Dempsey: US Military Dusting Off Decades-Old “Readiness” Plans for Russia

Tensions are running high between the United States and Russia over the latter’s intervention in Ukraine, lending support to a separatist movement that likely destroyed a passenger jet. Europe is not joining the United States in sanctions on Russia, and Russia is trying to build a solid wall resisting European and NATO influence around its borders and even former Soviet satellite states. But tensions are not subsiding, and the United States is examining readiness models on basing, lines of communication and sea lanes and discussing options with NATO allies, writes Lee Ferran for ABC News, reporting on comments made by US General Martin Dempsey at the Aspen Security Forum. NATO and the Cold War were born with the end of World War II. The organization has 28 member countries; decisions are by consensus but members can also act on their own. Anger has emerged over the international community’s impotence in starting an investigation on the downed Malaysian Airlines jet. “NATO’s essential purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means,” notes the organization’s website. “NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military capacity needed to undertake crisis-management operations.”– YaleGlobal

Dempsey: US Military Dusting Off Decades-Old “Readiness” Plans for Russia

Russia is not backing down on supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine; US is reviewing options with NATO after downing of passenger jet
Lee Ferran
Friday, July 25, 2014
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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