NATO Couldn’t Repel Baltic Invasion By Russia: U.S. General

[Purveyor]

Source: Agence France-Presse /JIJI

AFP-JIJI
Jun 23, 2016

BERLIN – NATO would currently be unable to protect the Baltics against a Russian attack, the commander of U.S. ground forces in Europe, Gen. Ben Hodges, said in a news report Wednesday.

“Russia could take over the Baltic states faster than we would be able to defend them,” Hodges was quoted as saying in a German-language article by news weekly Die Zeit.

The general said he agreed with an assessment by military analysts who claimed that Russian forces could conquer the capitals of Baltic states Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia within 36 to 60 hours.

Hodges also said NATO forces had found numerous deficiencies during the recent “Anaconda” military exercise in Poland, according to the article from Thursday’s edition of the paper, released early to AFP.

Read more: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/06/23/world/nato-couldnt-repel-baltic-invasion-russia-u-s-general/#.V2wfgjVI4pk

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. Putin should be heartened by that.

[cstanleytech]

2. Might want to move this to general since its an analysis/opinion piece. nt

[Purveyor]

8. This article is quoting our General and referencing a report released this morning. Should be fine

right where it is but one never can tell...

[cstanleytech]

11. Well thats why I suggested the move since articles about someones opinion and or analysis

are at risk of falling victim to the LBN about analysis and opinion pieces.

[drm604]

3. That's practically an invitation.

I guess we have to trust that he knows what he's doing with such an announcement.

[jehop61]

4. Perhaps

A trip to The Pentagon will be in his future?

[newthinking]

9. It's safe because this whole thing is a narrative for other reasons

He can say this freely because he knows that Russia has no plans to invade the baltics.

If folks really want to try and understand the state of modern journalism and changes to war reporting since 9/11 just do some digging and it reveals quickly.

The times that Orwell talked about where "Oceana" always had a war narrative on have actually come to pass. Hell, I was sleeping myself until a couple of years ago.

[tabasco]

5. I don't think that's exactly a newsflash.

Russia could get there "firstest with the mostest."

(Incorrectly attributed to Nathan Bedford Forrest, but funny nonetheless)

[bemildred]

6. Perhaps if it was not dicking around in places like Afghanistan it would be better prepared. nt

[Geronimoe]

7. Let's raise taxes

we need to be able to defeat Russia within 24 hours. Just like we did with the terrorists.

[msongs]

10. a surprise attack over a geographically small area - offense has a huge advantage in early going