US army to start training Ukrainian troops, commander says

[Spike]

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A top U.S. military commander in Europe says the U.S military is to train Ukrainian soldiers who are battling Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

U.S. Army Europe Commander Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges said Wednesday that in March a battalion of U.S. soldiers would train three battalions of Ukrainians from the Ministry of Interior. The training is to take place at the Yavariv training center in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv.

Hodges said the Americans will train the Ukrainians how to better defend themselves against "Russian and rebel artillery and rockets." Training will also include securing roads, bridges and other infrastructure and treating and evacuating casualties.

http://abcnews.go.com/International...-training-ukrainian-troops-commander-28886666

--------------------

WTF? Who ever thought it was a good idea to confront Russian on their ground?

Now this WILL be WWIII

 

[hook]

WTF? Who ever thought it was a good idea to confront Russian on their ground?

Now this WILL be WWIII

Nah, global warming will get us first.

 

[Steelerfan]

how to better defend themselves against "Russian and rebel artillery and rockets.

I can save them alot of money by giving them the answer:

1) Purchase a Patriot or Iron Dome system.
2) Duck!

 

[Spike]

so this time we'll be arming Ukrainians against Russians, what could possible go wr....


here we go

Russia Warns U.S. Arming Ukraine Will Be Considered an Act of War

Russia will respond in Ukraine and elsewhere if Obama arms Kiev regime

 

[Ironcitysteelers]

I see no way that BO has the balls to do that. He will leave it up to Germany and other EU to do it.

 

[Steelr4evr]

The Russians are still our enemy and Putin is still a KGB commie pinko scumbag.

 

[hamster]

This sounds like a very bad idea. I'd just send Kerry over there to negotiate a lasting peace. Or maybe Susan Rice. When you have this crack team of negotiators, put them to good use.

 

[Omar10213245]

The russians ain't gonna do jack squat, just huffing and puffing

 

[Steelerfan]

The russians ain't gonna do jack squat, just huffing and puffing

If we had a real president, I'd agree with you. But IMO the Russians see the weakness and will take advantage of it, thinking now is their time to move if they are going to move at all.

 

[Lmob0621]

Putin has no fear of Obama... None... and when you have no fear of someone, that is when you start doing stupid things.

 

[Spike]

Congress Backs $1 Billion In Lethal Aid To Ukraine

https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/top-gop-house-dem-back-121043365.html

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Putin has no fear of Obama... None... and when you have no fear of someone, that is when you start doing stupid things.

Bomma is a Fellow Traveler who wishes he could be Putin.

 

[21STEELERS21]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/marathon-ukraine-talks-end-with-peace-deal/ar-AA9hO8k

They have made progress.

 

[Lmob0621]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/marathon-ukraine-talks-end-with-peace-deal/ar-AA9hO8k

They have made progress.

"The deal was full of potential pitfalls that could derail its implementation, however. In announcing the plan, Russia and Ukraine differed over what exactly they had agreed to in the marathon 16-hour talks, including the status of Debaltseve, a key town now under rebel siege."

Progress, but very sketchy... especially given Putin's track record.

 

[Ironcitysteelers]

But I thought they were **** now?

CNN)The U.S. Air Force is sending its "tankbusters" back to Europe.

The service's European Command said this week that 12 A-10 Thunderbolts would be deployed to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which was formed after Russia's intervention in Ukraine over the past year.

"The Air Force is increasing rotational presence in Europe to reassure our allies and partner nations that our commitment to European security is a priority," Lt. Gen. Tom Jones, vice commander, United States Air Forces in Europe -- Air Forces Africa, said in a statement.

The Air Force said besides operating in Germany, the A-10s will be forward deployed to other partner nations in Eastern Europe. U.S. forces have operated out of bases in Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland, among others, in the past year.

The A-10, also known as the "Warthog," was designed in the 1970s to support ground troops in Europe against the tanks and armored vehicles of the then-Soviet Union. Though the jets can carry a variety of bombs and missiles, they are best known for their nose-mounted, seven-barrel 30 mm Gatling gun that can fire almost 4,000 rounds per minute, enough to quickly blow apart a tank. The planes are also durable, with the pilot protected from ground fire by a wrapping of titanium often called "the bathtub." And they are designed for easy maintenance in battlefield areas, with interchangeable parts for the right and left sides of the aircraft.