President Vladimir Putin seen while surveying the Russia and Belarus Union State armed forces activities at the main stage of the joint strategic exercises "Zapad-2017" on the Luzhsky range, September 18, 2017. © Sputnik
Washington Post: Russia held a big military exercise this week. Here’s why the U.S. is paying attention.
VILNIUS, Lithuania — The vast Russian military exercises that ended this week showed off a muscular fighting force practicing state-on-state warfare, NATO’s deputy military commander said, in one of the first assessments of a large-scale operation that put Russia’s neighbors on nervous alert.
The Zapad exercise, which rehearsed a conflict along Russia’s western borders, showed off a force that was marshaling itself “probably more quickly, more efficiently, with this underlying message that if you thought we were in decay, we’re not,” NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, British Gen. James Everard, said in an interview.
Read more ....
Update #1: Everything We Learned From Russia's Massive Zapad Military Exercise -- National Interest
Update #2: Run-Down: Russia-Belarus Zapad-2017 Military Drills -- Sputnik International
Update #3: Western concerns over Russia-Belarus military drills (Euronews)
WNU Editor: Here is some drone footage of the exercises (the link here). As to NATO and U.S. reaction .... so much for all of the fear-mongering a few weeks ago that these exercises were a Trojan Horse to occupy Belarus .... or even to put pressure on the Baltics.
Bottom line: we are doing a lot of exercises, other nation's have the same right, Russia included.
ReplyDeleteWhen I compare the "alarmism" before the "exercises", and now the end, I feel a little bit strange.
Re: The above photo
ReplyDeleteAdvisor in rear: Mr. President look to your right.
Putin: Yeah, I see it. Some woman with what looks like a big red plastic button and a book still in it's plastic cover. Tell her we're busy and don't want any.
Advisor: Yes Mr. President