8,500 US Troops Put on Alert for Possible Deployment as Ukraine Crisis Deepens

I think this is far more serious even though most of the United States is still asleep to what is going on here. Russia moved it's troops into Belorus which has a border a mere 60 miles from Ukraines Capital of Kiev. Further Belorus borders on at least one Baltic State which Russia has also made threats against. We have at least one Baltic State saying it will probably invoke Article 5 of the NATO treaty if Russian troops approach it's border unless U.S. Troops are stationed there to protect it. We have Spain sending warships into the Black Sea, France saying it will send troops into Romania, etc. So some NATO countries are already starting to forward deploy their militaries (did this happen during the Cold War?). UK has flown it's F35's to forward bases though I am not sure where. I am sure the Polish Armed Forces are on alert as well.

Is this being done to make Joe seem tough and in charge after his disastrous press conference.