Meanwhile, at the Paris Air Show, U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah James discussed with reporters what threats she sees as being the most worrisome in the future:

“I would say the biggest threat on my mind is what’s happening with Russia and the activities of Russia, and indeed that’s a big part of why I’m here in Europe and having those discussions... It’s extremely worrisome on what’s going on in the Ukraine. We’ve seen the type of warfare, which someone dubbed it hybrid warfare, which is somewhat new. So I would put that at the top of my list.”

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When pushed as to whether or not America’s most advanced fighter would be making its way to Europe any time soon as as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

“I could easily see the day, though I couldn’t tell you the day exactly when the F-22, for example, rotates in is a possibility. I don’t see why that couldn’t happen in the future.”

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The U.S. has already sent the world’s only stealth bomber to Europe, why not send the world’s only operational stealth fighter?

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Although, the Raptor does have certain limitations as to its ability to integrate itself with disparate aircraft from other NATO air arms, the feel-good, cross-training centric “We’re all in this together” mentality that has been the focus of recent so-called “security packages” sent to the region, should not distract from the fact that the F-22 is plenty deadly when working all by itself.

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Eventually, international training and goodwill interactions on a military level will lose their luster and validity to a certain degree as Operation Atlantic Resolve wears on. If Russia is really the threat to NATO that it high-ups like James would have you believe, then deterrence and persistence of that deterrence is what matters most. Otherwise, Russia could just wait the U.S. out until they go home before acting in any belligerent manner.

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As such, the U.S. is going to have to make a decision as to what exactly its policy is toward Russia in regards to its NATO allies in Europe. Are we going to have a presence in Eastern Europe permanently or is this just a short term dog and pony show? Are we going to arm our NATO allies or are we going to provide the presence needed to ensure some sort of viable deterrent in the region? Or are we going to do nothing substantial in the long-term at all?

These are tough decisions, and quite frankly depressing decisions to have to make, but ones that need to be made sooner than later nonetheless.

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Source: Military.com


Contact the author at Tyler@jalopnik.com.