Seeing the idea of moving heavy units back into Europe, I'm really interested as to how that would work.
My chief concern is that (speaking as a Liberal Libertarian), I sadly do not see the current administration having the wherewithal to focus on anything but its domestic agenda. That concerns me a lot.
I believe we would need to see, and perhaps Hagel can pull this off, a top to bottom analysis of what would need to be added or removed from the US Military's TO&E to make something like this happen. Fantasyland projects (lightweight HMG's anyone?) need to get the axe RIGHT NOW. The resources that could be there or are there need to be used to maximum effect. I don't see much additional $$$ coming, and indeed they were making loud noises about reducing the military just weeks...days before the Ukrainian deal kicked off.
I believe the phrase to be used is..."D'OH!!"
I've thought for years that the drawdown, with the deactivation of the 3rd AD, 5th, 8th, and 24th ID (M) were at best some form of sick joke...there are others, but those really hit home for me.
The last thing I would like to see is something kick off of any size over there and spread...there is no endgame there that isn't just terrible. I just don't see the USSR, er, the Russian Federation, having the manpower and equipment to be able to conduct a Red Storm Rising/T2K land campaign without having an Oh Sh!t moment and realizing they need nukes to forestall defeat. For me that is the terrifying part.
The semi- or completely obsolete hordes they were counting on to do most of the fighting for the Category 3-4 divisions (some Cat 2's as well), the T-55/T-62, BMP-1, and early BTR's are either rusted into uselessness, stripped of anything valuable by vandals (wiring in particular, but aluminum and brass too), so as to require massive resources and time to bring online.
That's beyond the fact that the modern NATO MBT's would cut them to pieces.
Let's not forget that their Pacte-era battle plans involved a lot of East German, Polish, and Czech troops dying for them.
With all that said, I would be very interested in hearing what others would think we'd need to make up the US component of a credible deterrent force.
I'm thinking the 3rd AD, 5th and 8th ID(M), and an ACR in Poland, with the 24th ID (M), an ACR, and some lighter units (Stryker Brigades?) and maybe an Air Assault/Airmobile Brigade in each country. I'm thinking that the lighter units would be more applicable to the mountains or Romania. Other nations could/should add to this, and we should get into the habit of NATO exercises with all of the members to improve morale and effectiveness in the former WP countries.
I also would push hard for the Germans to provide Leo 2A4's or better to the Poles. Even heavily upgraded T-72's just won't cut it. They need a MBT that will take what it gets and give it back like an M1/Leo2/Challenger/Leclerc.
I also think the US Army needs to address its most glaring weakness....mobile short range AA support. The Ukrainians have Tanguskas....it's the best I've seen, and we need to get some, analyze them, and develop a similar machine, probably based off the Bradley running gear. You will need to blast the Frogfoot, Fencer, and Mil-28/Ka-50 out of the sky and live to tell about it...repeatedly.
We also need to look at restarting the Ground Combat Vehicle program, even scale it back until what we produce is a better form of the current M2A2/3. Better hull shape, a couple more men, the 30 or 35mm Bushmaster...
I could ramble on more, but I'd need beer and the stomach acid won't deal with that tonight. Sucks getting old...
My $0.10...
Dave
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