Pentagon Tells European Allies to Stop Riling Up Russia

U.S. officials are asking NATO countries to keep their public comments about Russia quiet as the political situation changes.

The Pentagon has been quietly telling some European countries to stop being so loud about the threat they see from Russia. Sources say U.S. defense officials are asking these allies to lower the temperature of their public comments. The goal is to avoid "poking the bear" while the situation in Eastern Europe remains very tense. This push from the U.S. comes at a complicated time. Reports indicate that the incoming Trump administration is preparing to pull a large number of American troops out of Europe. Because of this, U.S. officials want to keep things calm and avoid any unnecessary esca…