Can the Baltic Republics, now members of NATO, be defended against Russian invasion?

[Officer of Engineers]

The question is not whether Russia could come on top,but the cost and its standing in the world.With 1.3 billion Chinese across the border and jihadists all over its South,Russia will have nothing better to do than invade the only folks that do not want/can't cause the demise of Russia?

Georgia and the Ukraines.

[Albany Rifles]

I believe that there is some underestimation of Russian military potential in this thread. Sure, Russia has little chance in an all out conventional war with NATO, but I find it hard to believe that Russia would not come out on top against any of the Eastern European countries; on the assumption that NATO does not get involved.

Also I dont think the Russians will tolerate a devastating attack on their infrastructure and economy, without responding with Nuclear weapons. So war between NATO and Russia is still pretty much nuclear Armageddon like in the cold war, unless missile defense reaches the stage where it can intercept ICBM's reliably.

1. You attack the Baltics, you attack the US, GB, Germany, etc., etc. You attack NATO. Its a package deal. I would hope the Russians could take on the combined forces of the Baltics.....but then they are dealing with NATO. They do not have enough brigades....and the pain will be felt.

2. It won't go nuclear. Hitting gas infrastructure is not the same as nuking Moscow. Even the mullahs get that and Putin is at least smarter than that.

[Stitch]

I would favor Russian staying power over Polish Army and Baltic States to beat the Russian army. History have shown that more often than not, Russian armies can outlast their enemies.

Like they did in Afghanistan?

[InExile]

2. It won't go nuclear. Hitting gas infrastructure is not the same as nuking Moscow. Even the mullahs get that and Putin is at least smarter than that.

The mullahs have no way of reaching the mainland US and can barely reach Israel, Russia can wipe out hundreds of cities across Europe and North America. Sure there is a slightly different calculation at work here.

In the 1960's both sides had defensive plans that very quickly escalated to the use of nuclear weapons. During the Cuban missile crisis the hawks in the US administration were sure that the Soviets would do nothing if Cuba was invaded, like invading West Berlin as that would almost certainly lead to nuclear war. Kennedy wasn't so sure and chose to go for a blockade instead and the rest is history.

I think both sides will be extremely careful about crossing red lines that could lead to war between Russia and NATO. I agree that a Russian attack on the Baltic leads to war with NATO, so thats a line the Russians will not cross.

[JimmyRep]

2. It won't go nuclear. Hitting gas infrastructure is not the same as nuking Moscow. Even the mullahs get that and Putin is at least smarter than that.

Yep. NATO is unlikely to bomb far beyond the front-lines. It's politically unacceptable, similar to the ROE in the Vietnam war. Although, Putin passed the preemptive strike law he won't resort to nukes that easily. He wants to win after all.

The mullahs have no way of reaching the mainland US and can barely reach Israel, Russia can wipe out hundreds of cities across Europe and North America. Sure there is a slightly different calculation at work here.

Unless the islamic world unites the threat is indeed limited.

[Blademaster]

Like they did in Afghanistan?

I said, more often than not, indicating that Russia has been beaten before but not a lot and it takes a lot to beat Russia.

[Doktor]

I said, more often than not, indicating that Russia has been beaten before but not a lot and it takes a lot to beat Russia.

It's different to beef Russians on their own turf and somewhere abroad. For the record Ukraine is home for them, Baltics are not.

[Mihais]

Georgia and the Ukraines.

None of whom offered significant resistence,nor can pose any danger to them if they turn hostile.
The rest can pull a Finland and cause more harm to Russia than it can gain.

For all the hoopla,Russian movements in Europe are both limited and defensive in nature.They don't trust us and need to secure their back.They're not marching to the Atlantic or the Bosphorus.

The Baltics are in limited danger from them.Transnistria is likely next.And this may be a bit fun,because plenty folks can buy unmarked uniforms from stores,to quote Putin.Hopefully,they'll be smarter than this.

[Doktor]

Weird thing this walking around in unmarked uniforms. So those are civilians?

[Mihais]

Weird thing this walking around in unmarked uniforms. So those are civilians?

It takes about 5 seconds to turn such a ''civilian'' into a regular soldier and vice versa.Velcro patches are a great invention

As the Colonel said,lawyers will find a way.What the Russians do is an age old trick.And how many nukes does the piece of paper known as the law posses?

[Doktor]

It takes about 5 seconds to turn such a ''civilian'' into a regular soldier and vice versa.Velcro patches are a great invention

As the Colonel said,lawyers will find a way.What the Russians do is an age old trick.And how many nukes does the piece of paper known as the law posses?

Depends on who is the lawyer ;)

[Officer of Engineers]

Yep. NATO is unlikely to bomb far beyond the front-lines. It's politically unacceptable, similar to the ROE in the Vietnam war. Although, Putin passed the preemptive strike law he won't resort to nukes that easily. He wants to win after all.

Are you kidding me? The whole of Vietnam was bombed to smithereens. Assembly points are legitmate military targets. Even if they are located in Siberia.

[Doktor]

Are you kidding me? The whole of Vietnam was bombed to smithereens. Assembly points are legitmate military targets. Even if they are located in Siberia.

Yet, it ended like Afghanistan for the Soviets - with a departure home. Under fire.

[Officer of Engineers]

But a strategic victory for the Americans. The war was to contain communisum. After the Americans left, communists turned on each other.

[Doktor]

Laos, Khmer Rouge, South Vietnam, all lost with the withdrawal.
This has nothing to do with strategy of leaving. The greatest success of that departure (like the Soviets, too) was saving own young lives.

Communism was destined to fall. Too much effort was put to contain it.