US Soldiers Pose For Regrettable Photograph — This Time on Russia’s Border
By RI Staff
They never learn.
Sat, Feb 11, 2017
American soldiers love to flaunt their stuff. Whether they’re posing next to a pyramid made of naked detainees, or just hanging out with their favorite Waffen SS flag, everyone knows that wherever U.S. soldiers go, embarrassing photographs are sure to follow.
And now that U.S. soldiers are congregating on Russia’s borders, it was just a matter of time before they took a picture of themselves doing something regrettable. Well, here they are, enjoying Estonia’s border with Russia, just like the brainwashed meatheads that came before them:
The Russian fortress they’re standing behind is Ivangorod. The medieval castle was used by the Nazis during World War II as a POW camp. It’s still Russian territory. Even after all these years and bloody wars.
What can one say about this photograph?
On the one hand, these American soldiers are probably too stupid to know why taking this photograph was such a bad idea. There’s no “on the other hand”.
They never learn, do they?
ADDENDUM
‘NATO exercises on Russia border part of US buildup of empire ‘
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his is also the first time US troops will have been stationed right on Russia’s borders. It is a great concern and is part of the US buildup of empire, says Elsa Rassbach, German affiliate of War Resisters International, Code Pink.
NATO’s anti-Russia exercises are being ratcheted up with Germany announcing it would deploy tanks to Lithuania.
Earlier this week, joint US-Polish military training with 3,500 American troops kicked off in Poland.
The German command said it was sending about 200 military vehicles, including 30 tanks and 450 troops. The movement of forces, which started on Tuesday, will continue until late February, it said.
RT: Approximately 3,500 American troops have been deployed to Poland marking the first time since World War II the US has sent soldiers there in such numbers. Why such a strong presence on Russia’s borders?
Elsa Rassbach: This is also the first time US troops will have been stationed right on Russia’s borders. It is a great concern. The reason given by NATO and many Western politicians is that they claim Russia has aggressive intentions; they cite the conflict in Ukraine; they cite Crimea, and they say the states, such as Poland and the Baltic countries are concerned about Russian aggression. They want to show that Russia would not be able to succeed with such aggression, if Russia tried to do so.
I haven’t personally seen any evidence that there has actually been an attempt by Russia, or even any plan by Russia to invade any of those states. I see this more as part of the US buildup of empire and trying to become the only force in the world that can tell all other countries what to do. That is how I see what is happening.
Tanks incoming: Germany starts deployment to Lithuania as part of NATO commitment to Baltics https://t.co/8wiJc5RTYw
— RT (@RT_com) 31 января 2017 г.
RT: NATO says the campaign is aimed at deterring Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. What aggression are they talking about by deploying troops in Lithuania or Poland?
ER: As I said, I don’t think there has been any evidence of aggression directed to those countries. When they cite Ukraine – that is a complex situation, where the EU proposed a trade agreement – this was in line with perhaps what some Ukrainians perceived as their interest, but not others. Many in Ukraine traded with Russia, and so forth. That resulted ultimately in what many have called a coup d’état against the Ukrainian government.
Since then Ukraine has been in a state of conflict within itself, between many of the Russian-speaking population in the East and others. It was also with Crimea, there really was a vote, where the majority of people wanted then to join with Russia again, where they had been for a long time until a few decades ago. I don’t see that the resolution of those conflicts, or any of these conflicts, can be achieved by the rattling of sabers, which is how the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier characterized this kind of military exercise last summer. He was very concerned about it, and now they are increasing the level of military exercises. It is a huge exercise unprecedented since the end of the Cold War.
RT: Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that one has to talk with Russia from a position of strength. How productive is that?
ER: Well, unfortunately, I think this may also be a position that President Trump is following. Although he said during the election campaigns that his approach would be dialogue, he has on Friday signed an executive order for a huge US military buildup. That order starts with the sentence: “The policy of the US is to pursue peace through strength.”
Also, the Defense Secretary that Trump chose, James Mattis, and his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson both supported NATO in their confirmation hearings in the US Senate. So I would like to see President Trump take the lead here if he really wants to pursue negotiations with Russia and reduce this kind of military activity – it is not helpful.
RT: Stoltenberg also said: “We don’t want confrontation [with Russia]; we don’t want a new Cold War.” Is that the impression you have when you take a look at NATO promo videos from on the ground?
3,500 US troops arrive in Poland for joint NATO military drills https://t.co/nsa12zerPh
— RT (@RT_com) 31 января 2017 г.
ER: No, that is not the impression at all. I am old enough to remember the Cuban Missile Crisis when the US government was appalled that there were missiles stationed in Cuba. I can’t imagine what most of us in the US would think if there were military exercises, say of Russia and China on the border between Mexico and Texas, on this scale. Of course, it appears aggressive to people in Russia, and it is not the way to peace. The way to peace is negotiation and to include Russia in the security plans for Europe, not to make those plans against Russia, but with Russia.
RT: What impact do these war games and rotational deployments have on the security situation in Europe?
ER: Well, I think they have a very negative impact in particular actually in those countries that are nearer to the Russian border. Any error, many things could happen that could lead out of these exercises to a real conflict. But the security of all of Europe is threatened, and this is one reason why so many people in Germany are hopeful that there will be peace made with Russia and are very fearful that a war could develop out these kinds of exercises, which seems to indicate a willingness to go to war by the US and NATO, unfortunately.
WATCH MORE:
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.
Note to Commenters
Due to severe hacking attacks in the recent past that brought our site down for up to 11 days with considerable loss of circulation, we exercise extreme caution in the comments we publish, as the comment box has been one of the main arteries to inject malicious code. Because of that comments may not appear immediately, but rest assured that if you are a legitimate commenter your opinion will be published within 24 hours. If your comment fails to appear, and you wish to reach us directly, send us a mail at: editor@greanvillepost.com
We apologize for this inconvenience.
What will it take to bring America to live according to its own propaganda?
=SUBSCRIBE TODAY! NOTHING TO LOSE, EVERYTHING TO GAIN.=
free • safe • invaluable
Please see our red registration box at the bottom of this page
REMEMBER: ALL CAPTIONS AND PULL-QUOTES BY THE EDITORS, NOT THE AUTHORS.
For media inquiries contact us at greanville@gmail.com