America needs a permanent military presence in the Baltics, and here’s why

Thank you. You know what Kaliningrad is. Nobody I 've talked to of late has any idea. And yes, I was in my 2nd or 3rd enlistment when the cold war ended.

Beat our swords into plowshares. A nice dream.

I wrote this awhile back:

SILENCING OF THE GUNS
When will the guns go silent
When will we put an end to war
When will we bring our soldiers home
To fight and die no more

When will countries around the world
Stop fighting over things
When will tyranny be stopped
And the bell of freedom rings?

When will the rights of man
Above all else, be held high
When will innocent women and children
No longer have to die

When will the feuds between nations
Finally come to an end
And the damage and pain of centauries
Finally start to mend

When will religion no longer matter
No attention paid to race
When will hatred fall aside
And compassion take it's place

These things will never happen
Until evils brought to light
It will happen only when brave souls
Stand up for what is right

It will take people of vision and courage
With strength and honor to lead the way
It will take people with great fortitude
And conviction in what they say

So, when will we see an end to war
When will the killing be thru
When will the guns go silent
My friends, that depends on you.

Stan H
4/10/03

Good luck with that.

I spent 14 years in Bulgaria, most of the Bulgarians love having the Americans there, we do have a base there now, a small low key base. The Bulgarians hated being under the Russian occupation. I was married to a Bulgarian, she has a masters degree in both Russian and English, she hates Putin with a passion.