Invasion Alert Elevated,US Forces Burgeoning in Europe

A growing number and variety of US military units are deploying to Europe.This is in the context of a cascading sense of alarm in the Intelligence Community about the increasing likelihood of Russian military action against Ukraine as soon as this weekend.Russia has relentlessly continued to augment its forces daily along Ukraine's borders until approximately 130,000 troops now surround its smaller neighbour on three sides.The outlook is so grave that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan made a special plea on 11 February 2022 before journalists in the White House press room that non-diplomat US citizens currently in Ukraine should evacuate the country within 48 hours.There are an estimated 30,000 such persons,but only 7500 of them have formally registered with the US Embassy.In the event of a Russian invasion,they will not be rescued by US troops.They must leave now by air,car,bus or rail. A major Russian invasion of Ukraine could terrifyingly begin with bombs being dropped and ballistic missiles launched-weapons which won't discriminate among victims,Mr.Sullivan pointed out.* Today Secretary of Defense General Lloyd Austin III,US Army retired,signed deployment orders for three thousand more members of the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg,North Carolina as directed by US President Joseph R. Biden.The troops are being sent to Poland,joining 1700 other members of the Division already there or in process of deploying there.In addition,the headquarters unit of XVIII Airborne Corps has already deployed to Germany and 1,000 members of 2nd Cavalry Armored Brigade Combat Team have been deployed to Romania. The Soldiers deployed to Poland have been arriving at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Southeast Poland some 60 mi/96.5 km from the Ukraine border.* At the same time,the US Navy has deployed four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers from the US East Coast to the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility (Europe): USS Donald Cook (DDG 75);USS Mitscher (DDG 57);USS The Sullivans (DDG 68);and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66).These are in addition to the four other US Navy guided-missile destroyers forward deployed to Rota,Spain.All four of the new arrivals in the Europan theatre have ballistic missile defence capability,and the USS Harry Truman Carrier Strike Group with its massive firepower is on patrol in the Mediterranean Sea. For its part,Russia has deployed six amphibious landing ships to the Black Sea and two guided-missile cruisers to the Mediterranean.* Among airpower deployments,US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons arrived at Fetesti Airbase,Romania today to enhance NATO'S collective defence posture and support its Air Policing Mission,NATO Allied Air Command said.They are from 52nd Fighter Wing,Spangdahlen Airbase,Germany.These warplanes will work closely with Allies in the Black Sea Region to reinforce regional security during the Ukraine crisis,completing a range of air-to-air manoeuvres with NATO Allies in order to enhance interoperability and communicatons links required to execute mutinational air operations.Said Lieutenant General Pascal Delerce,Deputy Commander Allied Air Command: Allied Air Forces are standing shoulder to shoulder to provide a robust collective defence and deliver constant vigilance across NATO air space.* NATO'S enhanced Air Power (eAP) doctrine demonstrates its solidarity,collective resolve and ability to adapt and scale its defensive missions and deterrence posture in response to an evolving security situation.The eAP strengthens the capability of defending Allied territory against a constantly challenging security environment in the Black Sea Region,adds Major General Viorel Pana,Chief of Air Force Staff,Romanian Air Force.*