By Scott Strgacich
On Sunday, retired general Philip Breedlove, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told The Times of London that NATO should put boots on the ground in Ukraine.
General Breedlove, who reportedly advises the Biden administration on its Ukraine policy, asserted the necessity of inserting NATO forces into an active warzone incorrectly stating that “there are no Russian troops west of the Dnieper River. So why don’t we put NATO troops into western Ukraine to carry out humanitarian missions and to set up a forward arms supply base?”
Beyond providing a protected point of arms supply, Breedlove went on to argue that NATO forces so positioned should also enable the protection of Odessa from Russian forces to prohibit them from cutting Ukraine off from the Black Sea.
The fact that a former commander of NATO forces in Europe is openly promoting the idea of inserting NATO ground forces into Ukraine heedless of the very real risk of escalation toward the nuclear threshold should be deeply concerning. Russia’s nuclear doctrine clearly outlines the potential for nuclear use – even “limited” or “tactical” use – in a conventional conflict with NATO forces. According to a recent report by the Congressional Research Service, given its conventional deficiencies, “Russia has potentially placed a greater reliance on nuclear weapons and may threaten to use them during regional conflicts.”
This piece was originally published in Orange County Registry on April 26, 2022. Read more HERE.