Hot ww3 harbinger?
USA want to participate to the killing of civilians in Donetsk. Obama wants more blood.
Are they crazy?
US troops in Russia's front yard? Dangerous and absurd.
So, when the U.S. sends troops to train Ukrainians it's called a deployment. When the Russians do or don't send troops to train another set of Ukrainians it's called an invasion. The same obvious hypocrisy is on display regarding both sides providing weapons.
Too rich for my blood.
The U.S. will fight the Russians to the last Ukrainian. Interestingly, doing so will satisfy the national interests of both the U.S. and Russia.
Get your beautiful, inexpensive Ukrainian wife now while there are still some left.
LF
"The survivors will envy the dead"
And if Russia sends an equal number of troops to "train" the rebels in the east, what then? Your move, OB! Let's guess; the trainers become "advisors", then allowed to "defend" themselves. Where are you, JFK, LBJ?
More to the point, where are you Country Joe?
The matter is that Russia has already sent thousands of thier well-trained military men not only to train the rebels but to realize the kremlin's plans. Do you think that the "troops of the rebels" (residing on 5% of ukraine's territory) are confronting regular army of the whole Ukraine? The Russians are at war.
Remember Iraq invasion of 2003 — Russia what are you waiting for?
In short, first super-power with troops inside Ukraine owns it body and soul. For no nation gets involved in our Empire building wars of aggression and plunder unless it involves them directly.
Anyway , it ‘s just a game of chicken if you ask me.
Anyway, Putin is either showing the patience of a saint, a cowardice most stupefying or doing what is in the best interest of his $144 billion.
"…US forces from getting too directly into the nation’s civil war…"
News flash…it's too late. And as for being far behind the "front lines," how long do you think it will take for the "Commanders on the Ground" to demand that they need to be closer to the front so they can better "advise" the Ukrainian government?
We are seeing 1921 again when US troops fought against Russia on Russian soil, note the US doesn't like to make mention of this, they LOST! The US Pentagons Generals think their anti Ballistic missile shield will save the US from retaliation, just remember this when the Nukes start flying it will not JUST be those of Russia and the US! I suggest several major US cities will not be there if it does, LA,NY, DC, Russia will probably not win the exchange, they will eventually win a war though their citizens are used to being deprived, US citizens not so much, and there will be NO electricity it will be fried by the EMT bursts!
The Amerikan-NATO warmongers are playing with atomic fire.
Looks like them Ukrainians can't get a good hot war going on their own. So, the U.S.A. government is now sending some U.S.A. troops (and dubious "contractors") over to help them out with that.
The inevitable consequence of Putin's conduct. I'd love to know what the supposed "harsh restrictions" consist of. The I could tell my friend in Kharkov who hasn't noticed them!
Was anyone in your family a flounder? Or, perhaps, a model for Picaso?
I ask because both your eyes appear to be on the same side of your head.
Thank god this situation was not in any way related to Ms.Nuland, and the treacherous bastard who was US ambassador at that time. Just wonder if both these buffoons sleep well at night, now, or when the nukes begin to fly. Better open both those eyes, Mr. Kenny; even tho both seem to be looking in the same (wrong) direction.
What AMERICAn values
let them arrive, no chance to win with russia. russia has a lot of patience, they shall take kiev now….
Our foreign policy is completely off the leash. Will planet earth be a radioactive cinder before they start to consider the negatives of their childish actions?
Nobody wants to confront Russia, European countries pretend that Putin's wilfulness is not a problem of theirs, the US leaders behave so as if they support Ukraine's choice but they can't do anything. Why is it so? Russia demonstrates barefaced impudence and insolently lies laughing at all of us. If the US doesn't stop Russia, bounderies of the whole world will be changed and the US will lose its power in the world.
"If the US doesn't stop Russia, bounderies of the whole world will be changed and the US will lose its power in the world."
You say that like it's a bad thing.
Idiots