Pentagon: Sending 600 US Troops to Eastern Europe for "exercises"

[Holly_Hobby]

WASHINGTON - The United States will send about 600 US troops to Poland and the three Baltic states to take part in exercises in the coming days to reassure NATO allies following Russia's seizure of the Crimean region from Ukraine, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

Rear Admiral John Kirby, a top Defense Department spokesman, said the bilateral exercises planned for Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were in addition to the regular training schedule the US military has with those countries and were added due to the events in Ukraine.

...

http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/US-to-send-600-troops-to-Eastern-Europe-to-350109

[villager]

1. We could call them "advisers," Vietnam-style

n/t

[MADem]

5. Perhaps we shouldn't, though--this sounds more like war games.

Of course, the JP article is extremely weak on detail, so who knows? Now, I'm curious...

[arcane1]

2. "To reassure NATO allies"?

WTF does that even mean?

[The Magistrate]

3. 'Trip-Wire' Sort Of Thing, Sir

Places like the Baltic states are made exceedingly nervous by Russia's current actions in east Ukraine, and figure a display of U.S. military force there, however small, will serve as a sort of insurance against Russia moving against them, since doing so could directly involve U.S. forces then.

[MADem]

6. War gaming to stay busy; handy should anything untoward happen...

Here are the details:

Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said Tuesday that the exercises will last about a month, and initially involve about 600 troops.

An Army company of about 150 soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team based in Vicenza, Italy, will start the exercises Wednesday in Poland. Additional Army companies will head to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and are expected to arrive by Monday for similar land-based exercises in those countries.

Under the current plan, U.S. troops would rotate in and out of the four countries for additional exercises on a recurring basis.

"We're looking at trying to keep this rotational presence persistent throughout the rest of this year," Kirby told reporters, adding that over time the exercises could expand to other countries.

The exercises are part of an effort announced last week by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel aimed at reassuring NATO allies of America's commitment to the region's defense.

[Duckhunter935]

4. or we could send 40,000 like Russia

we do that all of the time around the world. 600 is not that many.

[NuclearDem]

7. With Putin's "concern" over the ethnic Russians in the Baltic, I can't say I'm surprised.