Will a U.S.-Led NATO Show-of-Force Exercise in E. Europe Affect Putin's Plans For The Ukraine?

2015-03-18T17:08:43-04:00

With a nod to the large-scale maneuver exercises of the Cold War, the U.S. Army announced that it will be leading a NATO show-of-force exercise in the form of a 1,100-mile convoy through six nations en route to their home station in Vilseck, Germany. Intended to display NATO capability to rapidly concentrate manpower and equipment in the region, will this display have any impact on Putin's activity in the Ukraine?

US Plans Show-of-Force Exercise in E. Europe

With an eye toward Russia's ability to mass troops quickly, the US plans to demonstrate its own ability to move manpower and heavy vehicles as soldiers begin a 1,100-mile convoy through six countries en route to their home station in Vilseck, Germany.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2015 5:17 PM

2015-03-18T17:17:34-04:00

I say no, but I qualify the "other" response because I don't think Putin can be any more emboldened than he already is. I think he has a plan in place & he will push forward with it no matter what we do.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2015 5:58 PM

2015-03-18T17:58:05-04:00

I think that Putin is already achieving the results he desires, but quietly in the background rather than on the front page of international news. I think his aggressive cyber attack that crippled a NATO country (Estonia) in 2007 was the first test of NATO's resilience. The next years he attacked or invaded non-NATO countries under the guise of securing ethnic Russian populations (Georgia 2008, Kyrgyzstan 2009, and now Ukraine) which I believe was his plan to condition the world to the Russian cause. Since WWII, NATO has been the biggest deterrent to Russian/Soviet expansion. I think NATO is much weaker today than it has been since the Cold War and Putin is carefully establishing the opportune moment to move based on my last three years of working with NATO. I believe Putin will continue his cyber campaign and propaganda in Eastern block NATO countries before setting up a false flag operation to move in and "secure" ethnic Russians in a NATO country. This would violate Article six and Force NATO to respond in a war that no one wants, reduce the worldwide reputation of NATO as a legitimate military deterrent, or could bring the demise of NATO. Article six would require every NATO country to act to defend, and I don't see the majority of NATO being militarily or economically prepared to rise to that challenge. In conclusion, I don't think parading a Stryker unit through the eastern block is going to intimidate Russia's motivation to become a more significant world power, unchallenged in Europe.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2015 6:14 PM

2015-03-18T18:14:53-04:00

This guy is dangerous and rhetoric is seen through. We have Kremlin-like leaders who see us as weak and getting weaker.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Mar 18 at 2015 9:06 PM

2015-03-18T21:06:42-04:00

SWEET!!!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Mar 19 at 2015 2:15 AM

2015-03-19T02:15:59-04:00

I don't recall the Russians being too well known for bowing down to intimidation. I waved goodbye to the 12 A-10's that left here from Davis-Monthan. Watching them all train at once right over the house was AWESOME!

Response by SFC Charles S. made Mar 19 at 2015 3:22 AM

2015-03-19T03:22:08-04:00

No affect will be seen.

Response by LTC Scott O'Neil made Mar 19 at 2015 8:16 AM

2015-03-19T08:16:54-04:00

Putin is an old time communist hardliner. Russia just went through a large economic growth under his leadership and now that same economic boom is declining faster than a sinking ship. This show of power is a way for him to show the Russian people that Russia is still a world power and a force to be reckon with. The fact that he sent troops into the Ukraine and forced a insurrection after the Russian Pro government was overthrown/pushed from power by the people of the Ukraine, just shows the world how dangerous he and the old Soviet Regime still are. The fact that he said he was willing to use the Russian NUCLEAR ARSENAL during this RUSSIAN OPERATION should tell NATO and the US Leadership how dangerous he is.

The current incursions into NATO and other sovereign air space just proves how far he is willing to push the limits. This is a good time for the old hard liner to puff his chest and show the Russian might as the world is currently focused on terrorism and ISIS. With the focus on ISIS he can lie his way into Ukraine and other old eastern block countries almost uncontested. His thought is "What is NATO and the EU going to do, Slap my hand and tell me not to do it again", well that is what they di for the Ukraine, watch for him to topple that government and push his way into Poland and Belarus.......

Response by TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn made Mar 23 at 2015 7:11 PM

2015-03-23T19:11:36-04:00

Sure will. It will show how many more troops he will need to use!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2015 8:08 PM

2015-03-26T20:08:44-04:00

no, because it will hold no effect...

Response by SGT Damaso V Santana made Dec 12 at 2016 12:33 AM

2016-12-12T00:33:33-05:00

NATO is responding to Russia's taking over Crimea, involvement in Ukraine and provocations all along NATO's borders, I am sure they are expecting this.