Russia Has Closed NATO's Transport Corridor To Afghanistan

Moscow Times: Russia Closes NATO's Transport Corridor to Afghanistan

Russia has closed a transport corridor that had allowed NATO militaries to deliver supplies to Afghanistan through Russian territory, according to a decree signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and published on a government website Monday.

The pathway through Russia had been a symbol of Russia-U.S. cooperation amid otherwise frosty relations between the two former Cold War rivals.

Moscow's decision to close the transport corridor, which NATO used extensively to supply its decade-long deployment in Afghanistan, was made "in connection with the termination of the provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1386," said the decree, dated May 15.

Update #1: Russia discontinues transit of weapons, military equipment to Afghanistan -- RBTH
Update #2: Military Cargo Transits Through Russia to Afghanistan Expired - Government -- Sputnik

WNU Editor: Another important news post ignored by the Western media. My prediction .... expect Pakistan to increase prices for transporting U.S. military goods across their country to Afghanistan.

‘A Logistics Miracle’ To Supply Afghanistan

Source: National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. By Gene Thorp - The Washington Post.

From The Washington Post:

To lessen its dependence on Pakistan, the U.S. military has greatly expanded its use of supply lines through Russia and Central Asia to deliver equipment and material to the war zone in Afghanistan. Those routes, known collectively as the Northern Distribution Network, are much more circuitous and expensive than the supply lines through Pakistan but are also considered more stable.

My Comment: This may be a "logistical miracle" .... but it is an expensive one.

U.S. Military In Iraq And Afghanistan Dependent On Russia To Delier Supplies

C-17s

Defense Insanity: U.S. Military Is Dependent On Russian Pilots And Planes -- Daily Caller

The U.S. is hiring the Russians to deliver sensitive equipment and supplies to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why? Because the U.S. military doesn’t have enough of the highly dependable and amazingly versatile C-17 airlifters. To make matters worse, we have no credible plan to resolve this problem.

The need for C-17s will continue to grow because each year older, less reliable and less capable C-5A airlifters — some of which are over 40 years old — are being retired from the fleet because they are beginning to fail. Notwithstanding current and future shortages, the Obama administration plans to cease purchases of the much-needed and much-used C-17 airlifter.

Read more ....

My Comment: Another example of U.S. military poor planning, and defense cuts in the wrong place.