Nato jets to monitor Ukraine border

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

Nato is to deploy Awacs reconnaissance planes in Poland and Romania to monitor the Ukrainian crisis.

The alliance gave the go-ahead for the flights on Monday, a Nato spokesman told journalists.

"All Awacs reconnaissance flights will take place solely over Alliance territory," the official said.

The move comes as Russia cements its control of Ukraine's Crimea ahead of a referendum at the weekend for the peninsula to join Russia.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26521311

[marble falls]

1. That should be the maximum saber rattle made.

[2banon]

2. Oh this should go well..

nothing like throwing fuel in the fire to perk things up a bit, eh?

[Baclava]

3. we've always been at war with eastasia

let NATO handle this one

[seveneyes]

4. Sure, ramp it up morons

Get one of your expensive toys shot down and then what? Escalate until nukes are tossed back and forth?

[Catherina]

5. +1 n/t

[reACTIONary]

8. Sho is going to shoot them down...

... unidentified militants wearing ski masks? An unmarked MiG? I think they are safe - but they do make a statement.

[geek tragedy]

10. Who is going to shoot it down? nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. You think someone is going to shoot down planes over Poland and Romania?

Who do you expect to start that war?

[seveneyes]

17. Expectations and reality

While I have no expectation of anyone shooting down aircraft during these tense times, reality tells me there a lot of munitions on the loose and anything can happen. It's not so much who does any shooting, it's the result and escalation that may follow.

The US does not need to lead, or get involved with the ongoing leadership and territory disputes in Ukraine at this time.

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. "It's not so much who does any shooting" - shooting OK, but NATO flying in NATO airspace 'moronic'?

That's a bizarre attitude to international relations and morality you have there.

[seveneyes]

19. Bizarre interpretation

"shooting OK" are your words, and a very Bizarre interpretation of what I wrote. The only morality projected is your attempt to imply my words have anything to do with shooting being "OK."

[Catherina]

6. NATO's ideal of "de-escalating" the situation- deploying awacs to monitor Ukraine border. FAIL. n/t

[bongiver]

7. Blatant Provocation

We have the ability to do mass spectral analysis from space based satellites.
Any border monitoring could easily be done from satellites.

[geek tragedy]

11. Whereas an invasion is a mere breach of etiquette. nt

[TwilightGardener]

9. Good. NATO must assert itself--Russia is a destabilizing force.

[Catherina]

12. Great comment about this at the Guardian

Let us ponder.
The same NATO which after 12 years has fought hill people and dirt farmers of Afghanistan to a standstill now wants to take on RUSSIA!!! Hahaha!
That's a hot one.

[hack89]

14. Russia would be easier than the Taliban

Their convential forces are outdated and poorly trained. Conscript armys can't match a modern volunteer army like NATO. Right now even Poland has better trained and equipped army.

[Lurks Often]

15. A poor example

There is an enormous difference between conventional warfare and counter insurgency warfare.

While I am certainly not advocating it, a conventional war between Russia and Nato forces would end very badly for Russia.

In contrast, counter insurgency warfare is manpower intensive, requires good intelligence and the cooperation of the locals to identify the enemy, who is mostly indistinguishable from the local inhabitants.

[leftynyc]

16. What utter bullshit

If NATO weren't the least bit concerned about civilian casualties, they could have just killed everyone - they certainly have the weaponry for it. Fought to a standstill, my ass. If you think it's NATO forces that have escalated an INVASION by Russia, you're simply too deluded to be considered responsible.