Another Obama Triumph

Under Obama's unique leadership style, Iraq is toast, Syria is becoming toast, Libya is a burnt offering, Russia has pried the Crimea out of Ukraine and more Russian troops (while on vacation of course * wink, wink* no official invasion was sanctioned *cough*) are in the process of slicing off another chunk of east Ukraine; to do this the Russians are using subtle tactics not unlike using a tire iron to cut through a bratwurst. Union Army Civil War surgeons did less damage.

And now, in a show of international cooperation, Putin is making threatening noises at the Baltic states and Poland.

RIGA, Latvia — In a significant move to deter possible Russian aggression in Europe, the Pentagon is poised to store battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other heavy weapons for as many as 5,000 American troops in several Baltic and Eastern European countries, American and allied officials say.

The proposal, if approved, would represent the first time since the end of the Cold War that the United States has stationed heavy military equipment in the newer NATO member nations in Eastern Europe that had once been part of the Soviet sphere of influence. Russia’s annextion of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine have caused alarm and prompted new military planning in NATO capitals.

So, it's a proposal. It would take a little time to move enough heavy armor into Latvia or Poland to pose any kind of deterrent. And Russia could keep moving forces around just to make NATO forces (Americans) expend lots of energy following Russia movements; like a 60 ton, 120mm game of three-card Monte.

In any event, it's probably just a ploy to see how the Russians react when America yells "Boo."

It would be the most prominent of a series of moves the United States and NATO have taken to bolster forces in the region and send a clear message of resolve to allies and to Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin, that the United States would defend the alliance’s members closest to the Russian frontier.

Russian bombers are regularly penetrating American and British air defense zones, Russian submarines keep popping up in Swedish bathtubs. I don't think talk of a tank chess game will cause Putin to lose any sleep. He's been a busy, busy boy and Obama's international golf game hasn't improved; he's is still shooting way over par. He has been out foxed, out maneuvered, out witted and out classed since day one. I don't expect any changes.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

While the tension between Russia and Ukraine may be easing a little bit, elbows are being thrown between China and Vietnam.

According to the Epoch Times, "troops, tanks, trucks, artillery, and armored personnel carriers of China’s military were seen heading to the Vietnamese border on May 16 and 17, according to photographs taken by by residents near the border."

[...]The troop movement comes amid growing anti-China protests in Vietnam. They began last week after Chinese state-run oil company CNOOC began setting up an oil rig 120 nautical miles from Vietnam in waters near the disputed Paracel islands.

The protests began with close to 100 people in Ho Chi Minh City last Saturday, grew to more than 1,000 people in Hanoi on Sunday, and later grew into riots. The protesters have since burned foreign-owned factories. An estimated 21 people have been killed, including at least one Chinese worker in a Taiwanese steel mill.

Jane Fonda, where are you when the commies need you?


More here and here.