U.S. to Deploy 3,000 Troops to Romania, Poland, Germany > U.S. Department of Defense

The United States will move approximately 3,000 service members to Romania, Poland and Germany in response to Russia's continuing build-up of forces on its western border with Ukraine and in Belarus, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said today during a news conference.

The move demonstrates America's commitment to the defense of NATO allies, Kirby said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has deployed a full range of military capabilities on its western border. While U.S. officials still believe Putin has not made up his mind to invade Ukraine again, he certainly has the capabilities needed to do so, the press secretary said.

Read more at: U.S. to Deploy 3,000 Troops to Romania, Poland, Germany > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

Russia tensions: NATO bolsters deployments, angering Kremlin

The NATO defense alliance on Monday said it was dispatching additional fighter jets and ships to Eastern Europe amid tensions with Russia.The move could escalate tensions in the Ukraine-Russia crisis, after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any military buildup in the region by the trans-Atlantic military alliance would cross a "red line."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said US President Joe Biden and European leaders stand united with the western military alliance in their warning to Moscow that a Russian attack on Ukraine will provoke a tough response.

"We agree that any further aggression by Russia against Ukraine will have severe costs," Stoltenberg said on Twitter after an online meeting with Biden, and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Britain and the European Union.

i Read more at: Russia tensions: NATO bolsters deployments, angering Kremlin | News | DW | 24.01.2022

Middle East: U.S. troops in Syria heading to Iraq, not home as Trump claims

U.S. President Donald Trump insists he's bringing home Americans from "endless wars" in the Mideast, but his Pentagon chief says all U.S. troops leaving Syria will go to western Iraq, and the U.S. military will continue operations against ISIS.

Read more at:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-troops-syria-heading-to-iraq-1.5328549

USA: Trump Administrationn sending 3,750 more troops to Mexico

 U.S. sending 3,750 more troops to Mexico border

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/pentagon-troops-mexico-border-1.5004206

Middle East - Syria: Is the US withdrawal announcement a PR and media stunt ?

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https://www.newsweek.com/us-allies-syria-no-withdrawal-1290601?spMailingID=4940945&spUserID=MTI0NzM2NDgxNDcS1&spJobID=1191287164&spReportId=MTE5MTI4NzE2NAS2

US Sends Forces To Jordan As Check On Syria

The United States has sent troops to Jordan to bolster its military capabilities in the event Syria's civil war escalates, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday, reflecting U.S. concerns about the conflict spilling over allies' borders and about the security of Syria's chemical weapons arsenal.

Speaking at a NATO conference of defense ministers, Panetta said the U.S. has been working with Jordan to monitor chemical and biological weapons sites in Syria and also to help Jordan deal with refugees pouring over the border from Syria.

About 150 U.S. troops, largely Army special operations forces, are working out of a military center near Amman, two senior defense officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the mission. The troops have moved back and forth to the Syrian border as part of their work, which is joint planning and intelligence gathering, one official said.

The revelation of U.S. military personnel so close to the 19-month-old Syrian conflict suggests an escalation in the U.S. involvement in the conflict, even as the Obama administration pushes back on any suggestion of a direct intervention in Syria.

Read more: US Sends Forces To Jordan As Check On Syria : NPR

Afghanistan: US Poll: 53% Favor Immediate Withdrawal of All U.S. Forces From Afghanistan

Most voters now favor the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters support the complete pullout of U.S. forces from what has become America’s longest-running war. Just 31% are opposed, while 16% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

For more: 53% Favor Immediate Withdrawal of All U.S. Forces From Afghanistan - Rasmussen Reports™

MyFox Philadelphia: US Homeless Veterans Living on Philly Streets : 25% of the US homeless are veterans

For the complete report from MyFox Philadelphia click on this link

US Homeless Veterans Living on Philly Streets : 25% of the US homeless are vets.

A recent study by the National Alliance to End Homelessness reveals that 25% of the nation's homeless are vets. Some advocates say the alarming presence of homeless vets from Iraq and Afghanistan is disturbing, and just not right. Terrilynn Donnell, of the Philadelphia Brotherhood Rescue Mission, says, "On a personal level, it does anger me. Because if we're going to go out there and ask them to risk their life and pay the ultimate sacrifice for us, then I think we should do everything we could to help them when they get back." Many advocates blame the government for not addressing the ever-growing problem affecting the people who have put their lives on the line for our country.

Winston-Salem Journal:US - Iraq report does little to change mind of Republican Jones on ending war - Mary M. Shaffrey

For the complete report from Winston-Salem Journal click on this link

US - Iraq report does little to change mind of Republican Jones on ending war - Mary M. Shaffrey

Rep. Walter Jones, R-3rd, was one of the first Republicans to oppose the Iraq war, and Gen. David Petraeus’ comments yesterday did little to change his mind. “My feeling is we still need to have a strategy for an end point, and we don’t have that yet,” he said, after listening to more than six hours of testimony from Petraeus and the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker. Mr. Jones is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, represents Camp Lejeune and parts of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and the Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station.

Press Esc: US starting-up its own "Foreign Legion" by enlisting illegal aliens quickly as recruitment falls

For the complete report in the Press Esc click on this link

US starting-up its own "Foreign Legion" by enlisting illegal aliens quickly as recruitment falls

A senior US defense official today urged the US Congress to fast track a section of the stalled immigration bill that would allow the military to recruit illegal aliens, after recruitment figures released by Pentagon showed that the Army failed to reach its targets for May. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, or DREAM, provision in the immigration bill was expected to help boost military recruiting by allowing illegal aliens to enlist as way to obtain citizenship, Bill Carr, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy, told a veterans’ group representatives.

United Press International - U.S. drawdown in Europe may be too much

For the complete report from the United Press International click on this link

U.S. drawdown in Europe may be too much

The commander of the U.S. European Command may not have enough troops to fight in Afghanistan, Iraq and conduct routine operations. If not, one of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's main reforms to the U.S. military may have to be rolled back -- that is, pulling troops out of "traditional" U.S. deployments in "old Europe" to garrisons in the United States, with more frequent, shorter deployments to newer areas, like Eastern Europe.

Gen. Bantz Craddock, the chief of U.S. European Command, told the Senate Armed Serviced Committee Thursday the drawdown of U.S. troops in Europe from roughly 100,000 to 60,000 is causing him concern.