How will NATO act to aggression on the Polish border?

[bob10]

Calm heads would prevail, you would hope. But European history suggests World wars can start from a single shot. Madness? Absolutely.

Belarus Is Laying Tinder for a War. How Will NATO Respond? - Defense One (https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/11/belarus-laying-tinder-war-how-will-nato-respond/186796/)

[bob10]

NATO and Ukraine. For for the first time since the Cold War, a full US carrier group comes under NATO Command. What could possibly go wrong. There is some thought that the Russian threat of full on invasion is just a smoke screen, covering the real objective of opening up a land bridge to the Crimea, in the East of Ukraine. This would pass through the mostly Russian speaking occupied territory of Eastern Ukraine, with the thought that most of the population would welcome Russian forces there. This would prevent the costly urban fighting in the major cities, and prevent huge Russian casualties which would not be good for Putin at home. But who knows. This could start from a minor incident and take on a life of it's own, much like Sarajevo in 1914. We all know the result of that. The only silver lining in my life is our children are too old, and grandchildren too young, to get involved. Different story if War comes here , though. We live in interesting times.

NATO on Twitter: "NATO stays strong at sea ⚓ For the first time since the Cold War, a full 🇺🇸 US carrier group comes under #NATO command as @USSHARRYSTRUMAN and other Allied ships begin patrols in the Mediterranean 🌊 @STRIKFORNATO @USNavyEurope" / Twitter (https://twitter.com/NATO/status/1485665198350516228's=20)


Pentagon Puts 8,500 Troops On ‘Heightened Alert’ Over Russian Threat To Ukraine - Defense One (https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2022/01/pentagon-puts-8500-troops-heightened-alert-over-russian-threat-ukraine/361105/)


Ukraine Needs Help Surviving Airstrikes, Not Just Killing Tanks - Defense One (https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2022/01/ukraine-needs-help-surviving-airstrikes-not-just-killing-tanks/360898/)

[bob10]

January D-brief. The USN has 2 Carrier Strike groups , one expeditionary strike group and one Amphibious Ready Group at sea in the Philippine Sea, the most seen there for a number of years. Worried about China?

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Jan. 18, 2022 (https://news.usni.org/2022/01/18/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-jan-18-2022'mc_cid=5301df8b4a&mc_eid=cb32e7b433)



Today's D Brief: WH mulls troops to E. Europe; New NATO drills begin; German navy chief resigns; Huge USN presence in Pacific; And a bit more. - Defense One (https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2022/01/the-d-brief-january-24-2022/361078/)

[bob10]

The USA is preparing European gas markets for a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Searching the World for gas supplies for Europe in case Russia cuts off supply. However it just seems to be a thought bubble ATM, with no concrete plan on the table.

The U.S. Is Preparing European Gas Markets For A Russian Invasion (yahoo.com) (https://au.sports.yahoo.com/u-preparing-european-gas-markets-210000202.html)

[3toes]

Until now the EU would not purchase gas from US as it did not meet their green criteria. This blew up a little while ago with a French company who the government cancelled the contract on. French have now signed contracts for US gas but there has been a political work around as the gas is purchased through a third party so not US gas. This is a start but Europe has fallen into the supplier concentration trap and are dependent on Russia. Not so for UK and Norway who take minimal gas from Russia but EU decisions are impacting on price for everyone as they run around the markets buying up what ever they can causing shortages

[bob10]

Two USN carrier Strike Groups exercise in the Philippine Sea.

2 U.S. Aircraft Carriers Now in South China Sea as Chinese Air Force Flies 39 Aircraft Near Taiwan - USNI News (https://news.usni.org/2022/01/24/2-u-s-aircraft-carriers-now-in-south-china-sea-as-chinese-air-force-flies-39-aircraft-near-taiwan'mc_cid=f030a0ccd9&mc_eid=cb32e7b433)

[bob10]

Well, NATO has taken Command of a US Carrier group in the MED., the Russian Black Sea Fleet has left its bases and is in the Black sea, the largest concentration of US Carrier and Expedition groups is standing by Taiwan, the Japanese Fleet is at sea, all we need is some fool to do something stupid and all this posturing may turn hot. OH, and the US & UK have said they will place more troops in the NATO countries near the UKRAINE. Haven't seen this much activity since we crash sailed Vampire from Singapore back in the late 60's. Can't remember why, something to do with the Russian submarines traversing the Sunda Strait into the Indian Ocean. Or the other way, Indian Ocean to the China Sea. Considering we were told our life expectancy in a hot war was about 15 minutes, [ no idea who worked that out] we didn't dwell too much on the finer details.

Thousands more troops may be sent in show of support for Ukraine (thenewdaily.com.au) (https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2022/01/27/russian-ukraine-invasion-nato-troops/)

[bob10]

The best explanation of the Ukraine problem so far.

Cavan Hogue: Ukraine is not just about goodies and baddies - Pearls and Irritations (johnmenadue.com) (https://johnmenadue.com/cavan-hogue-ukraine-is-not-just-about-goodies-and-baddies/'mc_cid=dc881ae602&mc_eid=1dccbad0c8)


https://johnmenadue.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Cavan-Hogue-150x150.jpg (https://johnmenadue.com/author/cavan-hogue/)

Cavan Hogue (https://johnmenadue.com/author/cavan-hogue/)


Cavan Hogue is a former diplomat who has worked in Asia, Europe and the Americas as well as at the UN. He also worked at ANU and Macquarie universities.

[bob10]

And from German news DW, when does bluff become bloodshed.? ;

NATO′s on notice in Ukraine crisis: What′s next? | Europe | News and current affairs from around the continent | DW | 29.01.2022 (https://www.dw.com/en/natos-on-notice-in-ukraine-crisis-whats-next/a-60594487'maca=en-newsletter_en_bulletin-2097-xml-newsletter&r=2726404824229335&lid=2042435&pm_ln=131807)

[bob10]

How EU countries are reacting to high gas prices. From DW;

How EU countries are reacting to high gas prices | All media content | DW | 28.01.2022 (https://www.dw.com/en/how-eu-countries-are-reacting-to-high-gas-prices/g-60587059'maca=en-newsletter_en_bulletin-2097-xml-newsletter&r=2726404824229335&lid=2042435&pm_ln=131815)

[bob10]

London has earned the nick-name " Londongrad", because it has become a primary destination for politically sensitive Russian businessmen and their funds. A tangled web.

NATO, UK will ′support′ Ukraine if invaded by Russia, but won′t send troops | News | DW | 30.01.2022 (https://www.dw.com/en/nato-uk-will-support-ukraine-if-invaded-by-russia-but-wont-send-troops/a-60602536'maca=en-newsletter_en_bulletin-2097-xml-newsletter&r=2726404825229358&lid=2042558&pm_ln=131903)

[bob10]

The Ukranian armed forces.

Ukrainian Armed Forces; Jan. 26, 2022 - DocumentCloud (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21190949-ukrainian-armed-forces-jan-26-2022)

[bob10]

The USA is moving troops to the border regions of NATO.


U.S. Sends 3,000 Troops to NATO’s Eastern Flank In Response to Russian Buildup - Defense One (https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2022/02/us-sends-3000-troops-natos-eastern-flank-response-russian-buildup/361487/)

[bob10]

How China views the Ukraine crisis.

How China views the Ukraine crisis | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au) (https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/how-china-views-the-ukraine-crisis/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_d4d38c7a 92356415ecdfd3b2a9575bf8&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=How%20China%20views%20the%20Ukraine%20cri sis)