UK 'battle group' to take part in exercises in Poland
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UK 'battle group' to take part in exercises in Poland
Our new Defence Secretary should perhaps read the history of Able Archer 83 before rubbing-up the soviets 'the wrong way' in making such poignant military gestures/forays into Europe when tensions are running at such an all time high.
IMHO we no longer have Government 'Statesmen' who are able to differentiate between diplomacy and military posturing. Blair took us into the Gulf War... let's hope that the coalition aren't going to take us into WW3!
President Reagan, perceived buffoon of the century, actually averted the escalation of conflict with the Soviets... think on!
TCF
IMHO we no longer have Government 'Statesmen' who are able to differentiate between diplomacy and military posturing. Blair took us into the Gulf War... let's hope that the coalition aren't going to take us into WW3!
President Reagan, perceived buffoon of the century, actually averted the escalation of conflict with the Soviets... think on!
TCF
British tanks join Poland exercises to reassure allies against Putin - Telegraph
Here's a link, I think we've got Putin on the run this time! Good ol' Fallon.
FB
Here's a link, I think we've got Putin on the run this time! Good ol' Fallon.
FB
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Don't think this will cause President Putin any sleepless nights. "20 Challenger tanks?" They'll be down to 16/17 by the time they get there due to defence cuts.
President Putin won't go along the so-called "New World Order" so somehow someway he's got to be got rid of. Only I think you'll find he's a deal smarter than that worthless dross in Westminster and Brussels.
He also has lots of weapons...nuclear weapons.
President Putin won't go along the so-called "New World Order" so somehow someway he's got to be got rid of. Only I think you'll find he's a deal smarter than that worthless dross in Westminster and Brussels.
He also has lots of weapons...nuclear weapons.
To paraphrase Yoda:
"Do, or do not. There is no 'solidarity exercise' "
I fail to see how this will reassure our Allies. UK/USA has a strong recent history of backing out when push comes to shove, having done all the right things beforehand. I presume this will simply confirm to our allies in Eastern Europe that we will do the same again.
In the meantime, what a fine way to waste the Defence budget.
"Do, or do not. There is no 'solidarity exercise' "
I fail to see how this will reassure our Allies. UK/USA has a strong recent history of backing out when push comes to shove, having done all the right things beforehand. I presume this will simply confirm to our allies in Eastern Europe that we will do the same again.
In the meantime, what a fine way to waste the Defence budget.
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He also has lots of weapons...nuclear weapons.
or even suggest it for that matter.
If he did, it would be a game changer.
What a shame that Fallon has gone straight in to "willy waving" mode, before realising how insignificant this exercise will be to the Russians. He and his government have spent 5 years converting our forces to a shadow of their former selves, and with no wish to disrespect current servicemen, the pollies are merely blowharding the significance of this. The worry of course has to be that the likes of Camoron and Co do not understand how much tweaking the Russians will take. I hope the lads have a great exercise, with no ramifications, and come back safely.
Smudge
Smudge
The British Army has been deploying to Poland for excellent exercise facilities since the 1990s.
What a shame that Fallon has gone straight in to "willy waving" mode, before realising how insignificant this exercise will be to the Russians
I remember in Iraq and Afghanistan seeing some of our smaller allies, countries not people, that were contributing to the coalition and we arrogantly used to chuckle and wonder what one or 2 staff officers in an HQ would bring to the party. Unfortunately that arrogance has now come back to haunt what is rapidly becoming a hollow force. How many detachments and operations around the place have we sent ones and 2s (actual and metaphorical) to make a political point and enable the politicians to stand up in front of Parliament or in front of the press and say we are supporting our 'valued' allies and friends?
Unfortunately, I think the UK will get more out of this that will any of our Baltic friends. A single BG that has probably more understanding and experience of COIN ops would frankly be bugger all use if the Russians decided to step things up. What they will gain is valuable experience of operations other than COIN. But I seriously doubt they will be able to do much more than wave a willy in the direction of Putin's generals.
Last edited by Melchett01; 28th Jul 2014 at 20:22.
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Working on this
Tank Strength by Country
We only have to maintain a 39 to 1 kill ratio to come out on top
The main problem will be guarding all the prisoners
Russia Military Strength
Tank Strength by Country
We only have to maintain a 39 to 1 kill ratio to come out on top
The main problem will be guarding all the prisoners
Russia Military Strength
I despair of our handling of Russia.
1. All they wanted (One hopes) was access to a Black Sea port.
Russian and Ukraine did not seem to handle that well.
2. Putin is a very powerful man. He probably has the skinny on everyone of import in Russia.
3. Putin either is, or considers it politic to act as, an extreme prima donna macho man. Our politicians seem unable to understand how to handle such a person.
4. If things start to look bad, one hopes that Putin will be removed from power but no-one removed Hitler in the thirties.
It's a worry!
1. All they wanted (One hopes) was access to a Black Sea port.
Russian and Ukraine did not seem to handle that well.
2. Putin is a very powerful man. He probably has the skinny on everyone of import in Russia.
3. Putin either is, or considers it politic to act as, an extreme prima donna macho man. Our politicians seem unable to understand how to handle such a person.
4. If things start to look bad, one hopes that Putin will be removed from power but no-one removed Hitler in the thirties.
It's a worry!
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an extreme prima donna macho man. Our politicians seem unable to understand how to handle such a person.
with very bad advisers to boot.
2. Putin is a very powerful man. He probably has the skinny on everyone of import in Russia.
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I think the criticism focus for this thread should rather be - as is normally the case - the language used by the media, as it is them that usually string phrases like 'reassurance of fellow NATO members' together and insert them into boring MOD press releases about a tiny group of tanks going on their holidays.
Remember it's the media that in the recent past have given us such top notch headlines as 'RAF fighters chase Russian bombers away' followed by reporting of such complete piffle.
One wonders how nearer an ABLE ARCHER-esque period of tension we'd be if it was the carcass of a NATO transport (for which read US military) strewn across the Ukrainian countryside, with a comparatively small loss of life versus the horror of two weeks ago.
Remember it's the media that in the recent past have given us such top notch headlines as 'RAF fighters chase Russian bombers away' followed by reporting of such complete piffle.
One wonders how nearer an ABLE ARCHER-esque period of tension we'd be if it was the carcass of a NATO transport (for which read US military) strewn across the Ukrainian countryside, with a comparatively small loss of life versus the horror of two weeks ago.