Forward by Bob Barney ~ As I have stated before, the defining term to use now regarding America is “crossing the Rubicon”. This was when Julius Cesar governed a region in Southern France. He was warned not to cross the river Rubicon into Italy as it was illegal to bring armies there and it would precipitate a civil war; he was told to disband and return to Rome. Cesar did not listen and was guilty of treason and insurrection, a war was declared and resulted in passing a point of no return. Julius Cesar had become a Dictator.
It seems we have crossed the river into totalitarianism. It started with Obama and it will be completed by Biden and we can only hope that God will bless us and get us back over the river with Donald J. Trump. If not, America is no longer a Republic; it will be a dictatorship with an emperor!
| By David Vergun US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Website
President Joe Biden today issued an executive order approving the mobilization of select reserve forces with up to 3,000 personnel, augmenting the armed forces in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
This operation will be designated as a contingency operation, said Army Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims II, Joint Staff director of operations, during a press briefing today.
“This new designation benefits troops and families with increases in authorities, entitlements and access to the reserve component forces and personnel,” Sims said.
“This [executive order] reaffirms the unwavering support and commitment to defend NATO‘s eastern flank in the wake of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war on Ukraine,” Sims said.
U.S. European Command is preparing to use this new authority in continuation of U.S. commitment to NATO’s collective security, stated Eucom spokesman Navy Capt. Bill Speaks in a news release today.
“These authorities will ensure long-term resilience in Eucom’s continued heightened level of presence and operations. This will not change current force-posture levels in Europe,” Speaks said.
These new authorities are an important demonstration of the U.S. commitment to allies and partners and provides Eucom with greater flexibility to provide key entitlements to the forces who support those commitments, Speaks said in the release.
Spotlight: Support for Ukraine
Providing a current assessment of the fighting in Ukraine, Sims said the fighting is severe.
Despite being shot at, bombed, and facing well dug-in Russian defenses in tough terrain, Ukrainian forces are doing a remarkable job with their new equipment and techniques, he said.
Biden Authorizes Military to Call Reservists to Active Duty to Support Ukraine War
BREITBARTNEWS.COM
President Joe Biden on Thursday issued an executive order authorizing the Pentagon to call reservists to active duty “for the effective conduct” of U.S. military support to Ukraine.
At the same time, the Pentagon designated the U.S. military support to Ukraine since 2014 under Operation Atlantic Resolve a “contingency operation.”
Biden wrote in a message to Congress:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 121 and 12304 of title 10, United States Code, I hereby determine that it is necessary to augment the active Armed Forces of the United States for the effective conduct of Operation Atlantic Resolve in and around the United States European Command’s area of responsibility.
Operation Atlantic Resolve began in 2014 to bolster the U.S. military presence in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and annexation of Crimea.
Biden said in the message that he authorized the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard, to order to active duty any units or individuals not assigned to a unit.
He said in the message that the number would not exceed 3,000 total members at any one time, and no more than 450 members of the Individual Ready Reserve.
Pentagon officials said no troops would be deployed for combat to Ukraine.
Army Lieutenant General D.A. Sims, the Joint Staff J3 director of operations, told reporters:
Based on the level of presence and operations in the U.S. [European Command] area of operations, DOD’s support requirements have grown, as well. These authorities will enable the department to better support and sustain its enhanced presence and level of operations in the U.S. EUCOM [area of responsibility].
He also said the moves reaffirm “the unwavering support and commitment to the defense of NATO’s eastern flank in wake of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war on Ukraine.”
Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said declaring Operation Atlantic Resolve a contingency operation “unlocks capabilities and authorities that…enables us to provide better support and sustain our forces. So this includes things like increased contracting responsiveness, personnel-related entitlements that — that give activated reservists the same benefits as active component personnel.”
He said it also enhanced the Pentagon’s ability to track spending directly associated with the contingency.
He said the U.S. would not add to the forces in Europe but would allow the Pentagon to replace some forces with reservists if necessary.
“What it does is it provides additional access to reserve component forces. So you’re now able to call on Guard or reserve forces to come support Atlantic Resolve, and [be] entitled to the same kind of benefits as their active duty counterparts,” he said.
“So — it’s not additional forces, it’s unlocking additional forces for use in support of this operation, if that makes sense,” he added.
Biden’s executive order comes just a day after he departed a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, where NATO members pledged continued support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.
At the summit, Biden declared that the U.S. has “given more than any other nation combined in terms of assistance and cost.”
According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the U.S. has given more than $78 billion in government aid since January 24, 2022, including more than $43 billion in military aid.