Is the elite 101st U.S. Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles” ready to fight with the Russian Army for Ukraine?

The U.S. 101st Airborne Division's deputy commander says the soldiers are "ready to cross the border and enter the territory of Ukraine". The U.S. 101st Airborne Division has arrived in Romania as part of NATO exercises. Observers think the division's arrival is a sign that the Third World War is coming. The supposed sighting of eagles in the area is being exploited for propaganda. The U.S. is stationing the 101st Airborne Division in Europe. The division can have up to 20,000 personnel and Romania is simply a "transit point" for them. If push comes to shove, Russian Airborne troops will come all guns blazing to the fight.

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Joseph P Chacko
Joseph P Chacko
Joseph P. Chacko is the publisher of Frontier India. He holds an M.B.A in International Business. Books: Author: Foxtrot to Arihant: The Story of Indian Navy's Submarine Arm; Co Author : Warring Navies - India and Pakistan. *views are Personal

The “Screaming Eagles” of the United States 101st Airborne Division have been sent to Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia as part of a deployment by the United States. Since their arrival, a string of statements has prompted fears about the possibility of an escalation of relations between the U.S. and Russia.

In an interview with CBS, the unit’s deputy commander, Brigadier General John Lubas, reported that the soldiers were “ready to cross the border and enter the territory of Ukraine.” 

“We are ready to defend every inch of NATO land. We have unique capabilities, such as our air attack capabilities … We are light infantry, but we increase mobility with our aircraft and air attack weapons,” said John Lubas, deputy division commander.

On his part, the Romanian Major General Lulian Berdila noted the “historical” significance of the arrival of American special forces in Europe. According to him, this “is tantamount to the arrival of the allies in Normandy before the enemy appears there.”

Earlier, the former head of the CIA, David Petraeus, said that the United States would destroy all Russian troops in Ukraine in the event of a tactical nuclear strike by the Russian Federation.

The deployment of the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Ground Forces in Romania, according to statements made by President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia, is worsening the situation.

If the United States military were to get actively involved in the Russian Special Operations zone in Ukraine, it is unclear whether or not this would cause a Third World War to break out.

Legendary division

The American Screaming Eagles Division was formed during World War II. The formation played a vital role in the successful landing of the Allied troops in Normandy in June 1944, which brought glory to the division. “Eagles” took part in almost all U.S. military operations, including in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The division is highly mobile and specializes in lightning-fast air assault operations. Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called it “the tip of the spear.”

The 101st Airborne Division has always been the vanguard of all military conflicts in which the United States has participated, which is why it is so legendary.

But there is a dark spot in the biography of the Eagles. In the fall of 2021, they were the last to leave Afghanistan, covering the retreat of American troops. Then the Taliban were able to push them out.

It is also essential to understand that the 101st division is a “light” military unit, not intended for serious combat clashes.

This is not the Marine Corps, which has heavy weapons, combat aircraft, etc.

Return of the Eagles to Europe

For almost 80 years, the U.S. 101st Airborne Division did not appear in Europe. On October 22, it was revealed that the “eagles” were deployed to Romania. The composition of the elite military unit amounted to 4.7 thousand personnel. Their commander said that the military arrived to protect NATO territory. He also added that his soldiers are ready to fight at any time and are “closely watching” the Russian forces.

The Eagles are the closest American force located near the theatre of operations in Ukraine. Observers think that the presence of an elite unit in the area is not a coincidence, and it is a sign that the Third World War is coming.

Russian Airborne Forces
Russian Airborne Forces. Vladimir Smirnov/TASS

Ghost of World War III

The division has arrived at the exercises, which are now being carried out in several European locations. The situation in the region is quite tense, and the United States is making efforts not only to provide Ukraine with weapons, ammunition, and instructors but also to support the second-tier allies such as Poland, Romania, and the Baltic countries. This is because the United States wants to ensure that Ukraine can defend itself effectively in the face of the current crisis.

Even before the Russian Special Operations began, the 101st Division was stationed in Romania as part of the deployment. The supposed sighting of eagles in the area is being exploited for propaganda. There has yet to be any discussion on their possible landing in Ukraine.

This is something that the government in Kyiv truly wants, but it will lead to a direct conflict with Russia if the United States military lands in Ukraine. Nobody in the United States wants this to happen because, if it does, it will be the third world war on the global level. Even the most hawkish individuals in western nations are terrified of a possibility of a large-scale war involving nuclear powers.

At the official level, politicians in the United States continue to reassure the public that there are no plans for U.S. military personnel to take part in any hostilities on the territory of Ukraine. The United States’ permanent envoy to NATO, Julianne Smith, categorically asserted that the United States was assisting Kyiv with armaments, information, and logistics but not with personnel.

What if it comes to a showdown?

The stationing of the 101st Airborne Division in Europe raises the likelihood that the United States and Russia may engage in armed conflict with one another. However, the likelihood of something like that occurring is quite remote. When they arrived in Europe, the “Eagles” only had 4.7 thousand soldiers with them, but the division can have up to 20,000 personnel, and Romania is simply a “transit point” for them.

If push comes to shove, Russian Airborne troops will come all guns blazing to the fight, unlike their limited operations in Ukraine. The motivation to fight the U.S. troops would be another factor for the Russians in addition to their training. The Russian forces are trained to fight against the Western forces than the Ukrainian forces, who are more content with smaller battles and wins. In response, the former U.S. official suggested, the White House would have to raise the stakes. 

In the event of a conflict, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will also need to get engaged. The NATO contingent that was stationed in Romania received reinforcements in the form of armoured vehicles from France. The initial group of armoured personnel carriers and 750 personnel of the armed forces arrived there over the past weekend. It is anticipated that the second convoy, consisting of a company of Leclerc tanks, will arrive in Romania in November.

“From the beginning of the conflict on the territory of Ukraine, it was decided to send (to Romania) light infantry, but later it was decided to deploy a heavy battalion to Chinka, to switch from equipping light military equipment to armoured ones. We are talking about a company of Leclerc tanks and armoured personnel carriers for the infantry,” said Colonel Alexandre de Feligonde, accompanying the convoy.

But the formations like these are not expected to back the U.S. division due to their individual national interests within NATO. Britain and Poland are the most likely U.S. allies to back such a U.S. misadventure. 

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