Another U.S. general cites Russia as top threat

Two weeks ago Reuters released an article highlighting comments made by Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford in which Dunford had told lawmakers that he believed Russia to be the greatest threat to U.S. national security. According to Dunford, Russia’s behavior is “nothing short of alarming.”

Add another high-ranking military officer to the list.

On Tuesday, Army Gen. Mark Milley joined other top military officials in citing Russia as the top threat the U.S. faces today, as lawmakers questioned the wisdom of shutting down an Army base in Alaska.

“Russia is the only country on earth that contains a nuclear capability that could destroy the United States,” Gen. Milley told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “It’s an existential threat to the United States, so it has capability. Intent, I don’t know; but the activity of Russia since 2008 has been very, very aggressive.”

In February 2014, Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula, eventually annexing the Ukrainian territory.  Russia then continued its support of ethnic-Russian rebels in the eastern part of Ukraine.

About 300 U.S. soldiers began training members of the Ukrainian National Guard in April and the U.S. has also provided humanitarian aid to the Ukrainians. In addition, Congress authorized the administration to provide lethal aid to Ukraine last year, but President Obama has declined to use that authorization to arm Ukrainians, citing Russian claims that U.S. involvement would escalate the conflict.

Russia has also tested their jets in other nations’ airspace and in close proximity to U.S. planes and naval vessels.

In an article written by the Homeland Security Network, when asked about the U.S. military’s European operations in the midst of a mounting Russian threat, Gen. Milley said he thought the U.S. military needed to increase ground forces on a temporary rotational basis to provide better deterrence.

However, the U.S. military’s leadership is currently in transition. New nominees to serve as the chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as new leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps, are appearing before the Senate committee.

Gen. Milley also went on to name other top threats, which included China, North Korea, the Islamic State and Iran.

See the original story about Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford threat assessment here:

Military advisor: Russia poses greatest threat to U.S.