Eastern Europe, here comes the cavalry.Ok.
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.
The convoy is "a highly visible demonstration of U.S, commitment to its NATO allies and demonstrating NATO's ability to move military forces freely across allied borders in close cooperation," U.S. Army Europe spokesman Lt. Col. Craig Childs, said in a statement, according to the Stripes report.
I get the need for a "visible" response to what many see as Russian aggression in Ukraine (this war confuses the hell outta me though...I keep reading the timeline of events and I just don't know...) but an 1100 mile convoy through 6 European countries?
Seriously?
I've been to Europe and you're looking at a traffic nightmare, serious regulations with regard to traffic laws (the closest comparison I have is to try driving Strykers through the Northeast or maybe Los Angeles during rush hour), inevitable accidents and a pissed off populace looking at the "Ugly American" ruining there day.
I need more info, but sometimes overt displays aren't worth the effort. This MIGHT be one of those times.