Are NATO And Russia Setting The Fuse For A Hot War? -- Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor
NATO's plans for a 'rapid response' force, in combination with the Kremlin's intention to declare NATO an 'adversary' of Russia, could inadvertently spur open conflict.
Moscow — As NATO moves to install a symbolic "rapid deployment" force near Russia's border and the Kremlin plans to rewrite its official military policy to explicitly define NATO as an adversary, the potential for a wider war may be looming.
President Barack Obama on Wednesday visited Estonia, a tiny Baltic member of NATO whose population is one-third ethnic Russian. He drove home the message that any further attempts by Moscow to destabilize neighboring countries on grounds of "protecting compatriots" would not be allowed.
In practical terms, Obama pledged to send more US air force personnel and aircraft to the Baltics, possibly to be stationed at Estonia's Amari Air Base. At the NATO summit in Wales later this week, the US will promote the idea of a 4,000-person "rapid response" force for Eastern Europe, to be deployed in several permanent "reception centers" scattered around the three NATO Baltic states and Poland.
Read more ....
My Comment: Being one who grew up during the Cold War .... we are nowhere near that crisis point. But when I read reports like this today ....
Russia's strategic nuclear forces to hold major exercise this month -- Reuters
U.S., allies to stage exercises in West Ukraine as battles rage in East -- Reuters
.... it is telling me that the "trend lines" are all going the wrong way. And as to the NATO-Russia Founding Act of 1997 .... that agreement is now all but dead.
Update: NATO Can't Do Anything to Save Ukraine -- Linda Kinstler, New Republic
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