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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow US troops could get stuck in a traffic jam trying to fend off war with Russia
Today's Washington Post
If they needed to fend off war with Russia, U.S. military leaders worry they might not get there in time
https://wapo.st/2lv0kI9
SUWALKI, Poland U.S. commanders are worried that if they had to head off a conflict with Russia, the most powerful military in the world could get stuck in a traffic jam.
Humvees could snarl behind plodding semis on narrow roads as they made their way east across Europe. U.S. tanks could crush rusting bridges too weak to hold their weight. Troops could be held up by officious passport-checkers and stubborn railway companies.
Although many barriers would drop away if there were a declaration of war, the hazy period before a military engagement would present a major problem. NATO has just a skeleton force deployed to its member countries that share a border with Russia. Backup forces would need to traverse hundreds of miles. And the delays a mixture of bureaucracy, bad planning and decaying infrastructure could enable Russia to seize NATO territory in the Baltics while U.S. Army planners were still filling out the 17 forms needed to cross Germany and into Poland.
During at least one White House exercise that gamed out a European war with Russia, the logistical stumbles contributed to a NATO loss.
Snip
There is an interesting paragraph about what is called "the Suwalki Gap," the narrow strip of land that connects Lithuania to Poland. It's a 40-mile-wide corridor and is the Baltic nations lifeline to the rest of NATO. The infrastructure in the Gap is limited.
Response to Ilsa (Original post)
Anon-C This message was self-deleted by its author.
Ilsa
(61,698 posts)I hope you have access to the entire article. On multiple occasions, manuevers took much longer than anticipated or planned for, such as a two week travel took three months. Like the article said, in the war game, NATO lost.
I hope NATO is pushed into improving their infrastructure if they want help, although I doubt Turkey does, and I wonder about Poland.
Response to Ilsa (Reply #4)
Anon-C This message was self-deleted by its author.
Ilsa
(61,698 posts)We never know when trump is going to throw allies to the wolves, or when he is going to beat his chest, say he is strong, and go after aggression by autocrats.
Ezior
(505 posts)At least that's what it looks like. They spend the money asked by NATO, and they are very skeptical about Russian meddling in their region.
Their democracy is in a dangerous state, but they definitely don't want to be part of some greater Russian empire again, so they support NATO and the US.
former9thward
(32,082 posts)That would be insane. I doubt our military will make the mistake that others have made.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)The biggest worry I have is, when Russia invades Eastern Europe, which direction will our troops point their guns?
former9thward
(32,082 posts)How many hundreds of thousands of U.S. deaths will be supported for freedom of Estonia? My guess is not many. My guess is the cheerleaders for war against Russia will not be there volunteering to die for Estonia.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Putin knows he can't defeat NATO militarily so he has snuck his saboteur in through the back door.
former9thward
(32,082 posts)Are you willing to die for Estonia? That is the fundamental question in all of this. My guess is that Americans are sick of war after 17 years of it and the answer would be "No!".
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Mattis doesn't get Trump time much anymore.
Caliman73
(11,744 posts)Understanding the premise of the article regarding logistics, but we are not in normal times here. Trump continues to threaten NATO allies and bend over backwards to kiss Putin's ass.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)The traffic jams would be our troops mingled with Russian troops, firing at Estonian civilians.