Troops and hardware from 3rd Infantry Division heading to Eastern Europe

[jakeXT]

WASHINGTON — Thousands of troops and major hardware from the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division are heading to the Baltic region to reassure NATO allies fearful of Russian aggression, according to the Pentagon.

Approximately 3,000 soldiers from the division’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team are bringing approximately 750 vehicles and pieces of heavy equipment with them, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery pieces and helicopters. The gear arrived Monday via ship in Riga, Latvia, Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren told reporters.

The troops and equipment will participate in multinational training exercises with Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, which will kick off in May. The exercises are part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S.-Army led mission which began last year after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region and sent troops and equipment to the eastern part of the country to support pro-Moscow separatists. NATO allies in Eastern Europe, which were under Russian domination during the Cold War, are worried the Kremlin will try to destabilize other neighboring countries.

Some servicemembers from the 1st Armored Brigade have arrived in the region and more will follow next month, according to Maj. James Brindle, a Pentagon spokesman.

http://www.stripes.com/news/troops-and-hardware-from-3rd-infantry-division-heading-to-eastern-europe-1.333467

[underpants]

1. I served in the 3rd ID

The Marne Division. Yes I "got Marned".

[bemildred]

2. +1.

I've always liked the Army guys best, of the services. The Navy and Air guys tend to lack modesty.

[Duckhunter935]

3. At least they were invited

By the sovereign government

Should Russia be holding endless military "exercises" along the non monitored Ukrainian border for the last year with tens of thousands of troops?

[jakeXT]

4. You just need to wait for the right leaders

The United States and Afghanistan signed a security agreement on Tuesday that would allow nearly 10,000 U.S. troops to remain in the country to help train and advise the Afghanistan military.

The deal, according to reports, would allow 9,800 troops to remain in the country beyond the end of the year and allow some bases to remain open. It would also bar U.S. military from being prosecuted under Afghanistan law. A separate agreement would allow a small number of NATO forces to remain.

The signing came the day after new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in after a months-long election battle with his opponent, Abdullah Abdullah. Abdullah took a post as chief executive under a power-sharing agreement.

Both Afghan presidential candidates had vowed to sign the status of forces agreement during the campaign, something the previous president, Hamid Karzai, had resisted.

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/09/us_and_afghanistan_sign_status_of_forces_agreement.html

[newfie11]

5. Why???

What if Russia sent troops to Mexico ( just for training of course)?
I'm fairly certain we would have a meltdown!

[uhnope]

6. Godspeed.