Russia to Begin Military Aviation Exercises in Regions Bordering Ukraine -- Interfax

[Bosonic]

Source: WSJ/Interfax

MOSCOW--Russia will begin military aviation exercises in regions bordering Ukraine, Interfax news agency reported citing a spokesman for the military Wednesday. The news comes a day after Russia signed a treaty to annex Crimea.

The military exercises, which will involve 40 combat crews and 300 servicemen, will go on till the end of May and are scheduled, the spokesman said.

The crews will be practicing "actions during airstrikes" on enemy military targets, communications jamming, air defense and attacks by military jets, the spokesman said.

On Thursday the Russian military already announced that it was increasing the intensity of military exercises involving troops on the ground in regions bordering Ukraine.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20140319-703910.html

[thecrow]

1. Oh boy, here we go

McGrampy' head will explode.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Here we go 2:

US warship Truxtun begins naval exercise in Black Sea

The USS Truxtun destroyer started a one-day military exercise with the Bulgarian and Romanian navies in the Black Sea.

The US military has described the exercise as a "routine" mission scheduled ahead of the Ukraine crisis, which witnessed the Ukrainian opposition forcing the democratically elected president, Victor Yanukovich, to flee the capital Kiev on February 22, a US Naval official told Reuters on Wednesday.

http://rt.com/news/us-truxtun-crimea-russia-849/

U.S Army Europe to hold exercise in July in Ukraine

Amid fears of a wider conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Army still plans to conduct an exercise in Ukraine this July, a spokesman for U.S. European Command told Army Times.

Exercise Rapid Trident 2014 is expected to take place near L’viv, Ukraine and will involve units from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Georgia, Germany, Moldova, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom and Ukraine, said Lt. Col. David Westover Jr.
Planning for the exercise is scheduled for May.

http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140316/NEWS/303160016/U-S-Army-Europe-hold-exercise-July-Ukraine

[Baclava]

2. U.S. sending F-15s, tanker to patrol Baltic airspace

Here we go.....


The U.S. is increasing its support for NATO’S Air Policing mission in Poland and the Baltics, sending a KC-135 refueling tanker and six more F-15s to the region this week, a defense official said today.

The move boosts from four to 11 the number of on-call aircraft the U.S. now provides to help identify and respond to violations of Baltic airspace, the official said. Baltic allies requested the assistance amid a growing standoff between Ukraine and Russia over the Crimean Peninsula.

The additional U.S. aircraft will deploy to Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania from Lakenheath in the United Kingdom

http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20140305/NEWS08/303050034/U-S-sending-F-15s-tanker-patrol-Baltic-airspace

[7962]

3. Move along, nothing to see here.........

[Baclava]

6. you know, you're right....go Gators!....I got my money in a basketball pool this year

that is all

[KoKo]

5. Disgusting....like bullies on a playground..taunting each other.

In this case the Bully I is defending it's territory. Bully II is winding down two wars (so it says) and wants to make sure they keep the funding for the Massive Military Budget going along with oil and gas interests by corporations who are always looking for new opportunities to explore across the globe.

In case anyone thinks I'm some disloyal American...Bully II is NeoCon supported MIC. A fringe group of the USA who seems to be in charge of our Foreign Policy and refuses to let go. Just to be clear....

[davidpdx]

7. It's a catch 22

At what point is Russia going beyond "defending their territory"? For a minute let's say Crimea is justified (I don't necessarily agree it is, but for a moment I'll put that aside). Would an invasion of Ukraine be as well?

I agree we can't get involved militarily and the budget for the military needs to be cut. No differences on that one.

The question then is, if Russia invades Ukraine is it justified and what can be done?

I don't think there is an easy answer.

For me it depends a lot on what happens next.