Army should permanently station armor brigade in Poland, report argues

I'm not sure how I feel about this. If Poland wants us there, I feel like sure, do it.

One problem with forward basing of US troops in Europe or anywhere else is that they are really nothing but a tripwire. If there really is an attack, those forward based troops are going to be sacrificed to create the public opinion needed to bring the US into someone else's war. We will not and really cannot station forces in combat-ready numbers and combat-ready posture around the world.

When we station troops in an area likely to be attacked, we are just telling the adversary "If you kill those US troops, you know we will respond with the full might of the US military" but sooner or later some adversary is going to doubt our resolve and think we are bluffing -- or even worse, think that we are preparing to attack them.

This is especially problematic with the idea of stationing US combat troops in Poland. We "know" that we will never strike first and that we will never attack anyone (despite all the times we have done exactly that), but are we really sure that everyone else in the world believes that. I can guarantee that Russia does NOT believe the US would never strike first and that NATO would never attack.

Some would say that the Russians are paranoid, but it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you. Look at history, every major power that has ever bordered Russia has invaded! Why would Russians believe that we are any different?

Russia (not just the leaders but the whole population) believe that they are on the defensive. They see those border states as an essential part of the defense of Russia. The idea behind having a Russia-friendly or at least neutral buffer zone between Russia and NATO was that NATO would have to invade and cross that buffer before reaching Russia. This would give Russia time to respond and hopefully the opportunity to do the fighting in that buffer zone instead of having the war inside Russia itself.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, those buffer states have joined NATO, eliminating that buffer zone and putting NATO forces right at the Russian border. Since Finland and now Sweden have joined NATO, Russia sees nearly its entire western border threatened by NATO forces. Is it any surprise that Russia is desperate to keep Belarus and Ukraine as a buffer against NATO. Adding more US combat forces along the NATO/Russia border will be seen as preparation for that NATO aggression they think will come one day.

Would that be a scare tactic or what Brother Dale? Is Poland going to pay us for allowing them to be stationed there?