Paranoia expands with regard to Zapad 17...via Reuters.

via Reuters.

A total of around 12,700 servicemen will take part in the war games, code named Zapad 2017, which will be held on Sept. 14-20 in western Russia, Belarus and Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad. These will include around 5,500 Russian troops.

Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, the U.S. Army’s top general in Europe, told Reuters last month that U.S. allies in eastern Europe and Ukraine were worried the exercises could be a “Trojan horse” aimed at leaving behind military equipment brought into Belarus.

This week Russia’s Defence Ministry rejected what it said were false allegations it might use the drills as a springboard to launch invasions of Poland, Lithuania or Ukraine.

Story here. 

I really and truly don't understand the stance being taken with regard to these exercises.  This is milk toast at best and HARDLY represents any kind of threat.

If you want to understand the silliness of the stance being taken by General Hodges then check out the pic below (taken from the SHAPE website).  That's the number of exercises LEFT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR!  It doesn't show the exercises that have ALREADY OCCURRED!

These complaints are bullshit on a stick.  Click on pic to enlarge.

Now do you get the force of connection.  We're wearing out the force because a Combatant Commander wants to be seen as doing something and MAYBE big Army has found a theater where it can claim it's viability even though no one is questioning it.

"God save us from stupid politicians and glory seeking generals!"