U.S. Army Launches Operation Dragoon In Eastern Europe

Washington Post: In show of force, the Army’s Operation Dragoon Ride rolls through Europe

Operation Dragoon Ride is underway, and its purpose seems clear: Show the world some of the firepower the United States and its NATO partners have in Eastern Europe.

The exercise was conceived by Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the commanding general of U.S. Army Europe. It launched long convoys of armored Stryker vehicles from Estonia on Saturday that will make their way across Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Other groups of U.S. soldiers left from bases in Lithuania and Poland, with the three groups of troops meeting next week at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany, Army officials said.

WNU Editor: I can understand why Russia is not happy with this convoy .... it is just a PR stunt to placate eastern Europeans and to send a "message" to Russia. But apparently not everyone in eastern Europe (aside from the Russians) are happy with this convoy .... Czechs told not to throw tomatoes, eggs at US military convoy (RT).

More News On Operation Dragoon In Eastern Europe

U.S. ‘Dragoon Ride’ convoy through eastern Europe seeks to reassure members that NATO is still a thing -- National Post/AP
Amid Fear of Russian Invasion, Baltic Countries Welcome US Support -- Daily Signal
2nd Cavalry Regiment begins major convoy for Operation Atlantic Resolve -- Army.mil
Strykers begin 'road march' across Eastern Europe -- Army Times
A message to Putin: Hundreds of Poles mob convoy of U.S. troops driving through eastern Europe -- Daily Mail
US convoy parades through 6 East European states -- Press TV
Poland Calls Military Reservists as US Armored Columns Roll Through Country -- Sputnik
US Armored Columns March Through Six Eastern European Countries -- Sputnik

U.S. Army Convoy To Travel 1,100 Miles Through Europe

CNN: U.S. Army sending armored convoy 1,100 miles through Europe

(CNN)Eastern Europe, here comes the cavalry.

The U.S. Army says it will soon be sending armored Stryker vehicles on a 1,100-mile convoy through six European countries to show solidarity to allies in the wake of recent Russian actions in the Ukraine and Crimea that have Eastern Europe on edge.

The move was first reported Thursday in the military newspaper Stars and Stripes. U.S. Army Europe posted the Stripes story on its website on Friday.

WNU Editor: I guess they need to show the flag.

Germany Voices Its Fears That The Ukraine Crisis Could Develop Into 'A 'Large Scale War'

Zero Hedge: US Sends "Tankbuster" Jets To Europe Over Russia Fears After Germany Says "A Large Scale War Could Develop"

Karl-Georg Wellmann, a lawmaker in Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union has warned that, despite its efforts to avoid arms being provided to Ukraine, Germany "will no longer be able to stop weapons deliveries from from the U.S. and Canada." Almost too coincidental to these comments, CNN reports, the U.S. Air Force is sending its A-10 "tankbusters" back to Europe in order to "increase rotational presence in Europe to reassure our allies and partner nations that our commitment to European security is a priority." As Wellmann ominously concludes, seemingly confirming Putin's warning yesterday that if Kiev aims at a military solution, war will never end, "a large-scale war could develop out of that."

WNU Editor: The memories of World War II are still deep .... correction .... very deep.

White House Admits That They Should Have Sent A Top Official To Paris

Bloomberg Businessweek: Obama White House Says Missing Paris March Was a Mistake

WNU Editor: Mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble ....no one in Europe is listening to the excuses.

More News On The White House Admitting That They Should Have Sent A Top Official To Paris

Should have sent high official to Paris march, US says -- AP
U.S. says should have sent high-level official to Paris march -- Reuters
White House says 'absence' at Paris rally a mistake -- BBC
White House: We should have sent a higher-profile official to Paris march -- Washington Post
White House Says It Should Have Sent a More Senior Official to Paris -- Time
White House apologizes for not sending top officials to Paris unity march -- The Guardian
White House: We Should Have Sent Top Official to Paris -- VOA
Paris Terror Attack: White House Admits It 'Should Have Sent Someone With a Higher Profile' to Rally -- ABC News
White House: US should have sent higher-level official to Paris -- Al Jazeera
‘Security Precautions’ Main Reason Why Obama Skipped Paris Unity Rally -- Sputnik

Top U.S. Officials Decided Not To Attend Today's Historic Rally In Paris

Daily Mail: America snubs historic Paris rally: Holder was there but skipped out early, Kerry was in India, Obama and Biden just stayed home

WNU Editor: Today's rally in Paris was the biggest in its history. All of Europe has been galvanized and riveted on what happened in Paris this week. 40 to 50 leaders made a point of appearing at this rally arm in arm because they knew that this was an important event to attend ... as well as sending a message to the world that Europe is united. That is why the U.S. decision to not send a top official to this massive and unprecedented rally is perplexing .... and I concur with CNN's Jake Tapper disappointment is this video ... even though Christiane Amanpour tries her best to downplay this absence. Bottom line .... showing up would have made an impact .... signing a book of condolences .... sorry .... it is not the same. And while I am sure that we are going to receive an official explanation on why no top U.S. official could go to Europe .... in the big picture .... Europe has taken notice that President Obama decided to skip this significant moment in European history .... and in their eyes .... he and the U.S. looks a little smaller today.

More News On U.S. Officials Deciding Not To Attend Today's Historic Rally In Paris

High level US representative notably absent from Paris rally -- AFP
Obama, Kerry absent from unity rally in Paris -- CNN
Eric Holder, top U.S. officials no-shows at Paris unity rally -- New York Daily News
Obama stays home from Paris memorials -- Washington Times
White House criticized for absence at rally -- The Hill
Shame On President Obama For Skipping The Paris Unity Rally Against Terrorism -- Rick Ungar
U.S. Officials Say Non to 'Je Suis Charlie' Rallies -- Josh Rogin, Bloomberg

Update: I attended Montreal's rally .... and they say that 25,000 of us showed up (which is probably accurate) .... but what sticks out for me is how much of a pleasant and sober affair the rally was. No anger .... no hate .... everyone together to send a message .... to Paris .... and to ourselves.

As Budgets Decrease U.S. Closes 15 European Bases

First company-sized contingent of about 150 U.S. paratroopers from the U.S. Army's 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team based in Italy arrive in the airport in Riga, Latvia, April 24, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Ints Kalnins

Reuters: U.S. to cut European military bases as budgets shrink

More News On Reports That The U.S. Will Be Closing 15 Military Bases in Europe

DoD Officials Announce European Infrastructure Consolidation -- US Department of Defense
US military to close 15 bases in Europe -- BBC
U.S. to reduce troops at European bases to save $500 million -- AP
Pentagon to pull out of RAF Mildenhall and 14 other European bases -- The Guardian
U.S. to realign forces in Britain and other European countries -- Washington Post
U.S. Air Force Closing Some European Bases -- WSJ
US Defense Department to Abandon Using 15 Military Bases in Europe -- Sputnik
US to remove troops from 15 European bases -- Al Jazeera
US to close three of its airbases in Britain -- The Guardian
US to withdraw from three UK air bases as part of defence cuts -- Financial Times
U.S. military to close three bases in Britain causing hundreds of job losses for local civilian workers -- Daily Mail
US to close major airbase in Britain – Pentagon -- RT
USAF Names RAF Lakenheath As F-35A Base, Unveils Closures -- Aviation Week