Thursday, December 30, 2021
US Air Force Flying Intel Missions Over Eastern Ukraine
On 27 and 30 December 2021,US Air Force intelligence platforms were flown over Eastern Ukraine with permission of the Ukrainian government.The aim of the flights was to ascertain Russia's force posture along Ukraine's border with Russia,where tens of thousands of Russian troops have been intimidating Ukraine,whch is a former Soviet Republic.Participating were Boeing/Northrop Grumman Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) and RC-135V Rivet Joint SIGINT aircraft.The second flight occurred within hours Thursday of a secure video call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joseph R. Biden at 1500 hours Eastern time.The call,described by Russia as having been "serious and constructive" was held at Mr.Putin's initiative.It lasted 50 minutes.
According to the White House readout:
President Biden voiced the deep concern of the United States and our European Allies about Russia's escalation of forces surrounding Ukraine and made clear that the U.S. and our Allies would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of military escalation.President Biden reiterated his support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy.The two presidents tasked their teams to follow up,the U.S. will do so in close coordination with allies and partners.
The presidents also discussed the U.S.-Russia dialogue on Strategic Stability,a separate dialogue on ransomware,as well as joint work on regional issues such as Iran.*
Mr.Putin reportedly warned President Biden that imposing severe sanctions on Russia would be "a colossal mistake."
Former Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes (Obama administartion) said you can't call talking with Mr.Putin a conversation;he has been on a 20-year trajectory of aggression against the Republic of Georgia and Ukraine,and his words are more of a tirade.He tries to draw you into a debate about his view of history.You must plow through his talking points and make your message firmly,despite his "whataboutism."*
A Biden administration official calls today "a moment of crisis."Russia's assertive foreign policy can be used to cloak Russia's domestic problems.Former CIA Director and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says Mr.Putin is ratcheting up his pressure when he is trying to get his way.It's been said that he is seeking to divide NATO in the wake of the hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan,which disturbed some European Allies.*
The reconnaissance flights didn't find any easing of tension along the Ukrainian border.Indeed,Russia is planning to stage even more drills in nearby Belarus.Former US Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor said:
There's no serious negotiations when you have a gun...100,000 guns...pointed at your head.*
The 16 JSTARS aircraft are based at Warner Robins Air Force Base,Georgia.They are operated by the Georgia Air National Guard.Built on a Boeing 707 airframe,JSTARS are intended to operate through 2030.Their side-looking radar can observe 20,000 square miles of terrain down to the level of tracking the motions of vehicles.They can also conduct battle management,command and control.*
The RC-135V/W is built on a Boeing C-135 Stratolifter airframe with mission systems by L3Harris Technologies.
Boeing (BA),Northrop Grumman (NOC),L3Harris (LHX)
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Monday, December 27, 2021
Saturday, December 25, 2021
Wednesday, December 22, 2021
Former NATO Commander Warns of Putin's Next Move
According to former Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Wesley Clark,US Army retired,it looks to him as if the Russian armed forces are primed to take swift action against Ukraine.They have been modernised and have likely assured an eager Russian President Vladimir Putin that they can reconstitute part of the Soviet Union in short order if instructed to do so.And Russia has most recently accused the US and Ukraine of planning to use chemical weapons,which could be a pretext concocted to justify a Russian attack on Ukraine.The charge is blatantly false,since the US decades ago canceled its chemical weapons programme.*
General Clark,speaking to CNN's Wolf Blitzer,suggested that Romania,a NATO Ally that borders Ukraine and is located in the Black Sea Region,be reinforced by air to protect against spillover of a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.Russian troops,the former 14th Guards Army,illegally occupy part of NATO Partner Moldova,which also borders Romania.He believes the Russian buildup on Ukraine's borders is reaching the point where Russian forces cannot sustain their posture much longer.*
Russia has recently made a number of demands that it knows NATO cannot accept,such as forbidding Ukrainian membership in NATO and refraining from deployment of NATO forces in Central and Eastern Europe.So the Kremlin seems to be fabricating a rationale for further aggression against Ukraine.*
A senior Biden administration official rejected the demands:
We will not compromise on key principles on which European security is based.*
Asked by a journalist about Mr.Putin's red lines,President Joseph R. Biden had previously stated:
I don't accept any red lines.*
Friday, December 17, 2021
US Army Europe Leads Simulated Warfighting:Combined Resolve XVI Forms NATO Allies and Partners
Some 4600 troops from Bulgaria;Georgia;Greece;Italy;Lithuania;Poland;Serbia;Slovenia;Ukraine;the UK and the US are currently staging combat drills in snowy Bavaria,Germany's Hohenfels Training Area.The exercise is to evaluate and assess the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team,1st Infantry Division's ability to conduct multinational operations in a multi-domain simulated battlespace.The drills began 17 November 2021 and run till 20 December.They are large-scale operations in a dynamic environment geared at achieving interoperability with unified Allies and Partners.The ultimate goal is to affirm that,together,they will be victorious in any conflict.
The multinational counterparts are testing their skills across all warfighting functions,thus creating a more lethal coalition.According to Major General Adam Joks,Deputy Commanding General-Interoperabilty V Corps:
By conducting combined operations with our Allies,our Soldiers learn how to work together effectively to achieve tactical objectives...integrating systems,procedures and building lasting relationships with our Allies.*
Units based in the US are brought to Europe for nine months at a time in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve,a response to Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014.This creates a unified front which serves to deter aggression in the region.CBR XVI represents US commitment to a free,democratic,safe and secure Europe by maintaining readiness to dominate large-scale operations in the European theatre.*
A tactical operations centre was set up to support brigade leadership during the combined arms operations in the complex battlespace.Procedures for Command and Control across multinational formations,such as the Bulgarian Land Forces and their BTR-60 armoured personnel carriers,during the field portion of the exercise.*
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Kansas Legion Riders honor ‘a hero to our veterans’ - Late Senator Bob Dole back to Kansas
Kansas Legion Riders honor ‘a hero to our veterans’: American Legion Riders from all over the state provide flag lines for former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole during his return home.
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Friday, December 10, 2021
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
US Official:Russian Invasion of Ukraine Means More US Troops to Europe
A senior US official told reporters that,should Russian President Vladimir Putin order the invasion of Ukrainian territory for a second time,one result would be the US sending additional troops to reinforce Europe:
It would certainly be the case that if Putin moved in,there would be an increasing request from Eastern Flank Allies,and a positive response from the United States,for additional forces and capabilities and exercises to take place there to ensure the safety and security of our Eastern Flank Allies in the face of that kind of aggression in Ukraine...a combination of support for the Ukrainian military;strong economic countermeasures;and a substantial increase in support and capability to our NATO Allies to ensure that they remain safe.*
Indeed,NATO Ally Latvia has already called for US troops to be permanently based on its territiory.The anonymous US official declined to specify under which circumstances the US military coud get involved if Russia carries out an attack on Ukraine,described by the Intelligence Community as a possible three-pincer strike with at least 175,000 Russian military personnel.As for Ukraine joining NATO (it already has a Membership Action Plan to chart its course to NATO membership),the official stressed that:
The US has consistently expressed support for the principle that every country has the sovereign right to make its own decisions with respect to its security.That remains US policy today and will remain US policy in the furture.So that much is straightforward and clear.*
There is also some concern that,should Russia barge into Ukraine,China might seize the opportunity to invade Taiwan at the same time.*
Friday, December 3, 2021
New member, now commander, aims for next-gen Legionnaires
New member, now commander, aims for next-gen Legionnaires: Outreach to young veterans and those still serving a high priority at Newport Harbor Post 291.
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