When you read this author and then read Obama's speech you have to ask
yourself if both parties are on the same planet.
On Wednesday, 26 March 2014, Michael Kulyk <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/26/u-s-intel-assessement-greater-likelihood-russia-will-enter-eastern-ukraine/
>
> U.S. intel assessement: greater likelihood Russia will enter eastern
> Ukraine
> [image: U.S. intel assessement: greater likelihood Russia will enter
> eastern Ukraine]
>
> A new classified intelligence assessment concludes it is more likely than
> previously thought that Russian forces will enter eastern Ukraine, CNN has
> learned.
>
> Two administration officials described the assessment but declined to be
> identified due to the sensitive nature of the information.
>
> The officials emphasized that nothing is certain, but there have been
> several worrying signs in the past three to four days.
>
> "This has shifted our thinking that the likelihood of a further Russian
> incursion is more probable than it was previously thought to be," one
> official said.
>
> The buildup is seen to be reminiscent of Moscow's military moves before it
> went into Chechnya and Georgia in both numbers of units and their
> capabilities.
>
> U.S. military and intelligence officials have briefed Congress on the
> assessment.
>
> As a result, Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee late
> Wednesday sent a classified letter to the White House expressing concern
> about unfolding developments.
>
> An unclassified version obtained by CNN said committee members feel
> "urgency and alarm, based on new information in the committee's possession."
>
> The committee said there was "deep apprehension that Moscow may invade
> eastern and southern Ukraine, pressing west to Transdniestria and also seek
> land grabs in the Baltics."
>
> Transdniestria is a separatist region of Moldova.
>
> Committee members noted that Gen. Philip Breedlove, head of the U.S.
> European Command and NATO military chief, noted the Russians had sufficient
> forces to make moves into those areas.
>
> American officials believe the more than 30,000 Russian forces on the
> border with Ukraine, combined with additional Russian forces placed on
> alert and mobilized to move, give Russian President Vladimir Putin the
> ability to rapidly move into Ukraine without the United States being able
> to predict it when it happens.
>
> The assessment makes several new points including:
>
> Troops on Russia's border with eastern Ukraine - which exceed 30,000 - are
> "significantly more" than what is needed for the "exercises" Russia says it
> has been conducting, and there is no sign the forces are making any move to
> return to their home bases.
>
> The troops on the border with Ukraine include large numbers of
> "motorized" units that can quickly move. Additional special forces,
> airborne troops, air transport and other units that would be needed appear
> to be at a higher state of mobilization in other locations in Russia.
>
> There is additional intelligence that even more Russian forces are
> "reinforcing" the border region, according to both officials. All of the
> troops are positioned for potential military action.
>
> Russian troops already on the border region include air defense artillery
> and wheeled vehicles.
>
> The United States believes that Russia might decide to go into eastern
> Ukraine to establish a land bridge into Crimea.
>
> The belief is that Russian forces would move toward three Ukrainian
> cities: Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk in order to establish land access into
> Crimea. Russian forces are currently positioned in and around Rostov,
> Kursk, and Belgorod, according to U.S. intelligence information.
>
>
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